DAVAO CITY – More than 200 rescued dogs and 50 cats at Bantay Hayop Davao, a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)-registered animal welfare organization, received Christmas gifts on December 28 from the Ikigai Animation Studio, a Japanese-Filipino-owned creative agency offering industry-standard multimedia services from creative projects to corporate needs in the Davao region.
Ikigai is a Japanese term for “a reason for being.”
Embracing the essence of Ikigai, founder Micah B. Pil, through her representative Quinn Florence G. Astillo, donated several sacks of dog and cat food to Bantay Hayop Davao.
DOGS and cats staying at Bantay Hayop Davao are all smiles after receiving Christmas gifts from a Japanese-Filipino-owned creative agency. (Ivy Tejano)
“It’s about giving back to the community. During our small meeting, we chose animal shelters like Bantay Hayop because there are many rescued dogs and cats that really need help, and we intend to continue this endeavor and help more animal shelters in the coming years,” Astillo said.
Highlight of Ikigai’s Christmas gift-giving was the feeding program for the rescued animals.
Astillo emphasized the importance of nutrients in the food provided to the animals. He urged the people to provide utmost care to the rescued animals just like how they care for their pets.
Bantay Hayop Davao supervisor Richie Caballero thanked Ikigai Animation Studio for warmly supporting their rescued dogs and cats and their advocacy “Give Hope to Furry Friends” and “No to Animal Cruelty.”
Since Bantay Hayop Davao started in 2020, Caballero said the city witnessed several instances of
animal cruelty, mistreatment, poisoning, physical abuse through hitting and hacking leading to significant injuries, and cases of abandonment.
One of the rescued dogs with paralysis is “Whitey,” who was abandoned with a protruding fractured bone. She was caring for her puppies when she was rescued. Bantay Hayop retrieved her and had her leg amputated.
“Esme,” a gentle dog, was rescued by the gutter under the main road near SM Ecoland. She was nursing her puppies who unfortunately died. She is in the isolation ward after being tested positive for the distemper virus.
Bantay Hayop president Rovie Bullina said this trend can be linked to the way Filipinos perceive Asong Pinoy or Aspins compared to dogs with specific breeds which she emphasized should not be like this.
Animal rescue organizations in Davao engage in voluntary rescue efforts without seeking remuneration. They depend on donations and often use their funds to support their initiatives.
“Taking care of a dog or a cat is not like a stuffed toy that, when a child, appears cute but ends up being kept somewhere as it grows. Just like humans, it takes a full responsibility to take good care of pets until they grow old,” Caballero said.
Caballero said Bantay Hayop Davao wishes people to have a kind heart for animals this Christmas.
“Do not own a pet you cannot take care,” he said, adding that he hopes their rescued dogs and cats will find a home that will take care of them.