Many homeless dogs and cats in Cavite province are reported in Facebook, with concerned netizens seeking help to rescue them. Stray dogs and cats are spotted with injuries in the head and body, very weak, severely emaciated, or ran over by vehicles. Owned pets are reported suffering tied with a short leash to a post or fence, almost choking them, or kept in a filthy, small cage with not enough room for the dog to stand up or move.
Realizing many dogs and cats need help in the Cavite province, Charito “Charry” Hidalgo Akahoshi decided to put up a shelter in the area and rescue animals being reported as abused, neglected, injured and abandoned in the province.
Charry works in Japan but connects with rescuer friends in Manila and the Calabarzon region to help animals in need.
Joanna Capati, communications director of Care for Paws Shelter and Sanctuary (CPSS), shares CPSS’ journey with its founder Charry:
“Charry realized that the city of Cavite lacked support but there is a great opportunity for setting up an animal shelter there because of the low-priced large vacant lots in the area.
She founded Care for Paws Shelter Sanctuary – CPSS Inc. last July 15, 2016 as a non-profit organization. With Paula Chavez, they set up the first shelter in Brgy. Biga Uno, Silang, Cavite. They rescued dogs in Silang and nearby Manila areas after seeing the situation of abandoned strays in the streets. They also started fostering 20 dogs until the number of rescues increased to almost 100.
Charry decided to put up a bigger shelter in a new location in Brgy. Iba, Silang Cavite with a set of admins and caretakers since then.
CPSS currently has 80 dogs, 47 cats, four caretakers, and a few online volunteers turned admins who assist with the management of the shelter.
Rescuing, fostering, rehabilitating, and sustaining the shelter with the rescued animals is never easy. CPSS needs funds and in-kind donations for the vetting of rescues, for transportation, food, cleaning supplies, rent, utility bills, caretakers’ salary, and shelter maintenance.
CPSS spends an average of P100,000 a month to provide the needs of rescues and to continue shelter operations.
A 20-kilo sack of dog food lasts up to three days, and a 50-kilo sack of rice for dogs lasts up to four days. Three kilos of cat food are consumed by the rescues for one day only.
Besides keeping the dogs' and cats' vaccinations up to date, CPSS recently decided to give them complete blood chemistry tests as well. CPSS wants to see if there are underlying diseases/bacteria/parasites. CPSS wants to address the problem before the symptoms occur to lessen the emergency and worst cases that happened in 2020. These tests cost around P3,000 for each dog/cat.
CPSS also needs help in maintaining the spay and neuter project for each new rescue that averages P1,500 each rescue. CPSS has spayed 90 per cent of the rescues to encourage adoption and lessen the overpopulation of the strays in our country.
Other projects include the adoption drive which requires an adoption fee/donation for the shelter, raffle events, CPSS merchandise such as t-shirts, mugs, tote bags, and reselling other merchandise, brand collaboration, and social media marketing/posting of rescue/donations/provision updates.
To donate, please the see donation details in https://www.facebook.com/cpssshelter/about/?ref=page_internal or send to
Paypal: charry154white@gmail.com
Gcash – Charito Akahoshi
0995-9040405
BDO-Charito Akahoshi
0086-3009-2047
BPI-Ma.Lalaine Joy Callosa
3619-0500-52
• Rescue hotline: 0995-904-0405
• Email: careforpawsph@gmail.com
Through your help, CPSS can continue its mission to spread awareness on animal welfare by setting standards on how to care for pets in its lifetime. CPSS can also continue to work in partnership with selected facilities and sponsors to provide shelter to homeless and abused dogs and cats and educate the pet owners to do the same. By setting as an example, CPSS can end the overpopulation of homeless dogs and cats and see people safeguarding them from harm than abusing/neglecting them.”
Care for Paws Shelter and Sanctuary is located at 875 Purok 6, Brgy Iba, Silang Cavite, Philippines