Story of the Month: Animal Welfare Month

Animal-friendly activities are lined up around Metro Manila for October 1, World Animal Day, and the whole month of October, Animal Welfare Month.

The Philippines has laws promoting the welfare of animals. For one, October 4 is celebrated in the country as Kindness to Animals Day by virtue of Proclamation No. 537, s. 1958.

October 4 happens to be the feast day of Saint Francis of Assisi, the Catholic patron of animals and the environment.

The Philippines also has a law promoting the welfare of all terrestrial, aquatic and marine animals under Republic Act 8545, also known as "The Animal Welfare Act of 1998."

Under this law, it is "unlawful for any person to torture any animal, to neglect to provide adequate care, sustenance of shelter, or maltreat any animal or to subject any dog or horse to dogfights or horsefights, kill or cause or procure to be tortured or deprived of adequate care, sustenance or shelter, or maltreat or use the same in research or experiments not expressly authorized by the Committee on Animal Welfare."

To read the full article, go to http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/583445/lifestyle/animal-welfare-month-some-activities-to-check-out-in-metro-manila