1.1.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

1. Lack of medical, research, and fostering facilities for animal

welfare, study, and treatment. Even though several clinics and
public veterinary facilities are present in Naga City, they still are not
enough to cater to both owned and stray animals. According to Naga
City veterinarian Dr. Junios J. Elad J., there is no rescue shelter in
Camarines Sur that can accommodate and fully prioritize the welfare
of animals. When solved, this can provide animals with a place where
they can live and be treated with utmost love and care.

In terms of medical care, there are only 14 recorded veterinary clinics,

mostly private practitioners, catering to animal care and medical services in
Naga City. This can limit where veterinarians and allied professionals can
practice, boost their knowledge, and immerse with the community. According
to Dr. Niko Arevalo, a former veterinary student of CBSUA, one of his
classmates before had no choice but to take his on-the-job training outside the
Bicol Region, specifically in the Marikina Veterinary Hospital, due to the limited
veterinary clinics and inadequate related facilities in the province.

2. The absence of a training ground and state-of-the-art-facility for

pets and animals in the region limits the capability of providing
potential and capable assistants to the individuals needing them.

3. Overpopulation of stray animals. Due to the irresponsibility and

lack of knowledge on animal welfare, pet owners allow their pets to
reproduce with little chance to find homes for their offspring. When
pet owners can no longer keep, feed, and take care of them, they are
then ultimately abandoned. The Naga City pound dogcatchers and
authorized city and barangay personnel are in charge of animal
control and are mandated by law to capture stray, roaming, and
 unleashed animals that can possibly transmit viral diseases.
Unfortunately, the city cannot accommodate and take full
responsibility for the nurturing and maintenance of the impounded
stray animals. With a total of 998 impounded dogs, 188 of them are
redeemed, only 32 of them are adopted, while 957 were bound to be
condemned. When not adopted or claimed during a specified period
of time, these “unwanted” animals are bound to euthanasia.

4. Animal shelters and pounds reaching full-capacity – with low

adoption and high impound rates. According to Malou Perez,
founder of the Pawssion Project, the Animal Welfare Act of the
Philippines allow city pounds to euthanize unclaimed dogs by
gunshots since they are cheaper than using other procedures. Perez
further describes city pounds as houses of horror where unclaimed
animals are subjected to immense physical and emotional trauma.
While cruel, this practice remains rampant – with only a small
percentage of pound animals adopted, while thousands of animals
are euthanized in these facilities on a weekly basis.
Although rescuing is a commonly adapted solution by non-profit animal
shelters, this is only a short-term solution. Ergo, solutions should be geared
towards targeted and affordable desexing programmes, along with local and
private agencies recognizing the problem and taking action.

5. Animal-caused health issues that can be transmitted to humans.

Although pets can offer a wide range of health benefits to humans,
they can also pose a number of health risks such as ticks, parasites,
and rabies – with rabies as one of the most severe diseases that
humans can contract from dogs and cats. Altogether, animals are
capable of transmitting over 100 diseases to humans, and that
includes COVID-19. The World Health Organization (WHO) states
that companion animals have also been confirmed to be infected with
 the COVID-19, mostly after close contact with an infected person.
Although their chances of spreading the disease from animals to
humans is low with over 37 reported cases worldwide as of June
2020, these animals could be potential carriers of the virus to other
animals. In addition, it is also possible to indirectly carry the COVID-
19 by the fur, mouth, and feet of companion animals and transmit it to
humans thru kissing, snuggling, and stroking them.

6. The absence of Animal Welfare Awareness and Animal Disaster

Preparedness. According to a 2019 survey conducted by Royal
Canin, pet medicalization in the country remains low, with only 20% of
local pet owners who bring their pets annually for veterinary check-
ups. Whereas, the remaining 80% would only do so when their pets
are already sick or in need of urgent care. Furthermore, residents of
Naga City do not have enough idea and awareness on responsible
pet care. This reflects on the situation of stray dogs and cats roaming
the city streets.

1.2. PROJECT OBJECTIVES

1. To develop an ideal facility that will respond to the needs of the animals
as well as human in terms of animal welfare and continuing research
such as rescue, rehabilitation, rehome, assistance animal, and
veterinary practice - establishing a strong, accessible connection
between domesticated animals and humans.

2. To train an animals especially dog to be “assistance animals” such as

emotional support animals and service animals to individuals
overcoming difficulties by eliminating social barriers.
3. To prevent overpopulation of local stray animals by giving them
opportunities to have affordable neuter and other medical assistance for
the animals. And free services for lower class status.

4. To make an innovative idea if how to increase the adoption rate and to

decrease the impounded dog such as social media like YouTube,
Facebook, Instagram and Tiktok and other activities of the project that
will be the way of realization of a person if how animals are important to
our lives.

5. To prevent of spreading of diseases to animal to animal, human to

animal and animal to human transmission.

6. To be the public’s catalyst for promoting proper knowledge and

awareness to the residents of Naga City on animal welfare, prevention
of animal cruelty, and animal disaster preparedness;

Ilagay nalang natin ito sa number 1 project objectives

or sa significance of the project.
Pero dae ko sure hehe

To provide an animal rehabilitation center with adequate medical

facilities that can serve as a training and employment ground for future
veterinarians in the Camarines Sur, and;

To promote mentorship and inter-facility training by welcoming visiting

students and professionals from different parts of the region, and
eventually, from different parts of the Philippines.