Partying with PAWS
The Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) celebrated Christmas in a grand way this year. Leave it to the hardworking volunteers of PAWS to come up with a partybeyond anyone’s expectations.
PAWS invited all its donors, volunteers and supporters to a thanksgiving party held last Dec. 13 at the PAWS Animal Rehabilitation Center (PARC).
The festivities started off with a tour of the newly renovated shelter. Among the early birds were PAWS volunteers like GMA-7’s Pia Guanio, Toni Rose-Gayda, TV-5’s Ariana Barouk, and actress Alma Concepcion.
It was a happy day for all pet lovers as PAWS showed off its newly renovated dog quarantine area, dog walk area, cattery, and humane education room.
PAWS staff and volunteers worked hard through the years and their efforts have paid off. The funds raised this year through PAWS-sponsored events were used to make the shelter the lovely place that it is today.
“We are grateful to all our sponsors. PAWS credits its sponsors, including media partner Philippine STAR, and the individuals who participated in all our fund–raising events,” said Anna Cabrera, PAWS director. “The money we raised has made a happy sanctuary for the pets we have rescued and the pets up for adoption.”
After the tour, Pia Guanio and PAWS president Nita Hontiveros-Lichauco unveiled “The Guardian” sculpture by artist Seb Chua. The sculpture depicts a young boy with his native dog, which is a tribute to all PAWS volunteers and kind-hearted individuals who go out of their way to help animals in need. The sculpture is on loan to the shelter for as long as it may need it.
PAWS also gave awards to outstanding volunteers. Among them was 11-year-old Anton Cabalza, a Grade 5 student at the Ateneo, who is the youngest recipient of the award. He was cited because of his work in direct animal care at the shelter. Anton has not only poured in many hours at PARC but has been helpful in giving tours to potential donors and adopters who visit the complex. Other recipients of the PAWS outstanding volunteer award were Kathleen Caga-anon, Wilford Almoro, May Felix, Andrea Castillo, Marga Carpio, Popi Laudico, Sharon Say, Marla Nicandro, Christine Roquim, Fabiola Ortiz, Angelica Ocampo, Joe Claret, Charlene Laxamana, David Arceo, Nielsen Donato, Daisy Medel, and Jenny, Jessica, and Joana Danaux.
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In a report prepared by PAWS this year, statistics showed an increase in adoption rates. This year, 39 dogs and 66 cats were adopted out by PAWS. These figures show a 26 percent increase in dog adoption and a whopping 132 percent increase in cat adoption, attributed mainly to the campaigns and programs initiated by the adoption team led by Liza Umayam.
PAWS’ 2008 Humane Education program gave lectures to 880 students in universities and 330 pre-school and elementary pupils. A total of 210 students were also mobilized for community service for the year. In the barangays, PAWS was able to assist the Quezon City government in the registration and rabies vaccination of 5,000 dogs. PAWS also participated in Makati City’s responsible pet ownership talks for the public and in elementary schools.
As for their 2008 Spay-Neuter program, PAWS joined in the celebration of International Spay Day, where it fixed 39 dogs and 74 cats, distributed 1,000 flyers to vet clinics and barangays to promote spaying and neutering
But one of the most important services that PAWS renders is the rehabilitation of animals rescued from cruelty and neglect. Many were teary-eyed after listening to the annual report, which ended with an appeal to widen the campaign for adoption for the long-staying shelter animals who still have not lost hope that they will find their forever-homes.
All the guests brought gifts for the shelter animals so at the end of the day, the PAWS office was full of donated pet food, dog shampoo, disinfectants, and old newspapers. Truly, it was a good Christmas for the shelter animals.
A happy day for animals, indeed.
