EDITOR’S NOTE: This article contains mentions of animal abuse. Readers are advised to proceed with caution.
Dogs are known to be man’s best friend. However, many of our beloved pets are being worked to the bone, chained, or abandoned. When these images sink in, it’s instinct to look away in fear and pain, but this will not change their heartbreaking reality. It is only in love’s saving grace that our furry friends are freed from a life of neglect and suffering. This love is manifested through the unwavering dedication of nonprofit organizations (NPOs) that safeguard the welfare of animals in the country.
What began as a paw-ssion project from a family of dog lovers has now flourished into Hound Haven, the country’s first and only organization for the rescue, rehabilitation, and adoption of former military and working dogs. Co-founder Jerome Arcebal spotlights the lack of care received by these retired canines: “In the US, they’re treated like soldiers… But for us, in the Philippines, at least right now, they’re still treated as equipment.” Tragic as it is, the termination of their service also constitutes an end to their life.
Animal Kingdom Foundation (AKF) shares the same mission of abolishing these practices. According to AKF President and Program Director Atty. Heidi Marquez, the organization aims “to create a world where animals are free from cruelty and exploitation…so that tomorrow they will be in better houses or in better situations.” AKF has saved over 300 dogs, 55 cats, and numerous non-domestic animals that have been victims of inhumane conditions, ranging from the devastating 2020 Taal volcanic eruption to the lucrative dog meat trade industry.
The fervor to em-bark change
These initiatives do more than just rescue animals; their zeal to eradicate animal maltreatment drives them to lobby for systematic reform.
AKF saw that there was a limit to the impact of rescue and rehabilitation. “Hence, we’ve introduced education and free community services like spay, neuter, [and] vaccination,” Marquez says as she describes the expansion of the NGO to tackle the issue of dog meat trading holistically.
Like Marquez, Arcebal also recognizes the need to expand their work. “May needs din naman yung mga retired working dogs natin.” He also shares that the NPO was invited by the Senate to give insights on animal welfare, where they actively push for better recognition for the retired working dogs in budget discussions.
(Our retired working dogs also have needs.)
As there are no specific laws that deal with retired working dogs, the US’ Robby’s Law is a benchmark template for legislation in the Philippines. The writing requires retired military dogs to be cared for and adopted after their service. Replicating this policy in the Philippines is the “ultimate goal” for Hound Haven.
Dealing with the price of love
Nonprofit organizations rely entirely on the goodwill of the community. From daily operations to utilities, the expenses are shouldered solely by the organization without any real sustainable way of making any of it back. This setup puts many of these organizations in a bind as they try to manage what little finances they have, getting increasingly difficult to keep the lights on. Additionally, professional care of the housed animals brings its own share of expenses. “Our vet bills can run up to 100,000 [pesos] a month,” Arcebal mentions.
Without a stable source of income, they face several logistical issues, including growing their team. “It sometimes gets very challenging for us to reach out [and] answer all our emails and messages,” Arcebal says. One of Hound Haven’s two handlers, Rico Dimaano, expresses his gratitude to volunteers from local veterinarian colleges, who sometimes visit to take care of the dogs.
Despite these challenges, the organizations are not shackled by them. AKF runs a bed and breakfast establishment within their facility lovingly named Bed, Bark, ‘n’ Breakfast at AKF, where people can spend their vacation with their pets. Part of the proceeds from this arrangement are used to fund their various programs. They have also started cultivating crops to supplement food costs. “We would [grow] malunggay to help us feed our dogs,” Atty. Marquez elaborates.
Oftentimes, taking care of these beloved animals can feel like a thankless endeavor. However, for NPOs like AKF and Hound Haven, the look of happiness on their animals’ faces is all the reward they will ever need.
Unleashing em-paw-thy
Beyond donations and volunteering, small acts of kindness fan the flames of the cause. Raising awareness through online campaign messages and posts can spark a chain reaction, allowing other advocates to discover and aid the mission of these animal care organizations.
For Arcebal, receiving visitors is nearly essential in spreading Hound Haven’s advocacy. “We feel that the more hands-on people are in getting to know the canines and Hound Haven, the better [the] position they will be in to tell others about it [our mission],” he expresses. After all, the key to fostering a culture of com-paw-ssion for our animals lies in the lasting connections we form with them. As Marquez puts it, “Basic human-animal bonds can be developed in simple tasks and approaches. And if it spreads, a change in how we treat animals will become a norm in every community.”
Cementing this change also necessitates seeing animals as more than dear companions, but as “living beings [who are just as] capable of loving…[and] suffering,” Marquez delineates. In developing these lenses of empathy, we can then begin to realize the interdependent relationship we have with animals. “We don’t just talk about animal welfare alone now. We are talking about ‘one welfare,’ [and] how animal welfare impacts human welfare,” she affirms, factoring in human emotions of familiality and fulfillment as part of a reciprocal demonstration of love.
For those ready to sink their teeth into advocacy and volunteer work, one may finally meet a life-long companion and grant them the gift of a new life—their own fur-ever home.
Donation channels
Animal Kingdom Foundation:
akfrescues.org/support
Hound Haven:
houndhavenph.org/donate
This article was published in The LaSallian‘s Menagerie Special 2025. To read more, visit bit.ly/TLSMenagerieSpecial2025.
