The best career path, to me, is one that is centered around things that one loves to do.
I love animals, thus, I want to be a veterinarian so I can treat them and help prevent illnesses.
I also want to fight for animal rights. Through my love for digital artwork and animation, I hope to someday use my skills in the arts to come up with communication materials to help stop or prevent different forms of animal cruelty.
I like fighting for animal rights, just as much as I like fighting for human rights. I believe animals should not be treated like they are beings whose lives are of less value than ours because they are “just animals” as others put it. That is my personal stand on animal rights. I have seen so many people treat animals like they are merely objects they could get rid of anytime they want. I believe animals deserve fair treatment, as fairly as humans. They are living beings after all, much like us.
Cruelty against animals continues despite laws on animal welfare. I see on television and on the internet that there only a few officials here in our country who care about animals. There was once a story in the news about the animals in the zoo not having sufficient food and who were not being cared for properly. But no one did something about it until an animal rights group staged a protest and the story caught the attention of media.
Looking through the Republic Act 8485 otherwise known as “The Animal Welfare Act of 1998” as Amended by Republic Act 10631, I can say that there are a few loopholes in the said law. In section 6 of the said law, for example, although it is great that dogfights and horse fights are cited as unlawful in this section, it is limited only to those two kinds of betting games. How about cock fights? Are not roosters animals also which should be covered by the law as well? Why are cock fights not mentioned when it is very rampant here in our country?
“SEC. 6. It shall be unlawful for any person to torture any animal, to neglect to provide adequate care, sustenance of shelter, or maltreat any animal or to subject any dog or horse to dogfights or horse fights, 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.” (Republic Act 8485 otherwise known as “The Animal Welfare Act of 1998” as Amended by Republic Act 10631, CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES, THIRD REGULAR SESSION, Oct. 3, 2013)
My mother and I are in the process of writing an article on loopholes in the animal welfare law. We are hoping that legislators will take notice and recognize our comments on this. I hope one day, I will be able to make a difference on the animal rights issue and urge others to push for amendments to the animal welfare law which are indeed in favor of animals.
But advocating for animal rights is not enough for me. This is why I want to take up veterinary medicine. I want to save animal lives in medical terms as well.
I know that veterinary medicine is a five-year program now from an accredited college or university. I want to contribute to the demand of veterinarians here in the Philippines. According to the Department of Labor and Employment, there may be a shortage in veterinarians in the country since many opt to go abroad because the pay is far higher than what the local employment offers (Veterinarian, Bureau of Local Employment-Department of Labor and Employment of the Philippines, 2011). Even if the financial prospects abroad is higher, I choose to stay here because of my advocacy.
I choose a career path involved in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and control of animal diseases including terrestrial and aquatic animals.
A veterinarian is what I have always wanted to be ever since I could remember. When I was barely three years old, my mother told me there was a “Doctor of Animals.” Right there and then, I knew that it is what I want to be—a doctor of animals.
My goal when I finally become a veterinarian is to be the first to create the most complete animal hospital and shelter at the same time. I want to build a fully functional hospital-shelter with all the equipment needed to prevent illnesses, diagnose, and treat animals.
And, since I also want to become an animator or a digital artist, I plan to take an animation course after taking veterinary medicine.
My mother and I have actually started a shelter for animals and I hope that our little shelter will have better facilities by the time I finish my degree. But we continue to help animals in need even at this time, despite the limitations. I go by what my mom tells me about time and opportunities. She said: “Do what you can and with what you have now because time will not wait for you.”
About the author: Yumi Burgos is the only child of Mariana and Jonas Burgos. Now 17 years old, she is an artist who has won a number of national and international art competitions. She is an active advocate of both human rights and animal rights.