UP TRIBUNAL DECISION: STOMPING A KITTEN TO DEATH IN UP IS NOT ““MISCONDUCT”
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Meet the adorable kitties that give my family so much joy. They are so loved that we call them the other members of the family. Missy (left) is mine. Kylee (center) belongs to L and Lady (right) is M’s pet. Well, my husband gets to choose among the three but I think he has a thing for Kylee. They talk to each other at the dinner table. No kidding. I understand that not everyone is a cat lover. So when I read about Joseph Carlo Candare who got labeled as a Cat Serial Killer, I was beyond horrified that someone could engage in a brutal act. I gasped at his description, I pulled it on its tail and threw it. Then like some pro wrestler I jumped on it and my feet landed on it’s torso. Slam! Felt good!. As I continued reading, I got more appalled by the comments of the readers as the poster/blogger called for action “Wanted Dead or Alive“. Geesh, what kind of call for action is that? You might be a “Cat Killer Killer”? (Edit April 19– The yoopee multiply entry has been deleted now)
Still seething with anger, I shook my head and tried to understand the actions behind this brutality. Despite my disgust , I turned my thoughts to the student who studies at UP Diliman. What is the university doing about this? Is it providing help to Joseph Carlo Candare (JC)? I know his actions are just so gruesome to comprehend among cat lovers like me. Should I continue on with this anger? What will my anger bring me? Anger is a beneficial one if it is NOT allowed to harden into resentment or used as a battering ram to punish people. Anger signals problems we need to solve or it points to boundaries we need to set. Sometimes it is the final burst of energy before letting go settles in.
Breathe deeply. I can feel all this anger but still take responsibility for my behavior.
Right now, I can act on my anger and move on to a positive resolution.
Since I am not privy to the concrete steps already initiated by the The Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) , the university and other groups concerned, let me just provide my own positive resolution:
1. Think of the boy’s welfare. Stop spreading vicious posters about him. How is that going to help? Sure, he is an adult and should be accountable for the consequences of his actions but do we really know what is happening to him? Though JC gave an apology, I believe he needs help and compassion by the agencies concerned not a lynch mob approach. It’s about time to read up on the Libel Law.
Instead of hurling more insults to JC , allow the proper agencies to work on this and file the necessary charges or consequences, if applicable.
2. Provide public awareness to the Animal Welfare Act or Republic Act No. 8485 especially to those who despise cats or dogs or animals. Instead of spreading posters about the Cat Killer, why not spread posters on the Animal Welfare Act and point certain sections such as:
SECTION 6: It shall be unlawful for any person to torture any animal, to neglect to provide adequate care, sustenance or shelter, or maltreat any animal or to subject any dog or horse to dogfights or horsefights, kill or cause or procure to be tortured or deprived of adequate care, sustenance or shelter, or maltreat or use the same in research or experiments not expressly authorized by the Committee on Animal Welfare…
Anyone who violates any of the provisions of this Act shall, upon conviction by final judgment, be punished by imprisonment of not less than six (6) months nor more than two (2) years or a fine or not less than One thousand pesos (P1,000) nor more that Five thousand pesos (P5,000) or both at the discretion of the Court.
Posters on Animal Welfare bring a more constructive course of action. What can society gain by spreading a poster of a Cat Killer?
True, his actions are pretty disturbing and may be in violation of the law, yet I believe he is not a hopeless case. I hope we all step back a little, take a deep breath and let the proper authorities handle this without resorting to outbursts of emotions and hurting him back online.
A little compassion and understanding will go a long way to prevent a similar case and thus ensure the welfare of our animals.
Note that I am only adding tags below so that any searches on this topic will also land on my blog and provide another perspective of this cat killer issue.
