Baguio Dontogan Aspin Derek an Alleged Neglect Victim

DEREK, the Baguio Dontogan Aspin an Alleged Neglect Victim [MAY 17, 2016]
ACTING ON A REPORT by a concerned dog lover, we visited an alleged victim of animal neglect, a 2-year-old male Aspin* dog named DEREK. 

ACCORDING to report, the dog has been tied to a jeepney and left there despite heavy rain and daytime heat.

WE DISCOVERED that the dog was indeed tied by a chain to what appeared to be a junked jeepney parked in a roadside open space being used as vehicle repair shop and parking lot.

 

WE INTERVIEWED the brother of the owner, and he explained that the dog is being tied there only during daytime, except in typhoon or heavy rain. To them, Derek serves as an effective guard dog to act as deterrent to any would-be thieves and roving junk collectors who may steal their shop tools and vehicle parts. IN THE EVENING, they transfer the dog inside the gated garage next to their residence-store just opposite the parking lot. They are also wary that the dog might be stolen should they leave him out in the open. HE ASSURED US that the dog is being regularly provided with food, from leftovers, and drinking water. THEY ALSO had to keep the dog inside the garage, whenever both he and his brother left the house for some house-call repair service or on scheduled taxi driving. LASTLY, he guaranteed us that they had the dog regularly vaccinated whenever there is scheduled vaccination drive in the barangay.

THE DOG may have freedom of movement but his shelter is visibly inadequate by some standards. It is not enclosed and has no ground protection. Therefore, it could not sufficiently protect him from heavy rains, dust, and extreme temperature. There seemed to be no visible signs of disease or open wound, but whether the dog has parasites or if he is suffering from ailments or concealed skin diseases, we best should leave this for a veterinarian to diagnose. 

WE SHALL, therefore, have to remain vigilant, monitor the condition of the dog regularly and observe if his welfare will be properly addressed based on suggestions, or it it further endures and deteriorates due to neglect from the carelessness, forgetfulness, or indifference by the owners.





Owner clarified that THIS DOG IS NOT UP FOR ADOPTION.

QUICKLINK to a related VIDEO:
j.mp/BaguioDontoganAspinDerek

*ASKALS or ASPINS are mongrel dogs in the Philippines. The name "askal" is a Tagalog-derived portmanteau of asong kalye or "street dog" because these dogs are commonly seen in streets. The Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) has suggested the alternative term Aspin, short for asong Pinoy (Pinoy dog). [Wikipedia.org]

This is a featured photo and video documentary of NormMedia&NormArt in support of the campaign for Animal Welfare and Responsible Dog Ownership.

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Max, the Golden Retriever Needing a Bigger, Cooler Home

On May 4, 2016, we got a notification (a mention) from another facebook page about a report of an alleged animal abuse:

"...Everyday when I pass by Camp 8, I see this golden retriever in a cage. The cage is way too small for him. Sometimes when I see him, he sleeps with his food bowl and water bowl inside the cage, he can't even stretch his legs. Other times, he is just looking out and I can see sadness in his eyes because I don't think his owners even let him out of his cage.Yesterday [May 3] it was raining so hard, and he was soaking wet inside his cage. My heart is broken every time I pass by that house. I am getting enough courage to go to the owner of the dog and just tell them what I notice but I don't know how they will react."

We instructed the concerned reporter to furnish me with pictures and/or videos of the said dog. On MAY 8, we paid the dog and owner in question a visit.

THE IMAGES HEREIN (and the accompanying video) adequately depicted the condition of the dog, particularly on the inadequacy of shelter and his lack of freedom to move with ease.

The dog is an 11-month-old old male Golden Retriever named MAX.

ONE OF OUR ADVOCATE TALKED TO THE OWNER and informed him of the observations made about the condition of the dog. I further reminded him of the 5 Freedoms of Pet Animals, and implied about the laws governing animal welfare.

THE OWNER EXPLAINED that while they are feeding the dog adequately, he admitted that they may have been remiss in providing adequate shelter for the dog. He, thereupon, promised that they will move the dog to the roofed section of the shop and WILL ORDER A REPLACEMENT CAGE SOONEST to replace this one which the dog used for only 10 months.

THE OWNER showed me a leash which he, or the caretaker, uses to regularly walk the dog even up to Burnham Park

WHILE WAITING FOR THE CAGE of Max to be replaced, we continued to check on his condition.  We had a visit (May 24)  to check if he is in a cooler and shady place in the owner's property.

He is so excited to have a walk and release his stored energy.

ANOTHER FOLLOW-UP VISIT (May 28) was made to see how he is coping with his new spot.

He is such a playful buddy.



FINALLY AFTER A LONG WAIT, MAX is one HAPPY GOLDEN RETRIEVER. 
His wish for a bigger cage and more cozy environment has finally come true, thanks to his furrent.

WATCH MAX DANCE to the tune of JUMP by Nelly Furtado.
CLICK link to his video: bit.ly/JumpMaxGoldenRetriever
WATCH MAX do the jig in his cage.
CLICK link to his video: j.mp/MaxGoldenRetrieverCageJig

OUR GRATITUDE to the concerned reporter. We need concerned dog lovers like her who shall report such animal welfare abuses with pure intention -- TOWARDS the upliftment of the well-being of deprived animals INSTEAD OF merely resorting to morally unhealthy and unproductive facebook bashings while seeking only for the blood of the negligent owners.

FIVE (5) FREEDOMS of ANIMALS:
FREEDOM FROM HUNGER AND THIRST (ready access to fresh water and diet to maintain health and vigor)
FREEDOM FROM DISCOMFORT (by providing an appropriate environment including shelter and a comfortable resting area)
FREEDOM FROM PAIN, INJURY OR DISEASE (health care)
FREEDOM TO EXPRESS NORMAL BEHAVIOR
FREEDOM FROM FEAR AND DISTRESS.

This photocoverage was taken by NormMedia&NormArt in support of the campaign for animal welfare and responsible dog ownership.

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Loakan Proper Shih Tzu Victim of Neglect

BAGUIO CITY, MAY 4, 2016 -- WE VISITED ONCE MORE another house, this time in Barangay Loakan Proper, in response to a report of a one-year and-five-month-old Shih Tzu named SPIKE -- yet another victim of neglect.

The OWNERS, tenants from La Union, obviously could not attend to the needs of the dog except feeding him regularly from their leftover food. 

APPARENTLY, The dog is deprived of adequate shelter, health care, proper hygiene, freedom of movements, walk and play.

We had to scissor the filthy hair off the dog's body to free him of the pain. There were wounds from the scratchings on the body and ears.

FORTUNATELY, some kindhearted neighbors offered to give SPIKE a much-needed bath.







Two of our advocates returned that same evening to talk to the head of the family about taking the dog for a while to treat and groom him, so that they can have a fresh start when he returned, provided further, that they will take better care of their pet. However, the owner, a call-center agent working nearby, seemed to have surrendered on her responsibility for the dog, and have already given up on the dog.

SPIKE was taken home that night for hair-cutting and better accommodation.

The FOLLOWING DAY, May 5, he was taken to the veterinarian for treatment. Aside from the wounds, the dog has some hot spots, and needed de-worming. Later, the dog will undergo further grooming.

RATIONALE: We have to take the dog to rectify his condition. Meanwhile, we need to educate the owners.
Like PAWS, our initial objective is to make responsible owners out of people.

This photo coverage was taken by NormMedia&NormArt in support of the campaign for animal welfare and responsible dog ownership.

#ResponsibleDogOwnership
#ResponsiblePetOwnership
#AnimalWelfare
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