No greater love

There is one story about two Aspins, Loloy and Jacky, who woke up their human family at the height of typhoon Sendong in Iligan City, recently.

The story goes that the two dogs scratched at the door and barked until their humans were awakened. The family is now safe at the evacuation center. Although they lost their home, they are happy to be alive. 

At the shelter the family sits with their doggy companions — not wanting to let them go.

In times of disaster, it’s not only humans that suffer; their animals are also affected. Humans lose not just family and property but also animals — pets or more often, farm animals, the source of their income.  

Last Dec. 19, Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) volunteer veterinarian, David Arceo, flew to Cagayan de Oro to check on the situation. He is the head of the PAWS Disaster-relief and Response team.  He distributed the little dog food and animal feed that he brought with him to the animals that survived.

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One of the 69 rescued Pitbulls at the PAWS Shelter

This year, PAWS gave out Outstanding Volunteer awards to 24 people.

One of them is John Tangkeko who received special mention for having clocked in the most number of hours as a volunteer in the shelter’s entire history. (Shelter was built in 2001). John works with in PAWS behavior rehabilitation team for the dogs and also assists at clinics and rescues and disaster relief.

The awardees are:

• Tina Agbayani for dog rehabilitation and direct animal care 

• Marjorie Amparado for Trap-Neuter-Return of cats and fostering 

• John Tangkeko for his exemplary work in dog training and rehabilitation

• Daisy Medel for her exemplary work in cruelty investigations, humane education and fostering

• Jonika Piñon for her exemplary work in dog training and rehabilitation in order to promote shelter animal adoptions and volunteer work at PAWS

• Riel Tanaliga for being our youngest volunteer showing exemplary work in direct animal care 

• Gelo Gabrillo for his work in direct animal care in order to promote shelter animal adoptions and volunteer work at PAWS

• Tasha Santos for her work in direct animal care

• Sarah Santos for her work in cruelty investigations, adoption ocular inspections in order to promote responsible pet ownership

• Carla Medel for her work in direct animal care in order to promote shelter animal adoptions and volunteer work at PAWS

• Orrevon Marcelo for his work in campaigns, direct animal care and ocular inspections in order to promote shelter animal adoptions

• Li An Ascalon for her work in campaigns, humane education and fostering in order to promote greater awareness of PAWS as an organization

• Marla Nicandro for her work in humane education in order to promote greater awareness of PAWS as an organization

• May Angela F. Razon for her work in campaigns and humane education in order to promote greater awareness of PAWS as an organization

• Elaine Viguilla for her work in fostering and direct animal care in order to promote shelter animal adoptions and volunteer work at PAWS

• David Arceo for his work in disaster-relief response for the animals

• Justine Estuar for her work in direct animal care in order to promote shelter animal adoptions and volunteer work at PAWS

• Megan Estuar for her work in direct animal care in order to promote shelter animal adoptions and volunteer work at PAWS

• Henry Butch Silva for his exemplary work in fostering and animal rehabilitation

• Sheila Frasco for her work in direct animal care and rehabilitation

• Noel Trinchera for his work in direct animal care and rehabilitation

• Ana Mangampo for her work in direct animal care and rehabilitation

• Andrei Caldito for his work in direct animal care and rehabilitation

• Sarah Foudrier for her work in direct animal care and rehabilitation

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The awards were given at PAWS Christmas party, which was a simple thanksgiving dinner held at the PAWS Animal Rehabilitation Center (PARC) Multi-Purpose Hall.

Most volunteers were still tired from taking care of the 69 Pitbulls, which were recued from Cavite. The Pitbulls were part of those recued in the biggest dogfight raid ever conducted with 252 live Pitbulls rescued.

Animal rights groups are still wondering how the dogfight ring has a permit signed by Dr. Angel Mateo of the Bureau of Animal Industry-Animal Welfare Division (BAI-AWD).

In the permit, which was obtained by Luis Buenaflor of AKF, it is stated that the Korean who run the dogfight ring applied for a permit for a dog farm.  

One wonders if Mateo even bothered to check out whether the facility would be used for what it was created — obviously not.  Also, dog farming is illegal in the Philippines.  Dog farming would mean raising dogs so that their meat can be eventually sold for food.

Shouldn’t this have bothered Mateo? 

It seems that Mateo either did not inspect the facility or give much thought to granting that permit.

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At the party it was announced that the Pitbulls would be transferred to the Island Rescue Organization, run by Nena Hernandez, in Cebu.