Animal lover

Nowadays, taking care of pet animals seems to be the trend. If one goes to public places, one could see people bringing pet animals especially dogs in their leisure walk. At the malls, one could notice pet animals in strollers like a baby and fashionably adorned with animal accessories. Or even the so-called twinning is noticeable as well, when a dog owner would wear the same colored clothes as his/her pet dog. How about those posted on social media, a female dog celebrating her birthday like a blushing debutante, complete with cake and other birthday implements. If only the dog can blow the candle on the cake and can unbox gifts, it will surely be part of the birthday routine. Some pets would even occupy a certain part of the family’s living room or a comfortable space in the master’s bedroom. These animals need care and pampering too. At an animal salon and clinic one can spend extra bucks for their seemingly high-maintenance companions. Sometimes the attention given to animals would even surpass what is stated in The Animal Welfare Act of 1998 proving that one is serious about being an animal lover.

This is as far as household pets are concerned. But what about those animals confined in a zoo. In this pandemic time, would owners of private zoos be able to care for their animals? Their food provision, their care and maintenance will be in peril due to lack of income caused by pandemic restrictions. Zoos when properly operated, are also important not only for amusement. They are valuable for scientific research, wildlife conservation, public recreation and education. We learn many things when we visit one for a tour. Children would find it educational to see animals though of course, some may be against the idea of removing them from their natural habitats to put them in cages. We may have positive or negative perceptions about zoos but at the moment, the concern is really how to care for those animals that are already confined in them during this pandemic.

Perhaps one of the earliest animal lovers is St. Francis of Assisi, whose feast day we celebrated last October 4. On this day, people would even flock to churches or in some public place to have their animals blessed by a priest on the saint’s feast. In his lifetime, he would care for animals at his own disposal. No veterinary clinics yet, no animal salons, no specially packed animal food for the taking, but just a mere human who has love for other created beings.

Despite the good examples of some people with regard the love of animals, there are some who would defy it. A good reminder is again the Animal Welfare Act of 1998 (RA 8485) which speaks about the protection and promotion of all terrestrial, aquatic and marine animals in the Philippines. If we human beings assert our dignity, animals have rights also. This act reminds us that the physical and psychological well-being of animals should be given importance.

These are the different facets on how to become an animal lover. How about you, what kind of animal lover are you? Is your being an animal lover just like that of an ordinary pet owner pampering your pet to the full, or a zoo owner who would like to share to people a glimpse of the wild and the natural world through the animals, or maybe just like St. Francis of Assisi who sees animals as his fellow creatures?

Fr. Alfonso A. Araceli, SVD

University of San Carlos