History

PAWS PET BLESSING & PET MEMORIAL WALL INAUGURATION

PAWS Animal Shelter & Eastwood City

Over 200 people and their pets attended the mass and animal blessing organized by PAWS and Eastwood City in Eastwood Central Plaza last Sunday. The Mass, celebrated by Fr. Bernard Collera, SVD (from Christ the King Parish, E. Rodriguez Sr., QC), resonated with teachings St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of the animals.

Fr. Collera is also a lover and rescuer of cats, and was pleased to know that there were at least 7 cats who were brought by their owners to be blessed amidst the throng of dogs & dog owners that came.

During the offertory, Dr. Dogs Una (a labrador retriever) and Diesel (a doberman), went around in their "donation" vests, prompting those animal-lovers who attended the Mass to give more generously by tucking bills into the transparent pockets on the vests that they wore.

Church music was provided by the ANIMA CHOIR and a stirring "Circle of Life" finale was sung by Philippine Idol Finalist Onyx Culala.

After the mass and blessing, pet owners with lighted candles and their pets participated in the procession of the life-sized statue of St. Francis of Assisi around Eastwood City.

Earlier that morning, a blessing of the shelter animals was also held at the PAWS Animal Rehabilitation Center with Fr. Ronald Macalle officiating.

PAWS’ unique PET MEMORIAL WALL which featured tiles inscribed with guardian's messages to their dearly departed pets was also inaugurated that day. Special guests for the ribbon cutting ceremony were Bureau of Animal Industry Director Dr. Davinio Catbagan & BAI Vice Director Dr. Vic Atienza.

Among the first 15 guardians who got a tile included PeTA’s Rochelle Rigodon as well as actress/environmentalist Chin Chin Gutierrez and teen star Shaina Magdayao.

According to Sharon Ner, "We miss Biny, Soda and Kitkat a lot. We've always regretted not having any means to cremate them when they died. They are buried in our backyard but we always want to remember them with a token and help other needy dogs in the process.”

Their tile bears the inscription:

"IN MEMORY OF BINY, SODA AND KITKAT
who were the light of our lives."

Alumni of the shelter also came to be blessed - among them Mario (who holds the record for being the longest staying dog in the shelter at 3 and a half years before he was adopted by Celine) and BJ who was later on renamed "Marcus" by adopter Joy Santos, who says that now Marcus sleeps in an airconditioned room with them.

Cat adopters like Xyza Manimtim with "Alfie" , a gray tabby and white native cat, and Malyn Candelaria with "Garfield", an orange tabby, seemed at home at the shelter since they have visited the place several times prior to taking home their adopted wards.

A total of ten alumni dogs and six alumni cats attended the 9AM PARC blessing.

"We're so glad to see our alumni enjoying the good life now with their new families," said PAWS veterinarian Ami Deña. "It's difficult to believe that when they came here, they were thin or had skin problems or health problems."

Jeff Chua, the PARC shelter manager agrees."It makes our work so much more meaningful and fulfilling when we see rehabilitated and rescued animals with their adoptive families. Seeing them gives us hope that we could do the same for more animals in our shelter."

For people interested to reserve a tile in the PAWS Pet Memorial Wall, pls contact Libby Lavarro at 0917-5354212.

Shelter http://babybranny.multiply.com/photos/album/51