PAWS holds ‘Linggo ng Aspin’

MANILA, Philippines - In April 2010, the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) Aspin Club was formed with the goal of improving how Filipinos view and treat native and mixed-breed dogs by celebrating their unique characteristics and helping people make the right choice — the choice to adopt aspins from shelters and pounds or rescued off the streets.

PAWS coined the term “aspin” to replace the term “askal.” The latter, which is short for “asong kalye” or “street dog” was viewed as a more negative term as it assumes that it is acceptable for dogs to be left on the streets to fend for themselves.

“In the early days, laging itsa-pwera ang native dogs. Hindi sila pwedeng sumali sa purebred clubs like the Shih Tzu Club or  the German Shepherd Club. Wala ring activities. Hindi pwedeng sumali sa dog shows,” PAWS executive director Anna Cabrera narrates. “Yung mga aspins, naging bantay lang ng bahay, nakatali — which is wrong. Dogs are social animals. They are part of the family and should not spend their life tied or chained.“

PAWS officers were unanimous in their decision that, aside from their current education and outreach programs, there was a need to create an exclusive club for aspins so that aspin owners would feel that they belonged to a community and that they would be encouraged to bring their native dogs out more often to socialize them.

Since its launch, the PAWS Aspin Club has already organized an agility event and pet-pampering day, participated in dog walks against animal cruelty and hosted several lectures promoting responsible pet ownership.

On Aug. 31, PAWS teams up with Eastwood City to mount its biggest event yet — the “Linggo ng Aspin” — a day when native and mixed-breed dogs can participate in fun activities amidst a fiesta-like setting at the Eastwood Central Plaza. Major sponsor is Pet One while minor sponsors are Frontline Plus and Betterdog.

Main highlight for the day is the fun race where owners and their pets will go head to head to complete a challenging obstacle course in the shortest amount of time. Aspins are also encouraged to come in their best Filipiniana attire and vie for the title “Ginoo and Binibining Aspin.” Exciting prizes await the winners.

With this event, PAWS hopes to awaken that sense of national pride in Pinoys and at the same time make Filipinos realize that native dogs are just like them — a mix of many nationalities or “breeds” but still uniquely beautiful and intelligent. PAWS sees the aspins as one of the nation’s most overlooked treasures, an underdog in every sense, and hopes that their Aspin Club events will change all that.

The registration fee of P350 for non-PAWS Aspin Club members and P150 for members includes a shirt, a dog bandana and freebies from sponsors. The registration table for the race opens at 2 p.m. while the “Ginoo and Binibining Aspin” contestants can sign up starting 3 p.m. Bring your dog’s updated vaccination records.

For information, call 475-1688 or or e-mail philpaws@yahoo.com