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SHELTER UPDATE
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Maya is finally home!
Remember Maya, the little amputee featured in the May issue of our e-newsletter?
Now, she's fully rehabilitated and enjoying a second chance in life with her new loving family. Her story below:
On June 22, 2011, two sisters arrived at the PAWS Animal Rehabilitation Center with a small, quivering package.
A young, tiny kitten was inside the towel-laden box, filthy and drenched. The veterinarian took a look at her shivering state and remarked that she looked like a drenched bird. Hence, she was immediately named after a small, local bird: Maya.
But Maya had bigger problems than needing a good bath and meal. Her right front leg was badly injured that it had already started to rot. Her leg had to be amputated to save her from fatal infection and pain.
Although she was only approximately ten (10) weeks old then and in a horrible physical state, the veterinarians proceeded with the amputation in order to save her.
She was the youngest animal at PARC to be operated on, and volunteers nervously waited for any news from the veterinary team.
She pulled through, much to the joy and excitement of everyone. She spent her recovery days with a volunteer veterinarian, until she was ready to relearn how to walk and adjust to a life with three legs.
Maya's fighting spirit and endearing personality captured every single heart at PARC, including Nicole Pareno, who was, incidentally, looking for a playmate for her rescued cat named Bumper.
As soon as Maya was cleared for adoption, she was given a new, soft, red bed and went home with her forever family.
Stories like Maya's serve as a testimony of how love, compassion and dedication can save lives and give second chances, to both humans and animals. It provides inspiration for the PAWS staff and volunteers to keep going despite physical, emotional, and financial challenges that come with helping animals rescued from cruelty, neglect, or disasters.
For more stories and shelter animal updates
click here
for adoption photo updates click
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 The caller reported an animal cruelty case - a hacking incident - to Barangay officials but the unknown culprits were able to escape. Fortunately, so did the dog. Scared and in pain, the mutt scampered off to the nearest house that she could hide in, and the caller, along with concerned neighbors, fenced her off and took turns watching her until PAWS volunteers arrived.
The gaping wound on the dog's side was a clue to a most horrifying experience. Someone must have tried to slaughter her and ended up giving her a deep cut. The brown, long-haired aspin with soft hazel eyes was rushed to the PAWS Clinic for treatment. As with most dogs who experienced trauma in the hands of humans, she cowered and would not let anyone touch her.
We named her "Gene" . Her large wound healed, but it became a challenge for volunteers to continue her medications and socialization due to her fearful state.
Jonika, a senior volunteer, became Gene's handler. She spent hours sitting on the other side of her kennel, talking to her and handing her treats. As the weeks passed, Gene grew more and more comfortable with Jonika, and later on, with other volunteers and staff. She no longer shied away from the people she would usually see at the shelter. Today, Gene is still undergoing treatment for her skin problems, and has yet to overcome her behavioral issues.
But, as with all rescued animals at PARC, she will be given all the time she needs to heal and trust again.
The volunteers and staff members know that they can achieve much progress with this dog by showering her with lots of affection and tender loving care until she is ready to go to her forever home.
Do contact us if you think you could be the one to give Gene a second chance at a good life. We'll let you walk her if we see that she is warming up to you. Until then, you will see Jonika or some other PAWS volunteer walking Gene in our ampitheater garden, quietly assuring her that the wait may take long but it will be worth it. If you are interested in adopting, please visit PARC Mondays to Saturdays, 10:00am to 5:00pm. You may just find a best friend for life. |
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Be a Supporting Member 
Help PAWS help animals in need.
A small amount you give each month will make a difference in the lives of animals.
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TO BDO CREDITCARD HOLDERS
You can donate your Banco de Oro (BDO) credit card rewards points to PAWS.
Each month, the PAWS animal shelter needs at least
Php 140,000 (one hundred forty thousand pesos) to keep its facility running. So every little bit counts.
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DONATE ONLINE
Visit our website:
www.paws.org.ph
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February 2012
Greetings!
IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE OUR LAST UPDATE.
In December 2011, the PAWS shelter was rocked by its sudden admission of seventy-three (73) pitbulls rescued from the Indang, Cavite dogfight. Never before had PAWS taken in such a huge number of animals - more than its current population of 56 rescued dogs. But we felt it was an exemption we had to make as the conditions of the pitbulls tore our hearts apart.
The dogs obviously were not secure in the facility - they were being 'adopted out' without undergoing any treatment or physical or behavioral rehabilitation. They had holes and gaping wounds in their bodies, they were hungry and thirsty.
The plan to send food and supplies to the facility had not worked out. We had to decide on the emergency admission of these sad-looking dogs who have been through so much: they were made to fight each other, were kept in small cages, did not receive any veterinary care and - when volunteers came in to check on them, many of them were weak from malnutrition and dehydration.
It was December 9 and 10, 2011 when the pitbulls came, and just as we were winding down to write our year-end report, we were faced with a huge amount of work. Now this was something that we usually faced head-on, undaunted, but there were other considerations: the fact that we had current animals who also depended on us to rehabilitate them and care for them.
There was no quarantine area in place, and the needs of rescued fighting pitbulls were much more than the regular dog.
Already our current shelter animals had not been walked while the pitbulls were being shuttled back and forth for check up at the clinic. We knew that any
pitbull that would accidentally escape will go after any dog or cat straying in the immediate area. They have been abused and trained to fight for far too long and an intensive rehabilitation had to take place.
The realization that we did not have the infrastructure, the budget , the manpower and the rehabilitation program in place to keep these dogs for the long-term gripped us with fear.
We had to make the decision to temporarily close our clinic and shelter as PAWS could not run the risk of any of the pets of our spay-neuter clients being attacked by a dog that might accidentally escape.
After deliberating on the best course of action among animal welfare groups, it was Nena Hernandez - head of Island Rescue Organization (IRO) in Cebu who volunteered to take over the rehabilitation of the pitbulls. Nena's lifelong dream is to put up her own pitbull rescue group, the first ever in the Philippines. Read more of the story below.
The whole pitbull experience has taught us that there is nothing that a group of people cannot do when they have their minds set on making a difference. Looking back on the year that has been has also filled us with a strange sense of pride that we are able to do much with the little that we have.
Consider this:
- 47 dogs and 87 cats adopted from our shelter in 2011.
- There were 8,169 people educated on responsible pet ownership and animal welfare advocacy and about 1,177 veterinary cases seen and treated by our low-cost clinic.
- With the acquisition of our Spay-Neuter mobile clinic, we were able to reach more provinces to do Spay-Neuter Outreach Programs attaining a total of 1,377 animals spayed and neutered last year!
- Day to day activities like filing of criminal cases, attending court hearings, ocular inspections of prospective adoptive homes , conducting outreach programs for disaster-stricken areas still had to go on, while we ensured that the care of animals in our shelter were not left unattended.
It may seem an impossible dream - but we do plan to achieve more for the animals in 2012, with your help.
This includes the amendment of the Animal Welfare Act jumpstarted by the filing of House Bill Number 5849 - increasing the penalties and prison terms for convicted animal offenders, among others.
We want to expand PAWS' spay-neuter outreach all the way to the provinces of Visayas and Mindanao and we want to empower people to save animals in a strategic way by providing training and much-needed information on filing criminal cases.
It is our fervent hope that we continue to be a formidable force in implementing change. Lobbying efforts started by PAWS have ousted a long-sitting inutile head of the Animal Welfare Division and we are ready for a fresh start.
While work has become tougher, we know that we have more allies now and more people like you who will continue to support the work what we do.
In behalf of PAWS and the animals we have helped, thank you to all our Supporting Members and Volunteers.
Thanks to the nameless kind souls who have dropped off a donation of a bag or two of cat food at our shelter, or have deposited an amount at the bank to help us with our work .
We hope that reading our e-newsletter - one put together by volunteers who are also doing work with court hearings, rehabilitation and cruelty inspections - will give you hope.
Because it shows that we all can do something - no matter how little. Or no matter how much we are dealing with at the moment.
We all can contribute something to the cause and make life better for our animal friends.
Anna H. Cabrera
Executive Director
PAWS
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  The Cavite Fighting Pitbulls' Long Journey to a New Lease in Life
The December 2, 2011 raid in Indang, Cavite, led by the local authorities and Animal Kingdom Foundation (AKF), exposed a full-scale Pitbull fighting ring run by both locals and Korean nationals.
Police said that pitbulls were pitted against each other in a fight lasting 3-5 minutes while patrons placed bets worth hundreds of thousands to a million Korean won. The fights were being streamed live on the Internet.
AKF had turned the Pitbulls over to the Provincial Veterinarian's Office of Indang, Cavite. It was decided that the dogs were to stay in the warehouse where they were kept, under their supervision due to lack of a suitable facility. But the horrifying condition of the pitbulls and a disturbing report of PAWS veterinarian and volunteers raised the alarm among other local animal welfare organizations to step in and transfer the pitbulls to the PAWS Animal Rehabilitation Center.
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PAWS conducts lectures and demonstration on
Humane Animal Control and Euthanasia workshops in the Visayas region
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Dr. Wilford Almoro demonstrates proper euthanasia to provincial veterinarians and pound personnel
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PAWS Shelter Veterinarian Dr Wilford C. Almoro was main lecturer for the seminar and workshops on Animal Control Management and Humane Euthanasia organized by the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) last year.
These talks were held in in various key areas in Visayas, namely in Cebu City on March 28 to April 2, 2011; in Catarman, Samar on August 2-5 and in Tagbilaran, Bohol on September 13-16, 2011. Impounding facility employees, dog catchers, vaccinators, as well as City, Municipal and Provincial Veterinarians participated in the said lectures and workshops.
All over the Philippines, cities and municipalities are mandated to catch stray dogs in order to prevent rabies Sadly, there are more programs launched by local government units (LGU) for animal control or catching strays than spay-neuter programs.
Given this situation and while animal welfare groups like PAWS are intensifying their lobby for spay-neuter in communities, the training of Pound officials about humane pound management, dog-catching and proper euthanasia remain a paramount concern.
After the seminars and workshops in Tagbilaran, Bohol, Dr. Almoro also headed a Spay-Neuter outreach for the local residents with veterinarians trained by the Humane Society International. Locals were educated about the importance of sterilizing one's pet, as a part of Responsible Pet Ownership, and as an effective way of preventing pet overpopulation.
>> Read more
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PAWS Heads South for the Rescue & Relief Operation for Typhoon Sendong Victims in Cagayan De Oro and Iligan
A flash flood w ith waters as high as 7 to 10 meters destroyed homes and the entire villages of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan City on December 16, 2011 during the onslaught of Tropical Storm "Sendong" (International Name "Washi").
The 9.8 - 13.8 inches of rain brought about by Sendong caused the rivers to overflow and generate a flash flood that left 823 people dead and 600 still missing (Reported as of December 19, 2011).
It was a tragedy for humans. It was a tragedy for animals. For the latter, however, there were no rescue missions being sent out, no food relief being given. It could be said that, for many animals, the aftermath of the disaster was just as bad as the disaster itself: Horses and cattle were seen untreated and lying on the streets suffering from near-drowning and various injuries. Dogs and cats, were found starving, scrounging for food and water amidst the rubble. 
After the human relief and rescue was done in the first week, PAWS' very own volunteer, veterinarian David Arceo, was the first on site to assess the situation and to conduct an initial feeding and treatment of a hundred or so animals.
Dr. Arceo noted that companion animals faced a tragedy very much similar to the humans - they lost their families. Many dogs -with collars - looked lost and afraid as they walked around the rubble where their old homes used to be. They approached people cautiously but were aware that humans were the only chance they had to get a bit of food.
With help from the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), and using Arceo's initial reports, PAWS Disaster Relief Teams headed out on separate occasions to conduct feeding of the animals in the affected areas. Some injured animals were also treated.
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 New House Bill seeks to amend Animal Welfare Act to provide more protection to animals
A House Bill is now at the Congress filed by Congresswoman Bernadette Herrera-Dy of the Bagong Henerasyon Party List to amend the Animal Welfare Act (or Republic Act 8485) and increase penalties for those who have committed acts of cruelty to animals.
Under the said House Bill 5849, convicted animal offenders face a prison term of not less than six (6) years and one day to twelve years (12) or a fine of not less than P50,000. The current Act only has a prison term of six months up to two (2) years and fines up to P5,000.
The Bill also proposes the banning of pet ownership for those convicted of pet neglect, and the deputization of reputable and accredited animal welfare NGOs to form part of a deputized Inspectorate Team to help government (Bureau of Animal Industry-Animal Welfare Division) monitor reports of cruelty and neglect, and gather evidence for the prosecution of those who do not take steps to improve the conditions of animals being maltreated or neglected.
>> read more
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 72 Animals Spayed & Neutered for Free at the PAWS Annual SpayDay
The Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) opened the gates of the PAWS Animal Rehabilitation Center (PARC) last February 24 to indigent pet owners for Free Spay-Neuter Day 2012.
A total of 82 cats and dogs were registered by families concerned about their companion animals' health and welfare. Each animal was carefully tagged and, with their owners, ushered to the multi-purpose hall so both owner and pet could comfortably wait for their turn at the clinic.
PAWS Shelter Veterinarian Dr. Wilford Almoro led the team of volunteer veterinarians, Dr. Dan Hiceta, Dr. Marga Carpio and Dr. Nick Carpio in performing the surgeries of 72 cats and dogs found fit for surgery.
Those unfit for surgery were given medication prescriptions and an appointment to return upon their pet's recovery so that they may continue with the operation.
>> Read more
Help support our Spay-Neuter Program - You may contribute online to our spay-neuter fund at www.paws.org.ph or by clicking on this link. http://www.paws.org.ph/site/540/default.aspx
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Legal Case Victories: Dog killers in Rizal and Labrador-shooting man found guillty
Two of the animal cruelty cases filed by complainants with assistance of the Philippine Animal Welfare Society have recently been closed.
 After almost two years of court hearings, dog killers and brothers, Christopher and Gilbert Babe were convicted at the Municipal Trial Court of Rodriguez Rizal for violat ing the Animal Welfare Act after they beat up Kevin, the pet of Marian Yutuc, from Kasiglahan Village in Rodriguez.. The prosecution had recommended six months' imprisonment for the brothers, though they are now out on bail.
 Carlos Gozum, 55, was also found guilty of violation of Section 6 of the Animal Welfare Act and was sentenced to pay P5,000 after shooting the dog of the complainant, Renato Tuazon.. He was also ordered to pay P15,238 in actual damages. He faces imprisonment if he fails to settle his dues.
full stories on the following links:
Court convicts dog killers in Rizal
Labrador-shooting man found guilty, ordered to pay fine, damages
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Marjorie: NO EXCUSES
More often, we see a lot of messages in our emails or social network sites from people who feel sad about not being able to volunteer.
There are those who feel that volunteering for PAWS will take much time or financial resources.
But then came Marjorie.
Marjorie doesn't have a car. She doesn't have a lot of money. What she simply had was: love for animals and a firm resolve to improve the lives of pets and strays she often came across with in the areas where she worked or used to work.
Marjorie was determined to make a difference by buckling down to work for animal welfare with every spare time that she had.
She would go to PARC during her off days from work and spend the whole day quietly assisting the vet, taking care of shelter animals' medications, cleaning cages, rolling wads of cotton into balls, washing surgical drapes - whatever had to be done.
Her favorite shelter 'chores' are cleaning up sick or newly-rescued felines and preparing the special meals for the Intensive Care Unit cats.
There is no such thing as "no time" for Marjorie. She also doubles up her usual chores with "unofficial Humane Education seminars" in Barangay Offices, wet markets, schools - wherever she would find an audience who would care enough to listen to what she has to say about responsible pet ownership.
She is one of our most active advocates for Spaying and Neutering. Single-handedly, she educated the entire Commonwealth Market about the benefits of sterilization, and paved the way for a successful Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) program there.
She also educates indigent pet owners, mostly those referred by market vendors, and helps people who cannot afford expensive veterinary services bring in their pets for treatment at our low-cost clinic.
>> click here for photos of Marjorie's TNR project
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The Philippine Animal Welfare Society
PARC Compound, Aurora Blvd. Katipunan Valley, Loyola Heights,
Quezon City Philippines Tel/Fax: (632) 4751688
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