MANILA, Philippines - I recently got an email from Filipino Dr. Geraldine Mayor, MD, a psychiatrist in Philadelphia, PA. Dr. Mayor shares that he moved to the US 20 years ago, and now lives in Collingswood, NJ with her five rescue dogs.
Let me share her letter with you:
“There is something we have in common: a Bichon Frise has touched our hearts. In 2008, I adopted eight year-old Lou, from a shelter, and he made me realize how many precious animals are abandoned, and left to suffer, through no fault of their own. And such treasures they are when taken into one’s home! Lou passed away in 2013, but his legacy lives on.
“For the last six years I have been a volunteer in animal rescue in the United States, in various states including Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York and California. It is a very rewarding advocacy. I occasionally suffer heartbreaks when pets I was following in the US were euthanized, or died from illness or crime, before rescuers could reach them. Most of the time, though, the local government, animal welfare groups and/or citizens pull through for these pets.
“It was inevitable that I got in touch and involved with local animal rescue groups in Manila. However, I was not prepared to come face to face with reality in the city pounds of Metro Manila. Hearing the rescuers’ stories about the malnourished, diseased dogs coming from the streets, or the refusal of city pounds to allow volunteers to help the animals, just broke my heart. I am terrified to think of the possible means by which they are disposed. No one knows (e.g. tambucho gassing, dog and cat meat trade?). Volunteers and observers are banned from almost all of the pounds.
“So I started a petition online to bring to light the plight of street dogs and cats in the city pounds:
“It is my hope that I get 5,000, even 10,000 signatures of Metro Manila citizens, so I can confidently deliver the petition to the Mayors, when I go home in March, 2015.
“I also attached a link to a GMA 7 news video about the abusive Navotas City pound https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8up39pK5ono”
If you love dogs, your dog, your neighbor’s dog or even the Aspin you see in the streets, help Dr. Geraldine in her mission to give all dogs the good life they deserve.