International Dog Day Highlight: Pawssion Project and Changing Lives with Animal Rescue

Celebrating our loving man's best friend: International Dog Day 2024

Did you know that International Dog Day is celebrated every August? In 2004, pet advocate Colleen Paige dedicated August 26th as a day to raise awareness for homeless dogs worldwide and advocate for adoption. 

In honor of this year’s International Dog Day, we’re highlighting one of the country’s most active non-profit rescue organizations, Pawssion Project! Since 2018, Pawssion Project has helped rescue over 500 dogs around the country. In this interview, we asked Pawssion founder Malou Perez about their story and her tips on rescuing and adopting! 

 

How did Pawssion Project start?

Malou: My yearbook said that I really wanted a dog shelter, but Pawssion really started with one Facebook post. I shared a post about these 50 dogs on death row scheduled to be killed by gunshot. Not even by euthanasia, but gunshot.

 

A family friend then saw that post and said that she had an abandoned farm and she offered that space to take in the dogs. It was the craziest yes of my life; it still is today. 

 

What do you wish people knew more about animal rescue? 

Malou: Rescuing is not a day-one job. Having to pick up a dog from the pound or street only just to leave them in a cage or not giving them proper vet care really defeats the purpose. If you pass by a dog/cat/animal in need, you have to ask, “Hanggang saan kaya ko mabigay sa animal na ‘to?”

 

How do pet parents adopt from your organization?  

Malou: First step is visiting our website and filling out the adoption. It’s very important that everyone in the family is amenable to the decision of adopting a dog. Adoption is free, but I remind everyone that raising an animal is not free. If you’re a minor, your parents should also be okay with it. Once they pass the interview and visit the shelter, they can already pick up their rescue.

 

Do you accept volunteers? 

 

Malou: For animal lovers and advocates, we have a volunteer form and there’s a screening process too. Once you pass that, there are a lot of committees. Even if you don’t want to be a part of any specific group, you’re more than welcome to visit the shelter: walk the dogs, help the caretakers, bathe the dog. You can also volunteer to foster; that’s the way to give quality care to rescues.

 

Any last message for our pet community passionate about animal rescue? 

 

I hope people realize they have the power to change lives. Again, I had zero background on rescuing. I used to be scared of cats before Pawssion Project! But once you’re immersed in the reality of the animals, you’ll already get so attached. Also, for those who’ve experienced losing a pet, I hope it doesn’t discourage you from taking an animal in need.

To learn more about Pawssion Project, you can visit their website at https://pawssionproject.org.ph/

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