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Heart, Mang Jun, and animal welfare organizations in the time of COVID-19
Remember Mang Jun? He's the homeless man, who despite his situation, manages to care for several stray dogs.
In November, Heart Evangelista came across Mang Jun along Gilmore Avenue, taking care of dogs. Touched by his compassion, Heart was compelled to get down from her car and engage with him.
If you see him along Gilmore say hello?????? his name is Jun... a hero?? an inspiration ???????????????? pic.twitter.com/OOtvbL80Os
— LoveMarie O. Escudero (@heart021485) November 18, 2019
By December, Heart managed to help Mang Jun out by connecting with him PAWSsion Project, an animal welfare organization that rescues, rehabilitates and finds homes for the rescued dogs.
Fast forward to today and the Kapuso celebrity and animal welfare advocate shares an update us on Mang Jun.
On Instagram, Heart said Mang Jun was “happy and healthy with all his furbabies.”
He is now a caretaker at PAWSsion Project, she adds, and that Mang Jun has a "message to all our frontliners for their bravery and service!”
The PAWSsion Project is just one of a few animal shelters that have been feeding and caring for the animals during ECQ.
Founded by Malou Perez in 2018, PAWSsion Project is now running two shelters — one in Negros and the other in Bulacan — a task that's become a bit difficult these days.
"Nung nag lockdown, I really thought of the animals," Perez began. "It’s only the first quarter of the year, dalawang malaking crisis na at (sana) ma-emphasize na there’s [been] no help. Zero help for the animals in times of crisis."
“Kung ang tao ay nagugutom, mas lalo pa ang mga hayop,” adds Perez, who established the welfare organization two years ago upon learning of 50 dogs that were about to be killed in a pound in Bacolod City.
And so PAWSsion Project keeps on. With her 11 rescue dogs in mind, Perez administers the feeding and fostering programs for strays animals. With pride, she shares that PAWSsion Project is able to feed a whopping 1000+ stray animals every day.
Meanwhile, Philippine Animal Rescue Team or PART is currently caring for 625 animals in its 3-hectare sanctuary, located in Quezon province.
Established by Jill delos Santos in 2010, PART has had to adjust their operations when COVID-19 and the subequent ECQ took hold of Luzon. They have been cutting the amount of food for the “fur kids” — as she likes to call them — with the exception of senior animals and those that are in need of medicine.
“We wanted to expand our supplies but at the same time, be able to share with the strays that are in the area,” she continues.
All of the animals in the sanctuary are up for adoption but she shares a heartbreaking reality that she hopes would change in the future.
“While we see a surge in adoption and fostering of animals in the United States, that’s quite the opposite in we see in the Philippines. I hope that this quarantine would be over soon because I don’t believe that they (animals) will even survive for this long.”
When asked what would happen to the unadopted animals if their supplies run out during the lockdown, she jokes “all our core volunteers will probably be hungry first before the fur kids will ever feel the hunger. We see them as our own.”
Still, both maintain the quarantine can be an opportunity to be good to animals. Perez reminds pet owners that their furry friends “are the happiest during this crisis kasi 24/7, kasama nila yung amo nila. Andaming nagp-post sa social media na they’re bored, but if you have a pet, there’s no time to be bored. Teach them tricks, bathe them, it’s your time to get to know your pets.” — with additional reporting from Margaret Claire Layug/LA, GMA News
If you wish to help these fur kids in need, you may visit PAWSsion Project on Facebook and Instagram as well as Philippine Animal Rescue Team on Facebook and Instagram.
