The Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) has condemned the viral horse-dragging incident in Misamis Oriental, stressing that tying and dragging a horse behind a moving vehicle is animal cruelty and “hindi ganyan ang proper training.” The group vowed to pursue legal action under the Animal Welfare Act against those responsible.

MANILA, Philippines — A video showing a horse being dragged by a pickup truck in Claveria, Misamis Oriental went viral earlier this week, sparking outrage among animal welfare advocates and the public. Witnesses said the horse, later identified as Kabang, was forced to run along the winding “Dragon Tail” road until it collapsed from exhaustion. 

“Nakakaawa talaga. Napakaraming kurbada roon, pa-baba at pa-akyat, pero hindi talaga inintindi ng truck driver ang kalagayan ng kabayo,” said motorist Shiru Moto, who saw the incident unfold.

In a statement, PAWS maintained that the act constitutes clear animal cruelty. “Hindi ganyan ang proper training,” the organization said, emphasizing that humane methods must always be used in handling and training animals. 

PAWS added that dragging a horse in such a manner not only causes physical harm but also severe distress, violating Republic Act No. 8485 or the Animal Welfare Act of the Philippines.

The group has appealed to the public to help identify the perpetrator and provide information to law enforcement authorities. “We are appealing to witnesses of this cruel act of a horse being dragged by a truck until the poor animal ultimately collapsed and died to report to law enforcement authorities so that the driver of the vehicle can be identified and a case filed for violation of The Animal Welfare Act,” PAWS said.

Animal rights organizations, including PETA, also condemned the incident, calling it a blatant disregard for animal welfare. They stressed that proper horse training involves patience, care, and respect for the animal’s well-being, not coercion or abuse.

Authorities are now investigating the case, with PAWS ready to assist in filing charges. The incident has reignited calls for stricter enforcement of animal welfare laws and greater public awareness about humane treatment of animals.

Cruelty Isn’t Training, It’s a Culture Problem

Animal cruelty often hides behind excuses like discipline, tradition, or “training.” But dragging a horse behind a moving vehicle is not ignorance, it is a deliberate choice to treat a living creature as disposable.

The outrage over Kabang’s death exposes a wider failure of enforcement and education. Laws exist, yet cruelty persists because consequences feel distant and public awareness remains uneven. Abuse becomes normalized when communities tolerate it until a viral video forces attention.

If cruelty only becomes unacceptable once it trends online, what does that say about the country’s real commitment to animal welfare?

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