Don't send dogs to death row, rescue group urges
Published May 28, 2020 11:40 am
By: Czarina Nicole Ong Ki
What do you do when you see stray dogs roaming the streets? You'd probably think they would be better off in the city pound, where they would at least get a steady supply of food and water. You then call your local government unit and ask for the dogs to be impounded, comforted by the thought that they will no longer have to forage for scraps.
(Pawssion Project)
However, dog advocacy group Pawssion Project would like to open people's eyes about the heartbreaking reality of city pounds. True, dogs there are caged and kept off the streets. But if left unclaimed for two weeks, at the most, these dogs are killed.
"As per the law, if they are not rescued or adopted in three days to two weeks the most, they will be killed," Pawssion Project founder Malou Perez shared on Instagram.
When Perez first found out about dogs on death row, she went through a period of depression. She could not believe how those innocent creatures are killed, some even by gunshot, and buried by the thousands just because they were unwanted. This prompted Perez to start Pawssion Project, where she continues to fight for animal rights to this day.
"We can't save them all," she acknowledged, "but we can all speak up for them and let people know their realities so more and more people choose to be kind to them, so more LGUs will look into their pound situations, so more vets will help them, so more people with connections will move to help them, so more people will understand why we encourage people to adopt instead, so more dogs and cats find homes and at least experience how it is to be loved."
Perez said that thousands of dogs are now in death row in pounds. It is legal for city pounds to euthanize unclaimed dogs. However, Perez said some dogs are shot, some are starved to death, while some find their bodies deteriorating because of filthy living conditions.
What Perez could not accept is the fact that people remain clueless or apathetic about sending dogs to the pound. "And while we worry about the dogs here now, the city vet continues to receive requests from people. Please, we beg of you, help us be their voice," she urged.
If she only could, Perez would adopt all dogs in city pounds in a heartbeat. But she said that there is more to responsible rescuing than people realize. These dogs in death row are almost often already sick, and they need to be treated before they find a new home.
"We also pay adoption fees as well. We spend over P10,000 for a sick rescue, and that is just day one. Also, most of these dogs are here because homeowners, barangays request for 'cleaning up of strays' and other people surrender," she said.
Pawssion Project now has two shelters with over 200 rescues. They have to maintain operational costs and pay the salaries of caretakers, not to mention cough up funds for their stray feeding program and pays the vets who are treating sick rescues, among many other things.
For those who want to help and join the advocacy, Perez always tells them to adopt stray dogs. If they cannot adopt, they can volunteer. If time is an issue and volunteering would be difficult, Perez hopes people can donate to their cause. But if funds are tight, they can at least spread the word about animal rights.
"Speak up for them," she said. "Adopt. Foster. Donate. Volunteer. Advocate. We can all do something."
(Pawssion Project)
However, dog advocacy group Pawssion Project would like to open people's eyes about the heartbreaking reality of city pounds. True, dogs there are caged and kept off the streets. But if left unclaimed for two weeks, at the most, these dogs are killed.
"As per the law, if they are not rescued or adopted in three days to two weeks the most, they will be killed," Pawssion Project founder Malou Perez shared on Instagram.
When Perez first found out about dogs on death row, she went through a period of depression. She could not believe how those innocent creatures are killed, some even by gunshot, and buried by the thousands just because they were unwanted. This prompted Perez to start Pawssion Project, where she continues to fight for animal rights to this day.
"We can't save them all," she acknowledged, "but we can all speak up for them and let people know their realities so more and more people choose to be kind to them, so more LGUs will look into their pound situations, so more vets will help them, so more people with connections will move to help them, so more people will understand why we encourage people to adopt instead, so more dogs and cats find homes and at least experience how it is to be loved."
Perez said that thousands of dogs are now in death row in pounds. It is legal for city pounds to euthanize unclaimed dogs. However, Perez said some dogs are shot, some are starved to death, while some find their bodies deteriorating because of filthy living conditions.
What Perez could not accept is the fact that people remain clueless or apathetic about sending dogs to the pound. "And while we worry about the dogs here now, the city vet continues to receive requests from people. Please, we beg of you, help us be their voice," she urged.
If she only could, Perez would adopt all dogs in city pounds in a heartbeat. But she said that there is more to responsible rescuing than people realize. These dogs in death row are almost often already sick, and they need to be treated before they find a new home.
"We also pay adoption fees as well. We spend over P10,000 for a sick rescue, and that is just day one. Also, most of these dogs are here because homeowners, barangays request for 'cleaning up of strays' and other people surrender," she said.
Pawssion Project now has two shelters with over 200 rescues. They have to maintain operational costs and pay the salaries of caretakers, not to mention cough up funds for their stray feeding program and pays the vets who are treating sick rescues, among many other things.
For those who want to help and join the advocacy, Perez always tells them to adopt stray dogs. If they cannot adopt, they can volunteer. If time is an issue and volunteering would be difficult, Perez hopes people can donate to their cause. But if funds are tight, they can at least spread the word about animal rights.
"Speak up for them," she said. "Adopt. Foster. Donate. Volunteer. Advocate. We can all do something."