Compassionate coexistence: Balancing animal welfare and human rights

This is not a true story of my own personal knowledge but the following situation has become familiar in this “age of wokeness”. One person's passion for rescuing stray dogs has led to tensions with his neighbors. His many dogs, some of them unleashed and at times noisy, have been allowed to roam freely, causing inconvenience to his neighbors.

The situation has further worsened with the lack of waste management, as the compassionate owner struggles to keep up with the resulting mess. In a desperate act, a frustrated neighbor resorted to an illegal act, secretly poisoning the wandering dogs and causing their death. This sad incident raises important questions about finding balance between protecting animal welfare and preserving the rights of individuals to enjoy a peaceful and comfortable living environment.

As regards the perennial rescuer, this person cares deeply for the animals he collects. But now, it has come to a point that he is already struggling financially to pay for their care. He's asking for help online through crowdfunding and social media to cover the costs of his growing pet family.

While it may seem politically incorrect to say this, for me it's very important to acknowledge the human rights side of animal welfare. Our compassion for dogs and cats should not overshadow our own needs and rights as a community to enjoy a safe and clean living environment.

Not everyone loves dogs, and some may have had traumatic experiences with animals. That is why it's important to acknowledge that the passion of animal enthusiasts can sometimes blur the lines between prioritizing animal welfare and respecting the rights of the broader community.

The Animal Welfare Act (R.A. 8485, as amended) and the Anti-Rabies Act (R.A. 9482) are laws that serve as guide in this balancing act. However, some people mistakenly believe that laws like the Animal Welfare Act only protect animals. This is not accurate. These laws also serve to strike a balance between animal welfare and human rights, ensuring the well-being of both parties.

The Anti-Rabies Act, for example, requires the registration and vaccination of dogs, as well emphasizes responsible pet ownership. A dog has to have an accountable owner and could not just be labelled as a “community dog” without anyone ready to answer in case some untoward incident happens.

Responsible owners should ensure that the animals are not causing a nuisance to the community. They should respect the rights of their neighbors and keep their animals under control, either through the use of a leash or a secure fence. Likewise, they must clean up after their animals to maintain a clean and healthy environment for everyone.

In the case of stray animals, I believe that independently attempting to rescue every animal in need may not be the most effective approach. While well-intentioned, this individualistic method can potentially create larger issues or neglect the broader context of animal welfare and the impact on the community. A more organized and collective effort may be a better solution.

Animal lovers should learn advocacy work and community organizing so that they could lead the community in collectively tackling the issues they care about. For example, they could organize a neighborhood group and arrange educational events about responsible pet ownership, animal welfare, and the importance of controlling pet numbers through spaying and neutering.

In cases of conflict, animal lovers should think about more than just their own compassionate views. By only focusing on their feelings, they might miss other people's concerns, making it harder to work together and solve bigger problems.