FAQs
Got a question? Before you pick up the phone or send us an email, the answer might already be in our FAQ. Check them out!
About CARA
CARA stands for Compassion and Responsibility for Animals. It was founded in 2000 by a group of animal welfare advocates with the mission of promoting responsible pet ownership, spay-neuter of pets and stray animals, and pet adoption.
CARA is not a government agency.
We operate a low-cost vet clinic to help cover some of the cost of running the organization.
CARA is completely run by volunteers. Our volunteers do not get paid for their efforts. We do what we do because we care for animals.
Compassion connects all causes—from aiding animals and humans to protecting our environment. When we fight animal abuse, we’re not just helping animals; we’re also safeguarding humans and fostering a more civilized society. Find your passion, support that cause, and let’s make a difference together.
CARA Clinic
Our facility offers low-cost services including vaccination, spay-neuter, and blood tests. We also have pet boarding.
Learn more about our pet boarding and pet grooming services.
Yes, for a fee. Check out Pet Boarding services to learn more.
CNVR
If you are sponsoring 10 or more cats, we can send the CARA van and two catchers to your community. We offer catch-neuter-vaccinate-return (CNVR) service within Metro Manila, where we humanely catch stray cats, spay or neuter them at our clinic, and return them to where they were caught.
Fee: P1500 per cat
Alternatively, you may bring the stray cats to our clinic yourself for spaying/neutering.
If you have plans for CNVR, call us so we may guide you.
CNVR stands for Catch, Neuter, Vaccinate, Return. It is CARA’s program where stray cats are caught, neutered, and then returned to their territory. It is the only method proven to be humane and effective at controlling the stray cat population.
Trap-and-kill is ineffective, expensive, and cruel. If not all cats are caught, the remaining ones quickly overbreed, restoring the population. Even if all cats are removed, new un-neutered cats will move in, breed rapidly, and form new colonies. This well-documented “vacuum effect” makes trap-and-kill unproductive for reducing cat numbers.
With CNVR, the breeding stops and stray cat populations are greatly reduced. Nuisance behaviors associated with mating and breeding, such as calling and fighting, are virtually eliminated.
CNVR recognizes that there is a balance in our urban society, one that includes stray cats. For example, we would be overrun with rats and cockroaches if it weren’t for the cats.
Animal Rescue
We care for animals in our custody, promote spay-neuter, and advocate for responsible pet ownership.
While we conduct animal rescues on a case-by-case basis—depending on volunteer availability, funds, and your cooperation—we can assist if you or someone you know can foster the animal post-rescue or help with fundraising.
We practice responsible rescue, only taking in animals we can fully care for. With over 100 cats, 20 street dogs, and 70 Laguna pit bulls currently in our custody, we carefully manage our energy and resources to ensure their welfare, as well as that of our volunteers. We’re always in need of funds and volunteers to help new rescues.
Every rescue is unique. First, ask if you can commit to the full responsibility, from coordinating the rescue to finding a foster home. If so, coordinate transport and vet care, seeking help from local contacts like vendors, traffic police, or barangay officials. Don’t forget to reach out to friends and animal welfare groups on social media.
Animal Welfare Laws
The Philippine National Police, the National Bureau of Investigation, and other law enforcement agencies have the authority to arrest violators.
If you witness the killing of pets and animal cruelty, report it to the cops.
Anyone who commits the following is violating the law:
- subjects any animal to cruelty, maltreatment, and neglect
- tortures an animal
- neglects to provide adequate sustenance or shelter,
- abandons a pet
- subjects an animal to fights
- conducts unauthorized animal testing
- kills or engages in the slaughter for food of dogs and cats
- sells and breeds pets without the approval of the Bureau of Animal Industry
The law has teeth. Anyone who is charged with violating the Animal Welfare Act will face imprisonment and a fine—from six months and P30,000 to two years and P250,000.
Take action but don’t act alone. Report the case of animal cruelty to your barangay and the police. Make sure you have correct and complete information and documentary evidence (photos or videos) of the offense. Many complain but very few actually do their part. Animal welfare in the country can only prosper if we all do our part.
Stray Animals
Under the Anti Rabies Act, the City Vet or Pound is responsible for humanely collecting stray dogs on the streets. If the dogs are not claimed or adopted after a certain period, which could be three days to a week, they are euthanized.
The city pound has space and budget for only a limited number of dogs. No one likes this–but unless more people will choose to adopt rather than shop, homeless dogs will continue having the same sad fate.
If you witness cruelty and neglect at the city pound, report it to the cops. The problem will not be corrected if witnesses refuse to take action.
Have your dog/s regularly vaccinated against Rabies. Keep them well fed and groomed. Provide them a clean and loving home.
Do not let them roam the streets but neither should you keep them locked up in small cages. Find a way to secure your house so that they have mobility but will not be able to escape into the streets.
Keep your dogs on a leash when you walk them.
Getting Involved
Donate
Thank you! Your donation will help us continue our mission to fight for animal rights.
Learn about how you Donate here.
Adopt, Foster or Sponsor a Pet
Thank you for opening your heart to a rescued animal! To ensure that our beloved rescues go to a safe and loving home, however, you need to follow our adoption process.
Your adoption fee covers vaccination costs, though it’s only a fraction of what we spend to nurse rescued pets back to health. When you adopt from CARA, you bring home a pet that’s already vaccinated, spayed/neutered, and socialized. Consider the fee a donation supporting our animal welfare advocacy and a sign of your lifetime commitment to your new family member.
Definitely! Because CARA does not run an animal shelter, rescued animals need to be placed in a good home with fosters that are interested in investing energy and time and, possibly, financial resources in rehabilitating the animal and preparing it for its forever home.
Absolutely! We know the feeling – you want to take them all home but most of us who love animals already have pets. But you can still help!
Sponsor a pet to support its food, vaccinations, medical care, spaying/neutering, and toys. Your support will allow us to help more animals in
Invite CARA
Of course! Just fill out our form: https://forms.gle/UQW6jXM3mzMYcisFA
Our teaching programs center on the following:
- Showing compassion for living creatures
- Responsible pet ownership (spaying/neutering pets)
- Pet adoption
- Laws protecting animals from harm
- Trap-Neuter-Release (TNR)
- Laguna Pit Bulls Project
- Proper Pet Care
- Proactive Animal Welfare Advocacy
- Pets and Kids
- Pets and Emergencies
There is no speaker fee–our speakers are all volunteers–but we encourage you to donate to CARA. There are several ways to donate:
- Donation of one or more of the following: canned dog food and/or cat food, dry dog food and cat food, cat litter, other pet stuff (but not shampoo/soap as CARA already has enough of this).
- “Pass the hat” among attendees, students, teachers.
- Outright monetary donation. A school may write a letter to the parents to encourage them to donate.
They are the doggies and kitties of our volunteer speakers. Most were rescued, adopted, and are now happy members of the CARA family.
They often represent CARA in events and school visits. Of course, they are always accompanied by their human parents.
Volunteer
Yes! CARA would not have survived this long if not for the efforts of volunteers.
We need volunteers to help us boost our adoption, CNVR, and education programs. Opportunities include making home visits, walking our rescues, blogging, creating graphics designs, and organizing events.
We’re big on educating the public, especially the next generation, about responsible pet ownership so we also need volunteers who can be trained to represent CARA in schools and events.
Learn more about CARA’s volunteer opportunities.
To volunteer, you must meet our volunteer requirements, fill out our volunteer form, attend an orientation, and spend time with the animals in our care.
Learn more about CARA’s volunteer program.
Pet Ownership
Love your pets like family—it’s a lifetime commitment. Ensure they’re well-fed, groomed, and happy.
Always secure pets on your property, but avoid small cages. Walk dogs regularly on a leash and crate cats properly when outside.
Keep your pets vaccinated and provide necessary vet care. Most importantly, spay or neuter your pet.
Spaying or neutering is healthy for your pet, for you, and for the community. It helps dogs and cats live longer, healthier lives by preventing serious diseases like pyometra, ovarian/uterine cancer, and testicular cancer. Spayed/neutered pets are also less likely to roam in search of mates. By spaying/neutering your pet, you become part of the solution to pet overpopulation, not the problem.
Read more about the benefits of spaying /neutering your pets.
Abandoning pets is a crime under Republic Act No. 10631 (Amended Animal Welfare Act). CARA isn’t a shelter; if you can no longer care for your pet, please find them a loving home. Remember, having a pet is a big, lifelong commitment—they’re family.
