AKLAN, Philippines – Boracay residents and Aklan local governments have been on a consistent campaign to better ensure the welfare of stray animals on the island.
In an interview, filmmaker and animal rescuer Malina Fagan said that since around 12 residents formed the Boracay Animal Adoption and Rescue Center (BAARC) in April, the group has been active ever since. The group was formed as the office of the Malay municipal agriculturist began an operation of catching stray dogs and cats in public areas.
The volunteers kept the rescued stray dogs and cats in their homes, taking care of their needs such as food, vitamins, and vaccines.
The series of rescue operations was done anticipating the surge of tourists coming to Boracay for Holy Week.
Pets whose owners no longer came back for them were euthanized. Those who recovered their pets were mandated to pay a fine of P2,500 based on the local ordinance.
Rica Velasco, another volunteer of the rescue center, said she recently rescued an aspin that was reported to be hit and run by an unidentified e-trike driver.
Velasco said that the dog, which she named Ilaya, incurred a broken hip following the incident. The rescue center had to raise P11,000 for Ilaya’s medical needs.
“Volunteers as well as funds are stretched thin. With Ilaya though, I couldn’t decline, and sought help from other shelters too. He was an exceptionally sweet good boy as well, so I’m glad that he got saved,” said Velasco.
The volunteer also noted that rescues are “never cheap,” and as much as the animals deserve plenty of resources poured out for them, animal shelters and welfare groups mostly rely on donations.
“To those who helped in the rescue and donations so far, a huge thank you. You just helped give this sweet dog a life he deserves,” she added.
The Philippine Veterinary Medical Association, the Philippine Animal Hospital Association, and the Aklan provincial veterinarian organized a four-day veterinary mission from August 5 to 8 called the Boracay Veterinarian Mission 2024 Year 3.
The initiative was able to treat at least 1,265 dogs and cats. Of this number, 555 were spayed and neutered, 405 got rabies shots, and 305 were dewormed.
Many individual volunteers also use their own resources to take care of the island’s animals.
Roland Labisig, 47, said he celebrated this birthday on August 14 by taking care of stray dogs and cats. A video of him on the BAARC Instagram page shows him preparing a large pail of water and food, and serving it to the cats and dogs. He is not a registered volunteer of the animal shelter group.
Labisig hails from Zamboanga del Norte, but decided to migrate to this resort island in 1996.
“I started adopting dogs on my own since 2016 making my house a shelter place,” he added. – Rappler.com
