MANILA, March 20 -- Senator Grace Poe on Wednesday renewed her call for the passage of Senate Bill (SB) No. 2458, which seeks to improve animal welfare in the country, following the brutal killing of a golden retriever named "Killua" in Bato, Camarines Sur which was widely condemned by netizens.

In a statement, Poe said she was "heart-broken and enraged" after hearing of Killua's killing, and reminded the public that the Animal Welfare Act of 1998, amended by Republic Act 10631, prohibits torture and maltreatment of any animal, neglect to provide adequate care, sustenance of shelter, or to subject any dog or horse to fights, or use animals in research or experiments not expressly authorized by the Committee on Animal Welfare.

"If we are...