Spay and Neuter Clinic Caraphil.org

 

CARA – Compassion And Responsibility for Animals – Philippines began its free/low cost spay and neuter agenda in 2003. It concentrates on the homeless and abandoned dogs and cats and those belonging to the low income families in the Metro Manila area. CARA relies on the help of sympathetic veterinarians and ardent volunteers. Throughout the three years, obstacles to a successful Animal Birth Control program have been more than overwhelming. For 2006, less than 300 cats and 10 dogs were sterilized. Other animal groups like PAWS have reported even less. Compare this figure to the 2,000,000 households in the city (National Statistics Office) and the approximate number of stray cats and dogs CARA estimates at 3 to 6 per household.

CHALLENGE #1 – Economics

Animals living on the streets proliferate mostly in depressed areas. In the more affluent villages, the residents prefer catching, killing or dumping the animals rather than sterilization. The government has no budget for animal welfare nor supports a spay/neuter program and like most of the citizens prefer the quick fix method of disposing the strays. One good example of this policy is shown in the city pounds. Unclaimed animals are euthanized after three (3) working days. CARA knows of 2 city dog pounds that provide free spay/neutering but few avail of this service. Private veterinarians charge for the spay of one female cat (Php3500 = US$70)what an average worker earns in 2 weeks. Majority of those who can afford, are unwilling to spend that amount on a homeless animal. Even CARA’s handful of veterinarians have budget constraints and therefore they can only operate on a limited number of CARA animals a month.

CARA understands the need to earn a living but not obvious greed. It is sad that on June 2005 when we presented our cause to the Veterinary Practitioners of the Philippines, not a single professional in the audience volunteered to help. On the other hand, a successful veterinary clinic charged Php 90,000 (US$1900) to fix 20+ feral cats living in a patch of prime real estate.

Lastly, CARA is haunted by cats and dogs being caught and sold for food, maybe even for fur. Even worse, sold for experimentation to veterinary schools and laboratories.

 visit our website  www.caraphil.org