Animal Welfare Act regulate the establishment, operation and maintenance of pet shops, kennels,

RA 8485, as amended by RA 10631 veterinary clinics, veterinary hospitals, stockyards, corrals, stud farms and zoos and any
other for or structure for the confinement of animals where they are bred, treated,
(Note: RA 10631 amendments are in bold letters.) maintained, or kept either for sale or trade or for training as well as the transport of such
animals in any form of public or private transportation facility in order to provide
SECTION 1. It is the purpose of this Act to protect and promote the welfare of all maximum comfort while in transit and minimize if not totally eradicate, incidence of
terrestrial, aquatic and marine animals in the Philippines by supervising and sickness and death and prevent any cruelty from being inflicted upon the animals.
regulating the establishment and operations of all facilities utilized for breeding,
maintaining, keeping, treating or training of all animals either as objects of trade The Director may call upon any government agency for assistance consistent with its
or as household pets. For this purpose of this Act, pet animal shall include birds. powers, duties, and responsibilities for the purpose of ensuring the effective and
efficient implementation of this Act and the rules and regulations promulgated
For purposes of this Act, animal welfare pertains to the physical and thereunder.
psychological well-being of animals. It includes, but not limited to, the avoidance
of abuse, maltreatment, cruelty and exploitation of animals by humans by It shall be the duty of such government agency to assist said Director when called upon
maintaining appropriate standards of accommodation, feeding and general care, for assistance using available fund in its budget for the purpose.
the prevention and treatment of decease and the assurance of freedom from fear,
distress, harassment, and unnecessary discomfort and pain, and allowing SECTION 4. It shall be the duty of the owner or operator of any land, air or water public
animals to express normal behavior. utility transporting pet, wildlife and all other animals to provide in all cases adequate,
clean and sanitary facilities for the safe conveyance and delivery thereof to their
SECTION 2. No Person, association, partnership, corporation, cooperative or any consignee at the place of consignment. They shall provide sufficient food and water for
government agency or instrumentality including slaughter houses shall establish, such animals while in transit for more than twelve (12) hours or whenever necessary.
maintain and operate any pet shop, kennel, veterinary clinic, veterinary hospital,
stockyard, corral, stud farm or stock farm or zoo for the breeding, treatment, sale or No public utility shall transport any such animal without a written permit from the
trading, or training of animals without first securing from the Bureau of Animal Industry a Director of the Bureau of Animal Industry or his/her authorized representative. No cruel
certificate of registration therefore. confinement or restraint shall be made on such animals while being transported.

The certificate shall be issued upon proof that the facilities of such establishment for Any form of cruelty shall be penalized even if the transporter has obtained a permit
animals are adequate, clean and sanitary and will not be used for, nor cause pain from the Bureau of Animal Industry. Cruelty in transporting includes overcrowding,
and/or suffering to the animals. The certificate shall be valid for a period of one (1) year placing of animals in the trunks or under the food trunks of the vehicles.
unless earlier cancelled for just cause before the expiration of its term by the Director of
the Bureau of Animal Industry and may be renewed from year to year upon compliance SECTION 5. There is hereby created a Committee on Animal Welfare attached to the
with the conditions imposed hereunder. The Bureau shall charge reasonable fees for Department of Agriculture which shall, subject to the approval of the Secretary of the
the issuance or renewal of such certificate. Department of Agriculture, issue the necessary rules and regulations for the strict
implementation of the provisions of this Act, including the settling of safety and sanitary
The condition that such facilities be adequate, clean and sanitary, and that they will not standards with thirty (30) calendar days following its approval. Such guidelines shall be
be used for nor cause pain and/or suffering to the animals is a continuing requirement reviewed by the Committee every three (3) years from its implementation or whenever
for the operation of these establishments. The Bureau may revoke or cancel such necessary.
certificate of registration for failure to observe these conditions and other just causes. The Committee shall be composed of the official representatives of the following:

SECTION 3. The Director of the Bureau of Animal Industry shall supervise and 1. The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG);
2. Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS); 5. When done for the purpose of animal population control;
3. Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) of the Department of Agriculture (DA);
4. Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB) of the Department of Environment 6. When the animal is killed after it has been used in authorized research of
and Natural Resources (DENR); experiments; and
5. National Meat Inspection Commission (NMIC) of the DA;
6. Agriculture Training Institute (ATI) of the DA; 7. Any other ground analogous to the foregoing as determined and certified licensed
7. Philippine Veterinary Medical Association (PVMA); veterinarian.
8. Veterinary Practitioners Association of the Philippines (VPAP);
9. Philippine Animal Hospital Association of the Philippines (PAHA); In all the above mentioned cases, including those of cattle, pigs, goats, sheep, poultry,
10. Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS); rabbits, carabaos and horses (* NOTE: "deer" and "crocodiles" were delisted) the
11. Philippine Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PSPCA); killing of the animals shall be done through humane procedures at all times.
12. Philippine Society of Swine Practitioners (PSSP);
13. Philippine College of Canine Practitioners (PCCP); and For this purpose, humane procedures shall mean the use of the most scientific methods
14. Philippine Society of Animal Science (PSAS). available as may be determined and approved by the committee.

The Committee shall meet quarterly or as often as the need arises. The Committee Only those procedures approved by the Committee shall be used in the killing of
members shall not receive any compensation but may receive reasonable honoraria animals.
from time to time.
SECTION 7. It shall be unlawful for any person who has custody to an animal to
SECTION 6. It shall be unlawful for any person to torture any animal, to neglect to abandon the animal.
provide adequate care, subject any dog or horse to dogfights or horsefights, kill
or cause or procure to be tortured or deprived of adequate care, sustenance or If any person being the owner or having charge or control of any animal shall
shelter, or maltreat or use the same in research or experiments not expressly without reasonable cause or excuse abandon it, whether permanently or not,
authorized by the Committee on Animal Welfare. without providing for the care of that animal, such act shall constitute
maltreatment under Section 9.
The killing of any animal other than cattle, pigs, goats, sheep, poultry, rabbits,
carabaos and horses (* NOTE: "deer" and "crocodiles" were delisted) is likewise If the animal is left in circumstances likely to cause the animal any unnecessary
hereby declared unlawful except in the following instances: suffering, or if this abandonment results in the death of the animal, the person
liable shall suffer the maximum penalty.
1. When it is done as part of the religious rituals of an established religion or sect or a
ritual required by tribal or ethnic custom of indigenous cultural communities; however, Abandonment means the relinquishment of all right, title, claim, or possession of
leaders shall keep records in cooperation with the Committee on Animal Welfare; the animal with the intention of not reclaiming its ownership or possession.

2. When the pet animal is afflicted with an incurable communicable disease as SECTION 8. It shall be the duty of every person to protect the natural habitat of the
determined and certified by a duly licensed veterinarian; wildlife. The destruction of said habitat shall be considered as a form of cruelty to
animals and its preservation is a way of protecting the animals.
3. When the killing is deemed necessary to put an end to the misery suffered by the
animal as determined and certified by a duly licensed veterinarian; SECTION 9. Any person who subjects any animal to cruelty, maltreatment or
neglect shall, upon conviction by final judgment, be punished by imprisonment
4. When it is done to prevent an imminent danger to the life or limb of a human being; and/or fine, as indicated in the following graduated scale:
1) Imprisonment of one (1) year and six (6) months and one (1) day to two (2) officers shall have the authority to seize and rescue illegally traded and
years and/or fine not exceeding One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00) if the maltreated animals and to arrest violators of this Act subject to the guidelines of
animal subjected to cruelty, maltreatment, or neglect dies; existing laws and rules and regulations on arrest and detention.

2) Imprisonment of one (1) year and one (1) day to one (1) year and six (6) The Secretary of the Department of Agriculture shall upon the recommendation of
months and/or a fine not exceeding Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00) if the the Committee on Animal Welfare:
animal subjected to cruelty, maltreatment or neglect survives but is severely
injured with loss of its natural faculty to survive on its own and needing human 1) Promulgate the guidelines on the criteria and training requirements for the
intervention to sustain its life; and deputization of animal welfare enforcement officers; and

3) Imprisonment of six (6) months to one (1) year and/or fine not exceeding 2) Establish a mechanism for the supervision monitoring and reporting of these
Thirty thousand pesos (P30,000.00) for subjecting any animal to cruelty, enforcement officers.
maltreatment or neglect but without causing its death or incapacitating it to
survive on its own. (SECTION 11.) If for any reason, any provision of this Act is declared to be
unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions hereof which are not
If the violation is committed by a juridical person, the officer responsible thereof affected shall continue to be in full force and effect.
shall serve the imprisonment. If the violation is committed by an alien, he or she
shall be immediately deported after the service of sentence without any further All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations and other issuances or parts
proceeding. thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby deemed
repealed, amended or modified accordingly.
The foregoing penalties shall also apply for any other violation of this Act,
depending upon the effect or result of the act or omission as defined immediately This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days from its publication in the Official
in the preceding sections. Gazette, or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation, whichever comes
earlier.
However, regardless of the resulting condition to the animals, the penalty of two
(2) years and one (1) day to three (3) years ad/or a fine not exceeding Two
hundred fifty thousand pesos (P250,000.00) shall be imposed if the offense is
committed by any of the following: (1) a syndicate; (2) an offender who makes
business out of cruelty to an animal; (3) a public officer or employee; or (4) where
at least three (3) animals are involved.

In any of the foregoing situations, the offender shall suffer subsidiary

imprisonment in case of insolvency and the inability to pay the fine.

SECTION 10. The Secretary of the Department of Agriculture shall deputize

animal welfare enforcement officers from nongovernment organizations, citizens
groups, community organizations and other volunteers who have undergone the
necessary training for this purpose. The Philippine National Police, the National
Bureau of Investigation and other law enforcement agencies shall designate
animal welfare enforcement officers. As such, animal welfare enforcement