Beyond the PAWSibilities

Pets have always been a very important part of most families. They provide comfort and companionship that require little to no maintenance.

A lot of Filipino families include certain amounts of dogs and cats littering throughout their home, so it’s no surprise to say that the average Filipino has a distinct love for these pets.

In just about any street in the country, you can witness tons of stray dogs and cats wandering around. There are so many, in fact, the Philippines has a name for stray dogs, called Askal, derived from the term “Asong Kalye,” meaning “street dog.”

The country has embraced such a culture of taking in these street animals and giving them a home, showering them with love and attention, all for the benefit of having a precious four-legged addition to their families.

But there is also no denying that the number of strays on the streets is alarming. Thinking about the dogs and cats who have no home, some injured and starving, is incredibly heartbreaking.

Enter Strays Worth Saving— a non-government, non-profit organization aimed to rescue and help stray animals all over the country.

They have saved 1,500 strays from the streets, many with injuries and health issues.

With over 800,000 followers on their Social Media accounts, they have also helped raise thousands of pesos, benefitting different abused animals in need of rescue.

With the formation of their organization in September of 2019, their goal of rescuing as many stray cats and dogs in extreme pain from being abused still remains. These poor victims of human cruelty have a special place in their hearts, and their shelter in Tanauan, Batangas.

“Our ultimate goal is a stray-free Philippines,” says Julliane Co, one of the heads of their organization.

One of their biggest challenges as a rescue shelter, much like other organizations is proper funding. Since they are a non-government organization, its operations are limited due to a lack of budget.

Many Filipinos also have a certain stigma when it comes to stray dogs and stray cats.

Most cat and dog owners often choose “fancier” types of breeds, such as Shih Tzus and Huskies for dogs, and Persian and Bengal for cats.

Although many believe that all dogs and cats are alike, this prejudice against common stray pets results in bigger problems for animal rescue centers like SWS.

“Most people still believe that aspins (“asong pinoy” meaning Philippine dog) are not as good as dogs with [a different] breed,” says Julliane. “Many also still prefer to shop for a puppy than adopt an adult dog.”

These difficulties may seem challenging, but for organizations like SWS, nothing beats the precious howls of joy and tail-wagging from their furry little rescues.

Admittedly, there are still hundreds, if not thousands of strays out there waiting to be saved. But with foundations like SWS, little by little, the dream of every pet-loving human being is for every animal to have a home, which is slowly coming true.