A woman who survived stage 3 colon cancer 15 years ago has found a new purpose: feeding and caring for stray animals after a heartbreaking encounter with a dying dog outside her home.

In an interview with the Manila Bulletin, Cherrie Lyn Arcio said her mission began on Jan. 17, 2024, when she found a large dog dead in front of her house in Barangay Nagkaisang Nayon, Quezon City.

She initially posted about the dog on the barangay Facebook group, hoping its owner would come forward. When no one claimed the animal, she buried it herself.

The experience left a lasting impact when she learned the dog had reportedly stayed outside her house for days while still alive, but no one informed her or offered help.

Before burying the dog, Arcio gave him a name.

“Wala kang desenteng tahanan dito sa lupa. Bibigyan kita ng desenteng pangalan, at ang pangalan mo ay Juan Arcio (You never had a decent home on earth. I’ll at least give you a decent name, and your name will be Juan Arcio),” she recalled telling the animal.

Afterward, she prayed for a new purpose.

“Kung ganito ang nangyayari sa mga batang ito, gawin mo akong mukha at boses ng mga strays (If this is what happens to these children, make me the face and voice of stray animals),” Arcio said.

The next morning, while taking her child to school on an e-bike, several stray dogs and cats followed her. She stopped, bought food, and fed them. That simple act eventually became her daily mission.

At first, Arcio used her own savings and received help from her children to sustain the feeding program, which eventually cost about P6,000 a day.

Her social media posts documenting the feedings later gained millions of views and were monetized on Meta platforms.

Instead of keeping the earnings, Arcio used them to expand her feeding program, bring sick animals to veterinary clinics, support confinement, and help fund spay and neuter programs for strays, rescuers, and animal shelters.

“Kaya ginalingan ko pag-aralan si Meta dahil ilang buhay ang nakasalalay sa palad ko (I worked hard to understand Meta because many lives depended on it),” Arcio said.

She also credits her supporters, whom she calls her “GateKeepers,” for helping sustain the mission.

When e-bikes were restricted in some areas, supporters from different countries raised funds to buy her a tuktuk, which she now uses during her daily feeding rounds. Part of the donations also helped rehabilitate animal shelters.

Arcio travels across Novaliches, Valenzuela, South Caloocan, Bulacan, Pampanga, Antipolo, Rizal, Cavite, Manila, and Quezon City, feeding about 200 dogs and nearly as many cats each day.

“Araw-araw need nila kumain, umulan at umaraw. Bumaha man o hindi. Matarik man 'yan o patag. Kailangan ko silang tawirin (They need to eat every day, whether it rains or shines, whether there is flooding or not, whether the road is steep or flat. I have to reach them),” she said.

Arcio said she usually begins her feeding activities at 8 a.m. and continues until around 4 p.m., often pushing herself until she is exhausted.

“Eight a.m. until I drop, 4 p.m. until I drop pa rin. Marami kayong hindi nakikita behind the camera, pero sa mata ng Diyos, nakikita Niya ang lahat, just to keep Him smiling from ear to ear (I start at 8 a.m. and continue until around 4 p.m., pushing myself until I am exhausted. There are many things people do not see behind the camera, but God sees everything. I do it to keep Him smiling from ear to ear),” she said.

Despite her own health condition, Arcio continues her feeding rounds.

She said she wears a diaper during feedings because she can no longer fully control her urination and bowel movements, but she refuses to let that stop her from caring for the animals.

One of her most memorable experiences involved a mother dog that waited for her every morning at around 5 a.m. for two months. One day, after eating, the dog returned with her puppies, as if introducing them to her.

Before dedicating herself to stray animals, Arcio said her ministry focused on helping young families with children by teaching them how to earn a living using whatever resources they had.

Painful experiences eventually led her to devote her time to rescuing and feeding dogs and cats instead.

She admitted the work is emotionally draining, especially when she encounters animals that are injured, chained, neglected, or already dying before help arrives.

“Yung makita ko sila na wala na, na lagasan ako ng isang anak, 'yun ang pinakamabigat (Seeing them gone feels like losing one of my own children. That is the hardest part),” she said.

For Arcio, feeding is only one part of animal welfare. She said stray animals also need medical care, spaying and neutering, shelter, and protection from cruelty.

Arcio is a solo parent of three; two of her children are now licensed professionals, while her youngest is in Grade 8.

She also cares for seven rescued dogs and four cats at home while continuing to help provide food and medical assistance to animals in her community.

She encouraged those who want to help stray animals to prepare themselves mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, saying animal welfare requires commitment beyond simply providing food.

“Kung gusto nilang mag-feeding para kumita, hindi ;yan magpo-prosper. Madaming roots ang feeding at hindi lang ‘yan ang gagawin mo. Need nila ang spay and neuter at medical attention (If you’re feeding animals just to earn money, it won’t prosper. Feeding has many responsibilities. They also need spaying, neutering, and medical attention),” she said.

Arcio said anyone who wants to support her advocacy may send donations through the GoFundMe, PayPal, and GCash accounts posted on her social media pages.

She said every contribution goes toward feeding stray animals, providing medical care, supporting spay and neuter programs, and improving animal shelters.

For Arcio, the mission continues every day, from morning until late afternoon, as long as there are hungry animals waiting on the streets.