25 abandoned dogs, 1 cat rescued from islands in Rizal

Twenty-five stray dogs and one cat have been rescued from small islands near Talim Island in Laguna de Bay, Rizal, where they had been left to survive on their own.

Jessica Soho joined the team in the rescue operation, involving a group of animal welfare volunteers, local authorities, and residents who discovered the animals struggling in isolated areas. 

Rescuers said capturing the dogs was not easy. Many of the animals were malnourished, but still strong enough to escape. Some dogs had to be caught using leashes, nets, and carriers.

The dogs were first discovered by a married couple, Lyndon and Kaye, who have been feeding stray animals on the islands for months.

"Naaawa po ako sa kanila kasi hindi po namin sigurado kung ano pong kahihinatnan ng buhay nila doon sa pupuntahan nila," Kaye said.

["I feel pity for them because we aren't sure what will happen to their lives where they are going."]

The couple noticed that the animals were extremely thin, fighting over scraps of fish or other food washed ashore, and in some cases, dying of hunger.

They first encountered eight dogs on a small island they call Pulo ni Don Silverio in July last year. When they explored Pulong Malaki, another island nearby, they were surprised to find about 40 more stray dogs.

"Tingin ko nu'ng una, mga tatlo, apat na aso lang 'yung aso d'yan. Hindi ko akalain mas marami pala du'n," Lyndon said.

["I thought at first there were only maybe three or four dogs there. I didn't realize there were actually more than that."]

The abandoned animals, rescuers suspect, were deliberately left behind.

Lyndon said some owners may have discarded their pets when they could no longer care for them.

"Hindi na ako nagtaka kasi ang alam ko talaga dinadala sila ng mga taong ayaw na sa alagang aso. Maaaring tinatapon talaga," he said.

["I wasn't surprised anymore because I know for a fact that people who no longer want their pet dogs bring them there. It's possible they are actually being abandoned."]

One of the residents of Talim Island, 'Ricky', not his real name, admitted to abandoning some of his pet dogs on the islands last November due to financial difficulties.

He said he had no one willing to adopt them and could no longer provide food for his growing number of pets.

The islands are uninhabited and far from human settlements, raising questions about how the animals arrived there.

The issue reflects a larger problem of pet abandonment in the Philippines, which violates the Animal Welfare Act of 1998 (Republic Act No. 8485) and the Anti-Rabies Act of 2007 (Republic Act No. 9482).

A lawyer explained that violators may face fines, imprisonment, or other penalties.

The Binangonan Animal Welfare Unit confirmed that abandoned pets are a growing concern.

"Medyo malayo po kasi 'yung island po talaga sa amin, sa mainland. Ang ginagawa po ng iba, itinatapon na lang dito 'yung mga 'di na kayang alagaan na aso. Tapos ire-rescue na lang po namin," the head of the unit said.

["The island is actually quite far from us, from the mainland. What others do is they just dump the dogs they can no longer care for here. Then, we just end up rescuing them."]

Authorities have been coordinating with shelters for proper care.

What happens now?

The rescue operation was led by the Biyaya Animal Care Group Foundation, an animal welfare organization headed by Rina Ortiz. The team rescued 22 dogs and one cat over nearly four hours and three more dogs were rescued the following day.

All animals were taken to a veterinary hospital for health checks, with some undergoing medical treatment.

"Ini-screen natin sila for mga viral disease like canine distemper and canine parvovirus. Kung sila'y healthy, maaari na natin silang kapunin before i-transfer sa shelter," the medical director said.

["We screen them for viral diseases like canine distemper and canine parvovirus. If they are healthy, we can have them neutered or spayed before transferring them to the shelter."]

The animals will be transferred to Biyaya Animal Sanctuary in Alfonso, Cavite, which currently houses over 1,500 dogs and hundreds of cats. The sanctuary has an isolation area for sick animals and provides medical treatment as needed.

Ortiz emphasized that human negligence, not the animals themselves, is the root problem.

She promotes the Trap-Neuter-Release (TNR) program, which allows stray dogs to be safely captured, sterilized, treated, and returned to their location.

"'Yung pinaka problema is 'yung tao, hindi 'yung hayop. Inosente sila," Ortiz said.

She criticized practices like euthanasia as a primary solution to stray overpopulation, calling for more humane approaches.

["The main problem is the people, not the animals. They are innocent."]

The Binangonan local government has installed signs on the islands warning residents against abandoning pets.

The rescue team continues to monitor the islands and provide food for remaining animals. Future rescue operations are planned to ensure that the remaining animals are safe and healthy.

Ortiz and the volunteers urge pet owners to take responsibility for their animals and to seek assistance rather than abandon them.

For those who wish to report abandoned animals or support the ongoing rescue efforts, you may reach the Biyaya Animal Care Foundation at:

Email:  info@biyaya.ph
Phone number: 09178589555
Instagram account: @adopt.biyaya

For donations:

Bank account: UnionBank of the Philippines
Account name: THE BIYAYA ANIMAL CARE FOUNDATION INC.

The group hopes that with continued public awareness and responsible pet ownership, fewer animals will be left to suffer in isolation. —JCB, GMA Integrated News