By Jann Tatad
VIRAC, Catanduanes – A young animal advocate here has taken to the streets, feeding stray animals despite the protocols being imposed during the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in the province.
Stray dogs being fed by a volunteer of Project Save The Strays at Imelda Boulevard, Virac / (Photo courtesy of Iva Nathalia Popa)
Saying that she pitied the animals abandoned with little or nothing to eat, 21-year-old Nathalia Popa started “Project: Save the Strays” here to attend to stray cats and dogs which have been left to fend for themselves as the country reels from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19 crisis.
"It was Miss Malou Perez of Pawssion Project who really inspired us to finally take this step, especially in this time of crisis where animals are starving and not properly taken care of," Popa said.
She also said they were overwhelmed by the unexpected amount of donations from other animal lovers in the province, which they have raised just hours after they started promoting the project.
With the help of her sister, Ela, Popa has been cooking and preparing the food for the stray dogs and cats, while volunteers have been assisting with the actual feeding in the streets.
Popa emphasized she was grateful that despite the crisis, there were still people who have the heart to help the animals.
"All we really want and hope for is that all animals have a roof above their heads, are well fed, and are given the love they deserve. And though we acknowledge that not everyone appreciates our furry friends as much as we do, we truly hope that this small step of ours ends up inspiring everyone to treat all creatures - animals and human alike - with utmost love and respect," she said.