PAWS strongly urges pet owners: Unchain, uncage, ‘give animals fighting chance’

The Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) finds a dead dog covered in mud and still chained in Provident Village, Marikina City, on Friday, November 13, 2020, a day after Typhoon Ulysses brought massive floods in the area. Image: Facebook/PAWS

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) on Friday appealed to pet owners to give their family animals a “fighting chance” either by unchaining them or unlocking their cages at the onset of calamities.

This plea comes after the animal welfare group discovered several drowned and mud-covered dogs still shackled by the neck or caged in Provident Village, Marikina City. Typhoon Ulysses brought massive floods in the city as it barreled through Metro Manila with violent winds and torrential rains this week.

READ: Typhoon Ulysses: Like ‘Ondoy’ all over again

Residents hurried to evacuation centers and were forced to leave their pets behind. Marikina City is currently under state of calamity due to Ulysses.

“GIVE ANIMALS A FIGHTING CHANCE DURING DISASTERS,” PAWS said in a Facebook post on Friday.

“Unchain your dogs and unlock their cages if you cannot evacuate with them during times of emergencies or disaster,” it added.

https://www.facebook.com/pawsphilippines/posts/3497169183662035?_rdc=1&_rdr

The non-government organization also called for donations of dog food and cat food, as well as hygiene packs containing soap, alcohol, toothbrush, toothpaste, and ready-to-eat food in easy-open cans for pet owners.

It said donations could be sent to PAWS Animal Rehabilitation Center, Aurora Boulevard,  Katipunan Valley in Loyola Heights, Quezon City. It also said their office is open from Monday to Tuesday and Thursday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

KGA