‘ADOPT, DON’T SHOP’: Animal Welfare Advocate Urges Adoption Of Abandoned, Abused Pets

Arizza Aying is no  stranger when it comes to rescuing stray pets. Ever since she was young, having quite a number of cats and dogs in their home was nothing out of the ordinary.

“I grew up with animals because my parents have been rescuing ever since. We had a lot of dogs and cats in our home. But since I was still too young, I wasn’t aware that it was that important to help strays or homeless animals,” Aying said in a mix of English and Filipino during an interview The Philippine STAR / One News PH on July 7.

Little did Aying know that her parents’ mission to save strays would soon become hers, too. She now operates a cattery for homeless four-legged friends who are in need of a loving home. Aying is also determined to teach the value of rehoming animals to her daughter, Mimi.

Aying, now 39, opened “The Cat House” in 2019, which only had 70 rescued and adopted cats at the time. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit the country last year, the number grew to 132 cats, and the cattery had to provide shelter to eight dogs as well.

Before “The Cat House” came to exist, Aying has been rescuing and fostering stray cats since 2009. During that time, her cattery only housed 15 cats, and she only started to adopt a cat from a shelter in 2011.

According to Aying, the crippling effects of COVID-19 led to the increase in cases of pet abandonment – the reason why they had to double efforts of rescuing strays. To sustain the needs of her family and that of the cattery, Aying decided to take on another job aside from being a chat moderator since 2013.

"Doon namin na-realize na marami naman talagang tinatapon na hayop pero no'ng nag-pandemic, mas tumindi 'yung problema ng abandonment, 'yung pagtatapon, 'yung pagliligaw (At that point, we realized that dumping animals are really prevalent but when the pandemic occurred, the problem of pet abandonment, dumping and misleading of pets have worsened)," Aying said.

"Kung nais natin magkaroon ng pet, i-consider natin 'yung adoption instead of buying kasi mas marami tayong matutulungan na nangangailangang hayop (If we want to have a pet, let's consider adoption instead of buying because, in that way, we can help more animals in need)," Aying added during the interview. "Mas tumindi 'yung pagnanais namin na matulungan 'yung mga strays (We become more eager to help the stray animals)."

Lifelong mission

With “The Cat House,” it has become Aying and her daughter’s  personal initiative to rescue puspin (pusang Pinoy or Pinoy cat) and aspin (asong Pinoy or Pinoy dog).

“The Cat House” also provides TNVR initiative or trap, neuter, vaccinate, return for community cats. They are unowned and free roaming domestic cats that live in the community.

Their Facebook page, which has become more active during this pandemic, helped them raise their advocacy further and handle specific animal exploitation cases.

“The Cat House”  mainly aims to rehome their rescued animals by looking for deserving and responsible pet owners. However, Aying said that some people who inquired about pet adoption were choosy and would usually factor in the appearance and breed of animals.

"Ang gusto nila cute. Naka-base sa itsura (They prefer pets that look cute. They base it on the appearance)," Aying said.

There was an instance when many people became interested to adopt one of their rescued cats because it looks like a Siamese feline, a short-haired breed of cat originally from Thailand. A Siamese cat has blue almond-shaped eyes and white or gray fur with dark-colored ears and paws.

"'Yung kagandahan kasi ng isang hayop, kung talagang mahal natin, hindi dapat tayo naka-base sa itsura o sa lahi no'ng hayop (The beauty of an animal, if we love it, we should not base it on its appearance and breed)," she said.

According to the Island Rescue Organization Inc., a non-profit animal rescue organization in Cebu, a typical aspin is medium-sized with a short, thick coat. Puspin also has a short coat and a normal-length tail, or it may also have a shortened, “kinked,” or “stumpy” tail. In terms of grooming requirements, both are low maintenance.

Aying said since their rescued animals are of local breed, only a few people were eager to adopt. This is why they are strict in the adoption process of their rescued aspin and puspin, including the application and interview.

"The Cat House" also ensures that the pets were neutered and vaccinated before they are rehomed.

"Ang request ko lang palagi is maging responsableng pet owners sila. Alamin nila muna kung kaya nila tustusan 'yung pag-aalaga nila ng hayop (My usual request is for them to be responsible pet owners. They should know if they can sustain the needs of fostering pets)," she said.

Aying also had her fair share of horrors in animal rescuing, which she said happened last June 5.  A netizen tagged them on a Facebook post asking them to immediately rescue a kitten that a snake would supposedly eat at a compound in Barangay Palatiw, Pasig City.

The rescued kitten, which they named Tiwtiw, referring to the location where they retrieved it, is gradually recovering in Aying’s home. The snake was also turned over to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

“Sana sa mga ibang tao, kung ayaw ng hayop huwag na lang saktan…Katulad natin, may karapatan din silang mabuhay (For those who do not want to take care of animals, it’s better not to hurt them. Like us, people, they have the right to live),” she said.

 Spay or neuter to curb animal overpopulation, unwanted pets

Aside from promoting responsible pet ownership, Aying also advocates spay and neuter for pets and stray animals.

Spay refers to the removal of ovaries of a female animal, while neuter involves the removal of the testicles of a male animal so that they no longer urge to find a mate, according to the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS).

"The Cat House" launched a free kapon or spay and neuter initiative in Imus, Cavite last July 5 to 8, in coordination with the Kapon Pilipinas – an organization of veterinarian, paraveterinary workers, and animal welfare advocates that conduct spay and neuter outreach to the provinces and remote areas in the country.

Wilford Almoro, founder of the Kapon Pilipinas and a veterinarian for 20 years, said spay and neuter services are the best ways to prevent unwanted pets and the overpopulation of animals.

"Kung ayaw mo na 'yung alaga mong pusa o aso na manganak pa, ipapa-kapon mo siya para hindi na dumami (If you don't want your pet cat or dog to reproduce anymore, your pets should be spayed or neutered)," Almoro said.

The Philippine Animal Welfare Society also stated on its official website that spaying or neutering reduces "chances of breast cancer, uterine infections, pyometra for females and testicular cancer for males."

According to Almoro, the Kapon Pilipinas conducted nine kapon programs since the group's establishment in 2018.

They have provided free spay and neuter services in Catbalogan, Samar, Bantayan Island, Baguio City, Cavite City, Imus. The free kapon initiatives in Cavite City and Imus were sponsored by “The Cat House” for indigent pet owners.

"The reality of this kind of outreach is that someone has to sponsor the transportation, accommodation, logistics, and venue of the team in the area," Almoro said.

Almoro added they usually allot one week every spay and neuter outreach. The team can cater to 25 animals only per day because Almoro is the sole veterinarian who does the surgery while other staff assist him with postoperative care.

Volunteers also provide humane education for responsible pet ownership, vaccination of animals, and related laws.

"Hindi lang ‘yan natatapos sa pag-provide mo ng pagkain, tubig, shelter (Taking care of your pets does not stop in providing them food, water, and shelter)," he said.

Almoro and Aying believe that being outspoken on animal cruelty and proper treatment of strays in social media is also not enough to resolve the alarming issue of animal abuse.

"Ang tao po kasi malimit sa social media, galit na galit, awang-awa, pero walang pagkilos (People often use social media, expressing their anger, pity, but there's no concrete action)," Aying said, referring to animal cruelty.

For those who want to give monetary or in-kind donations for the rescued aspin and puspin of “The Cat House,” you may directly message them on its official Facebook page. Interested individuals who want to sponsor a spay and neuter outreach in their area may coordinate with Kapon Pilipinas through their Facebook page as well.