CARA – Compassion And Responsibility for Animals – Philippines began its free/low cost spay and neuter agenda in 2003. It concentrates on the homeless and abandoned dogs and cats and those belonging to the low income families in the Metro Manila area. CARA relies on the help of sympathetic veterinarians and ardent volunteers. Throughout the three years, obstacles to a successful Animal Birth Control program have been more than overwhelming. For 2006, less than 300 cats and 10 dogs were sterilized. Other animal groups like PAWS have reported even less. Compare this figure to the 2,000,000 households in the city (National Statistics Office) and the approximate number of stray cats and dogs CARA estimates at 3 to 6 per household.

CHALLENGE #1 – Economics

Animals living on the streets proliferate mostly in depressed areas. In the more affluent villages, the residents prefer catching, killing or dumping the animals rather than sterilization. The government has no budget for animal welfare nor supports a spay/neuter program and like most of the citizens prefer the quick fix method of disposing the strays. One good example of this policy is shown in the city pounds. Unclaimed animals are euthanized after three (3) working days. CARA knows of 2 city dog pounds that provide free spay/neutering but few avail of this service. Private veterinarians charge for the spay of one female cat (Php3500 = US$70)what an average worker earns in 2 weeks. Majority of those who can afford, are unwilling to spend that amount on a homeless animal. Even CARA’s handful of veterinarians have budget constraints and therefore they can only operate on a limited number of CARA animals a month.

CARA understands the need to earn a living but not obvious greed. It is sad that on June 2005 when we presented our cause to the Veterinary Practitioners of the Philippines, not a single professional in the audience volunteered to help. On the other hand, a successful veterinary clinic charged Php 90,000 (US$1900) to fix 20+ feral cats living in a patch of prime real estate.

Lastly, CARA is haunted by cats and dogs being caught and sold for food, maybe even for fur. Even worse, sold for experimentation to veterinary schools and laboratories.

PHOTO: Live baby bunnies given away last Easter, 2006 for Php 450 (US$9.00) each. Animal activists witnessed hundreds of rabbits cramped together with no water or food and manhandled by children as they were chosen to be taken home.

The Philippines has a law protecting animals. It is Republic Act 8485 known as the Animal Welfare Act. Due to the lack of dissemination, this law is virtually unknown to the public. For example, last October 2005, CARA was invited for the first time to a monthly forum hosted by 2 environmental groups (CLEAR –Clear Communications for the Environment and  SALIKA – Sanib-Lakas ng Inang Kalikasan). Participants represented different sectors of Philippine society (professionals, students, businessmen, religious). The theme was the value of creation. CARA presented the plight of the city strays. Only a handful were aware that there was a law protecting these animals.  Educating the Filipino on responsible pet ownership and RA 8485, seem to be in the hands of the few animal organizations like CARA, Animal Kingdom, Philippine Animal Welfare Society, and others. The media itself feels that animals are not headline material unless it’s October – Animal month.
The proper care of animals is not part of school curriculum. The Department of Education only recently has been sending a representative to the Committee of Animal Welfare after an absence of two (2) years.
October 3 to 9, 2005 was the FIRST Animal Welfare Week celebration by the Philippine Bureau of Animal Industry. RA 8485 was enacted in 1998.

CARA believes that the mere awareness, understanding and enforcement of RA 8485 could directly result to an implementation of an ABC agenda in the Philippines.

PHOTO: CARA and elementary students on responsible pet ownership

CHALLENGE # 3 – Attitude towards animals

This is the hardest obstacle to CARA’s success. Even with today’s modern technology, enabling anyone access to unlimited information and exposure to various cultures and ideals, the Filipino seems to tenaciously adhere to misconceptions about companion animals.
CARA members have difficulty explaining that:

1. it is illegal to kill a dog for consumption. Dogs from homes, streets, and even the pounds are stolen and cruelly slaughtered for food.
2. an abandoned animal’s chances of survival are dim.
3. animals deserve to be humanely treated even though they are not human
4. cats and dogs are not toys to be discarded on a whim
5. cats and dogs lead valued lives not just because they catch rats and intruders
6. torturing an animal is not a sign of being “macho” or “cool”. Shooting of stray cats or purposely driving the car over them are common occurrences.
7. a humane stray management is beneficial to both people and animals. Relying on “quick fixes” is not a permanent solution. From the simple vendor in a crowded wet market to the commander of a military compound, explaining the advantages of sterilization proved futile.

CHALLENGE # 4 – Quality and service

Providing cheap spay/neuter (s/n) does not equal low quality surgery. CARA is aware it relies heavily on the help of veterinarians and their clinics. We are at their mercy but the death of an animal due to a botched operation by an inexperienced veterinarian cannot be ignored. CARA is always on the lookout for the latest in methods of sterilization since sadly, majority of vets still adhere to the old methods (no spay hooks, 3” incisions, no s/n surgery for animals below six (6) months old).

PHOTO: One of CARA’s makeshift clinic.

CHALLENGE # 5 – Funding

Organizations like CARA need enough financial backing to help realize their goals. Our main objective is to run our own low cost spay/neuter clinic. We have been a bridge between a needy animal and the compassionate veterinarian, moving one to reach the other. The clinic will not be a bridge but a meeting point to achieve in 3 months what CARA has done in 3 years