If you have five minutes you can change how dogs are treated in the Philippines! Start by signing this petition. Then email a few dog lovers who also can sign it. If you have a blog, please consider mentioning this petition so your readers can help out too! Luc’s mom is doing the really hard part; all we have to do is type our names on a list.

For more information on this horrendous practice, check out this site.

Dear Joy,

Save Man’s Best Friend from the Dog Meat Trade – Say YES to House Bill 2991, is now live for everyone to visit and sign to help stop the dog meat trade in the Philippines. Those who sign will be supporting a House Bill currently pending in Congress to impose stiffer penalties against the dog meat traders. It is urgent that we obtain, at a minimum, 50,000 signatures by April 30, 2007. Elections will be held in the Philippines in May 2007, and we want to place an international spotlight and global pressure on the country and its government.

Luc and his mother, Rhodora de Jesus-Maiolo (the
driving force of the petition) sought help within the Dogster forums for guidance as to how to place pressure on the Philippines to stop this horrendous practice. Through communications in the threads and groups, the families of Gibbon and Wufei offered their help, and with assistance from other individuals from international animal organizations, we succeeded in posting the petition for the much needed signatures.

The dog meat trade, once regarded as an infrequent religious practice, has become a commercialized industry that kills over 500,000 dogs a year! Although dog meat is not eaten by the majority of the Filipino citizens, it is considered a delicacy to certain areas of the country. The handling, treatment and act of violence to secure and sell dog meat is unimaginable and not for the faint of heart.

Once we obtain the necessary signatures, Luc and his mother will be coordinating with others in the Philippines to bring media attention to the petition and the dog meat trade before the elections on May 14, 2007.

It is our hope that the Dogster community can rally together and sign the petition. We ask everyone to sign the petition, post in groups, e-mail friends and create the international public awareness needed to stop this practice. If anyone needs information or has questions, they can contact either Luc, Wufei or Gibbon. And I want to take this opportunity to applaud Luc and his mother for bringing this to the attention of Dogster and the international public.

Thank you.
Gibbon and Jazmine