Abstract:
Man is not the only living organism in the planet; there are also plants and animals that cohabitate with them. Man is said to be superior to plants and animals for their rational faculty and capacity to experience pain as well as pleasure. The latter has no voice to speak for them and rely on humans for their protection. As opposed to anthropocentrism which suggests that the world exists for humanity, its critics contend that animals have feelings and action towards animals must bear a certain degree of morality. Such contention gave rise to the extension of rights to animals. Correspondingly to the declaration of Human rights, Animal rights also exist, whose purpose is to promote and protect the welfare of all animals. Though it exists and is materialized through Republic Act 8485, the practice on the ethical treatment of animals in the Philippines isn't properly observed. The Humane Society of the US said on its 2004 Animal Cruelty/ Human Violence Awareness Week, 'With disturbing headlines about domestic violence so often in the news, it's not difficult to understand the damaging situations victims of family violence frequently face. People may not realize that pets in violent homes are often hurt, too. Animals in these situations are silent victims, who may be threatened, injured or killed by a violent family member to control or intimidate other members of the household. Just like other family members, animals need a safe haven.' The HSUS take steps in promoting animal cruelty awareness. Animals like humans are sentient beings and can feel pain, there are various documentaries which show that several slaughterhouses in the country don't comply with the international standard of killing animals, a great deal of animals being hit by cars, juveniles 4torturing animals, the practice of eating dog meat in provinces, use of animals for laboratory researches. The cruelty towards animals has not been given much importance in the field of political science wherein the main focus analyses are individuals. [Rationale]
