MANILA - Sen. Ana Maria Consuelo "Jamby" Madrigal brought her own greyhound dog, Prasad, to the Senate on Tuesday to protest a proposal to legalize greyhound racing in the country.

In a press conference, Madrigal said greyhound racing is already being outlawed in other countries because of the inhumane treatment of dogs. "The dogs are killed if they lose the race so it's very cruel," she told reporters.

Madrigal said House Bill 5291 or an “Act granting Fox New Millennium Amusement Club Inc. a franchise to construct, operate and maintain a greyhound racetrack in any place within the City of Mandaue, province of Cebu" has already passed the House of Representatives. She said a counterpart bill has yet to be discussed in the Senate.

The lady senator said Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal called her up on Tuesday to ask for her support in fighting the measure.

Representatives from The Animal Kingdom Foundation, Feather Friends Foundation, Compassion and Responsibility for Animals (CARA), Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) have also opposed the measure.