Every month in our country, thousands of dogs end up in pounds where they are killed (euthanasia) or die a slow death due to lack of food and care, or are found on the streets, sick or injured. More sad is the fact that these dogs were ABANDONED OR SURRENDERED BY THEIR OWNERS.
These dogs are the ones rescued by animal welfare groups and animal lovers who become rescuers due to their love and compassion for animals in need.
JC Cruz is one such animal lover.
At three years old, he cried when a neighbor killed a dog for appetizer for a drinking spree.
At about the same age, he took the neighbor’s puppy and put it on his bed to sleep. The next day, the neighbor got the puppy back. This broke his young heart. But he felt worse—devastated—when he learned the pup died one rainy evening while chained outside the neighbor’s house.
At 11 years old, he and his grandmother saw a dog covered in mud in the market where his grandmother runs a store. He took the dog home, to his mother’s surprise. She resisted at first, giving her son a scolding. Later that day JC said it was his turn to be surprised when he saw his mother giving the dog a bath. They named the dog Kevin, an abandoned Japanese spitz. Kevin became a member of the family and died of old age.
At 22, JC decided to rescue dogs because he felt he had to do something to help the voiceless and the helpless.
A former English teacher, JC is a member of the four-member singing group Four Dimensions. Despite his busy schedule, he finds time to rescue dogs, bring them to clinics for medical treatment, raise funds for their treatment, and look for loving adopters for them.
He finds all his rescues on Facebook, their photos posted by kindhearted strangers. Puppies abandoned by their owners in bushes and trash bins. Or neglected dogs, kept in rooms without food and water. He is most happy of course when his rescues are adopted by loving families or animal lovers.
One of the most memorable rescues was Basti. JC read about a dog abandoned in a trash bin near a computer school on Facebook. (He named the dog Basti for BAsurahan (trash bin) and STI, the computer school). He rushed to the site at 2 a.m., and took Basti to a clinic. Basti had severe demodectic mange flare-up or galis, but tested negative for the dreaded and fatal distemper virus.
After treatment and fostering by an animal lover, Basti was transformed from a mangy ugly puppy to a handsome furbaby. He was adopted by a loving family.
Basti is “one of the most memorable and touching rescues because he came to me as if he was thanking me when I brought him to his new loving family,” JC said.
As you will note, almost all of the rescues of JC were either abandoned or neglected by owners.
This is why individual rescuers like JC and animal welfare groups like Save Animals of Love and Light (Save ALL) have been urging pet owners to be responsible furparents.
Save ALL always emphasizes that PETS ARE FOR LIFE. PLEASE DO NOT GET A PET if you cannot commit to a lifetime of love and care.
Having a pet means setting aside time for the dog or cat, as animals need quality time just like humans. Having a pet means setting aside funds for preventive medical care, maintenance needs or actual medical treatment when the dog gets older or gets sick. If you do not have the time and funds to care for a pet please do not get one.
“Yes, as a rescuer, I do love seeing happy endings for them. But I really hope that one day, I and my fellow rescuers won’t have to do it anymore because everyone has learned to be a responsible pet owner,” JC said.
JC stressed: “Pets are not for display to make you look good among your peers or on your social media accounts. Animals have feelings and they need proper care. Please do not abandon them when they are sick or old.”
As animal welfare advocates would always ask pet owners: Would you want to be abandoned when you are sick or old?
Think about it. Think twice, three times, many times before you get a pet. These voiceless, helpless beings will depend on you for life for their every need.
Can you handle a lifetime commitment? If yes, that is good to know. If you cannot, please do not get a dog or cat.
Namaste. I salute the Divine in you.
