About a week ago, Typhoon Ketsana (known in the Philippines as “Ondoy”) made landfall and dropped 17.9 inches of rain on Metro Manila in a span of 24 hours – the most in 42 years.
A month’s worth of rainfall in a single day washed away homes and flooded large areas, stranding thousands on rooftops in the city and elsewhere. Both humans and animals are now in desperate need of help.
Here are the details from the Inquirer.net.
The Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) has opened its compound in Quezon City for animals needing shelter while waiting to be reunited with their owners, according to its program director, Anna Cabrera.
Cabrera said they were also bracing for animal rescue operations in coordination with government agencies and volunteer groups doing involved in rescue missions. She appealed to rescue organizations to accommodate PAWS members in helping rescue the animals stranded in roofs or trapped in homes.
“We are aware that in this situation, animals will be saved last. We lament this fact, but we have to save human lives first, Cabrera said in a phone interview.
Cabrera advised pet owners, who have no way of taking with them their pets, to leave them in safe areas and leave them food and water.
What they can do is to give us the location where they left their pets because PAWS will try to go to these areas and give them food and water and rescue them, she said.
The PAWS shelter is located in PARC-Aurora Boulevard, Katipunan Valley, Loyola Heights Quezon City (http://parc. mefindhome.org for map and directions). Volunteer veterinarians are on standby.
The public may also contact Nita Lichauco, PAWS chief, at 724-1986. For those who cannot bring donations at the shelter, you can drop it off during office hours at 2-B Legaspi St., Philam Homes Subdivision West Avenue, Quezon City c/o Mr. Rich Ilustre, PAWS Director. You can also contact via email.
If you live in the United States I do not have any info yet on how or where to donate, will post when I do.
