Rhelyn Harder
- A pet owner, who was bound for Baguio, secretly brought his snake on the bus
- The snake had crawled out of the paper bag and reached the driver’s shoulder
- Bringing pets in public transportation without a permit is a violation of the law
It so hard for a pet lover to leave pets at home when nobody would take good care of it. That is why some pet owners would bring along their pets with them.
Just like a pet owner who traveled to Baguio and secretly brought his snake inside the bus.
Passenger @BLYFERNANDEZ shared his experience on Twitter of someone who brought a pet snake on their trip bound for Baguio. They were all innocent until the bus conductor asked if anyone had brought a pet snake in the bus.
https://twitter.com/BLYFERNANDEZ/status/1107700171129774080
In shock, his seatmate was the passenger who had brought his pet and put it in a paper bag with tape on the center of the bag opening.
https://twitter.com/BLYFERNANDEZ/status/1107843767313170432
Unknowingly, the snake had crawled out of the paper bag and reached the driver’s shoulder which was the reason why the driver requested the owner to board off in Rosales. Luckily, none of the passengers had been bitten by the snake.
https://twitter.com/BLYFERNANDEZ/status/1107863330507489280
The Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) has its own laws and regulations to pet owners who want to travel with their pets. This law aims to impose the safety of the pet’s owner, the pet, and the passengers of any public utility transportation.
Based on RA8485: The Animal Welfare Act, section 4 states that “No public utility shall transport any such animal without a written permit from the Director of the Bureau of Animal Industry or his/her authorized representative.”
Thus, bringing pets in public transportation is a violation of the law. And even if the owner has already obtained a permit, if cruelty of any form has happened then the transporter will be penalized.
“Any form of cruelty shall be penalized even if the transporter has obtained a permit from the Bureau of Animal Industry. Cruelty in transporting includes overcrowding, placing of animals in the trunks or under the hood trunks of the vehicles.“
Then, the owner of the pet snake should have followed the PAWS tips on how to carry their pets when traveling.
1. Your dog/cat should be in a crate/carrier (to avoid accidental escaping or bites) — we suggest this for travel by taxi and other modes of public transportation as well.
2. Call the bus company ahead of time and inquire if they accept pets.
3. Be prepared to pay extra (or offer the bus company to pay extra) as if you were paying for an additional person to have the crate beside you or near you.
We should learn how to follow protocols for the safety of everybody. Anything could possibly happen with your pet during the travel, and the owner will be liable for all circumstances.
