It’s spay day on Feb.15

MANILA, Philippines - On Feb. 15, The Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) opens its doors to indigent dog owners to have their pets spayed or neutered for fre!

This is the organization’s way of celebrating Spay Day — an international event held in February, which aims to underscore the importance of having your pets neutered or spayed so that they do not contribute to the pet overpopulation problem. 

Spayed or neutered pets are healthier, better behaved and are less likely to stray, less likely to get into fights or get lost in searching for a mate.

Regularly, PAWS gets reports of street dogs and cats being shot, poisoned or tambucho-gassed at pounds — even though all these methods are inhumane and illegal.  If only pet owners will have their pets fixed, there wouldn’t be problems like these.

People who have certificates of indigency from their barangay can register at PAWS Animal Rehabilitation Center, Aurora Boulevard, Katipunan Valley, Loyola Heights, Quezon City on Feb. 15, between 8 and 10 a.m. only. There are limited slots and only those with certificates will be accepted. 

“While PAWS and other animal welfare NGOs try to rescue and adopt out animals, the problem of pet overpopulation cannot be solved by adoption or rescue. Ultimately, it is prevention by education and spay-neuter that will make a profound effect in saving animal lives,” says Anna Cabrera, PAWS executive director.

For information, call PAWS at 471-5688.