WHAT CAN WE DO WHEN WE SEE PET SHOPS THAT NEGLECT THE ANIMALS BEING SOLD (ANIMALS ARE MALNOURISHED/NOT FED, KEPT IN SMALL/CRAMPED CAGES, ETC)
Reports about pet shops should be directed to BAI-AWD (Bureau of Animal Industry - Animal Welfare Division) at tel. # 928-2837 or 924-7951.
Pet shops are under the bureau's jurisdiction. BAI is responsible for issuing certificates of registration to pet shops yearly if said establishment is adequate, clean, safe and sanitary and will not be used for nor cause pain and/or suffering to the animals - as mentioned in RA8485 The Animal Welfare Act. BAI can revoke or cancel the certificate of registration if the establishment fails to observe these conditions. Aside from the description of the situation/circumstances witnessed at the pet shop, please make sure to provide the business name of the pet shop, the address, and if possible, the owner's name. Photos would also help if you have them.
From http://www.bai.ph/Details2.aspx?ID=40
Please copy furnish PAWS through [email protected] when you submit your complaint to BAI.
Please help us spread the word not to buy pets from pet shops. And if possible, buy pet supplies from shops that do not sell live animals.
Pet shops are under the bureau's jurisdiction. BAI is responsible for issuing certificates of registration to pet shops yearly if said establishment is adequate, clean, safe and sanitary and will not be used for nor cause pain and/or suffering to the animals - as mentioned in RA8485 The Animal Welfare Act. BAI can revoke or cancel the certificate of registration if the establishment fails to observe these conditions. Aside from the description of the situation/circumstances witnessed at the pet shop, please make sure to provide the business name of the pet shop, the address, and if possible, the owner's name. Photos would also help if you have them.
From http://www.bai.ph/Details2.aspx?ID=40
- The Animal Welfare Division is tasked to implement the Animal Welfare Act with the objective of protecting and promoting the welfare of animals in the country by supervising and regulating the establishment and operation of all facilities used for breeding, maintaining, keeping, treating or training animals either as objects of trade or as household pets. Under the said act, all animal facilities should secure a certificate of registration from the Bureau of Animal Industry. Further inquiries in relation to this can be obtained by calling (02) 924-79-51 or visiting the Animal Welfare Division, Bureau of Animal Industry, Visayas Ave. Diliman, Quezon City.
Please copy furnish PAWS through [email protected] when you submit your complaint to BAI.
Please help us spread the word not to buy pets from pet shops. And if possible, buy pet supplies from shops that do not sell live animals.
For witnesses of neglect or cruelty by pet shops...
First and foremost, make the effort to talk to the staff and/or owner of the pet shop to see if friendly discussions alone can already help improve the situation of the animals in the pet shop.
If you (the informant) wants PAWS to serve a warning letter, investigate or do an ocular inspection regarding the on-going neglect or cruelty that you witness in pet shops - we would need your help by providing ALL of the following information, kindly send TO: [email protected] CC: [email protected] ----
IMPORTANT NOTE:
If you (the informant) wants PAWS to serve a warning letter, investigate or do an ocular inspection regarding the on-going neglect or cruelty that you witness in pet shops - we would need your help by providing ALL of the following information, kindly send TO: [email protected] CC: [email protected] ----
- your name and contact # (both landline and cell#) - for coordination
- complete name of seller or pet shop owner, complete address of seller or pet shop - we cannot write warning letters addressed to To Whom It May Concern
- barangay official's name / contact #s / barangay hall address -- for escort or back up assistance if necessary in case the offender is uncooperative or combative, our volunteers are ordinary citizens, or if the owner is not home when our team arrives, so the barangay is enlisted to serve letter, monitor, report back to us
- witness affidavit (click here for a sample) - The witness affidavit is a document with the details of the cruelty or neglect as seen personally by the informant (include dates, time of day, location, what you saw, what petshop/breeder did in response to your observations, etc.). We need this in our possession prior to deployment because this is a supporting document in case we have to coordinate with the police to seize the pet and file charges. The police will not likely respond to animal welfare concerns unless we have a ready legal supporting document to present.
- photos (if any) - as support to the affidavit
IMPORTANT NOTE:
- Reports from people who wish to stay anonymous will not be entertained. PAWS works in coordination with the informant/witness. (Read: Clarifying the Common Public Misconceptions about PAWS)
- The identity of the informant/concerned citizen/witness is not disclosed during the initial stage of the investigation (warning letter and/or ocular inspection). The affidavit is also just kept on file and not disclosed or shown to the animal offender. If pet shop owner and staff willingly takes the steps necessary to improve the living conditions and care of the animals upon receiving warning letter, affidavit if not used and charges will not be filed.
- The affidavit of the informant/concerned citizen/witness is only used when pet shop owner denies the neglect or cruelty and challenges PAWS to file charges upon receiving the warning letter. PAWS does not issue empty threats about filing charges - thus, it is important that the informant is a willing witness and will not back out of the case. If pet shop owner calls on PAWS to file charges, PAWS will not hesitate to file charges with the cooperation of willing witnesses and their affidavits.
