On February 15, 2026, the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) and AskAbogado.ph will hold a Free Legal Aid Sunday, offering qualified individuals access to volunteer lawyers for cases involving animal cruelty, neglect, abandonment, and other punishable acts under the Animal Welfare Act.
The initiative is part of AskAbogado’s first anniversary celebration. It’s a reminder that legal protection is not a privilege reserved for the well-resourced. It is a right.
For many rescuers and concerned citizens, filing a case can feel intimidating. The law may be on the animals’ side, but navigating procedures, documentation, and court processes often requires guidance. This collaboration aims to close that gap.
Who Can Qualify?
Free legal aid is extended to qualified beneficiaries, subject to screening in accordance with Supreme Court A.M. No. 22-11-01-SC.
You may be eligible if you meet all of the following criteria: you have little to no money or property for basic needs such as food, shelter, and daily necessities; your gross monthly family income does not exceed twice the minimum wage in your area; you do not own real property with a fair market value exceeding ₱300,000; you are an OFW, migrant worker, refugee, asylum-seeker, or stateless person who cannot afford adequate legal services.
Applicants may be asked to submit supporting documents such as: latest Income Tax Return (ITR) or income tax return slip; pay slip; current tax declaration; certificate of Indigency issued by the DSWD or local government unit
Submission of documents is strictly for screening purposes.
How to Sign Up
Those seeking assistance must:
- Create an account at AskAbogado.ph.
- On the landing page, click “PAWS Free Legal Aid.”
- Choose a lawyer and available time slot (one booking per account only).
- Fill out the form, upload a Certificate of Indigency or other supporting documents, and briefly describe the animal welfare case.
- Click “Book Meeting.”
Consultations will be conducted online via AskAbogado’s platform.
For those with unstable or limited internet access, in-person consultations will be accommodated at the PAWS Animal Rehabilitation Center at Aurora Boulevard corner Katipunan Avenue, Quezon City.
Slots are limited.
Why This Matters
The Animal Welfare Act exists to protect animals from cruelty — but laws are only as powerful as the people willing and able to enforce them. Too often, rescuers shoulder medical bills, shelter expenses, and emotional labor alone, while perpetrators go unchallenged because legal help feels out of reach.
By opening its network of volunteer lawyers, AskAbogado affirms that animal welfare cases deserve professional legal support. By partnering with PAWS, the initiative ensures that advocacy and legal recourse move together.
If you or someone you know is handling a case of cruelty, neglect, or abandonment, February 15 may be the first step toward justice.
