FAQs
Got a question? Before you pick up the phone or send us an email, the answer might already be in our FAQ. Check them out!
About CARA
CARA stands for Compassion and Responsibility for Animals. It was founded in 2000 by a group of animal welfare advocates with the mission of promoting responsible pet ownership, spay-neuter of pets and stray animals, and pet adoption.
CARA is not a government agency.
We operate a low-cost vet clinic to help cover some of the cost of running the organization.
CARA is completely run by volunteers. Our volunteers do not get paid for their efforts. We do what we do because we care for animals.
- We work with communities to conduct trap-neuter-return (TNR) programs.
- We educate the public about pet adoption, responsible pet ownership, and spaying or neutering your pets.
- We work with local government units and other organizations to drive policies and address issues related to animal welfare.
- We manage a sanctuary for rescued pit bulls, rehabilitating and preparing them for adoption into loving homes.
- We operate a low-cost vet clinic.
There’s often a silent “and not humans” attached to this question, which is a misconception. Helping animals and helping humans are not mutually exclusive. Caring for animals actually makes us better human beings. The desire to help humans and animals, the desire to protect the environment, and the desire to fight for a host of other causes all came from the same place–compassion.
When we fight animal abuse, we help protect humans who may eventually suffer from the hands of these animal abusers. Animal welfare advocates are helping create a society that is civilized and compassionate.
We encourage you to figure out where your heart lies and then choose to support that cause. If we each do our part, we will succeed in making a difference in the world.
CARA Clinic
Our clinic offers low-cost vet services including vaccination, spay-neuter, and blood tests. We also have pet boarding.
Learn more about our pet boarding and pet grooming services.
Yes, for a fee. Check out Pet Boarding services to learn more.
TNVR
If you are sponsoring 10 or more cats, we can send the CARA van and two catchers to your community. We offer trap-neuter-return (TNVR) service within Metro Manila, where we humanely trap stray cats, spay or neuter them at our clinic, and return them to where they were caught.
Our spay/neuter fee is P650 for males and P850 for females. Please communicate with your community officials about any TNVR plan.
Alternatively, you may bring the stray cats to our clinic yourself for spaying/neutering.
If you have plans for TNVR, call us so we may guide you.
TNVR stands for Trap, Neuter, Vaccinate, Return. It is CARA’s program where stray cats are trapped, neutered, and then returned to their territory. It is the only method proven to be humane and effective at controlling the stray cat population.
It doesn’t work. It is simply ineffective, expensive and cruel. If all the cats are not caught, then the ones left behind over breed until the former population level is reached.
Even if all the cats are removed, new un-neutered cats move in to take advantage of whatever food source is available. Once there, they breed prolifically, quickly populating a new colony.
This “vacuum effect” is very well-documented. The trap/kill effort becomes increasingly unproductive in the effort to reduce numbers.
With TNVR, the breeding stops and stray cat populations are greatly reduced. Nuisance behaviors associated with mating and breeding, such as calling and fighting, are virtually eliminated.
TNVR recognizes that there is a balance in our urban society, one that includes stray cats. For example, we would be overrun with rats and cockroaches if it weren’t for the cats.
Animal Rescue
Our focus is on taking care of the animals in our custody, advocating for spay-neuter, as well as responsible pet ownership to the public.
Although we may conduct animal rescues, these are done so on a case-to-case basis, which depends on the availability of our volunteers, funds, and your own cooperation.
However, if you or anyone you know are able to foster the animal after the rescue or if you will help in fund-raising, we will be able to assist you.
As much as we want to rescue all animals, we believe in responsible rescues, which means we only rescue if we are able to care for the animal from start to finish and only as frequently as we can manage.
Because of the animals that are already in our custody, we’re mindful of their welfare as well as that of our volunteers’.
At present, we are already taking care of over 100 cats, 20 street dogs, and 70 Laguna pit bulls. As the lives of our animals depend on our energy and resources, we take care to allocate it in the most responsible way.
Sadly, we’re often desperate for funds and volunteers to foster new rescues.
Each case is unique. First, ask yourself if you can commit to the responsibilities of rescuing, from coordinating the rescue to finding a foster. If yes, then, coordinate the rescue by calling out for help in the transport and vet care of the distressed animal.
Seek the assistance of people in the area, such as the vendors, traffic cops, or barangay officials.
Don’t forget to call out to your friends and animal welfare groups on social media.
Animal Welfare Laws
The Philippine National Police, the National Bureau of Investigation, and other law enforcement agencies have the authority to arrest violators.
If you witness the killing of pets and animal cruelty, report it to the cops.
Anyone who commits the following is violating the law:
- subjects any animal to cruelty, maltreatment, and neglect
- tortures an animal
- neglects to provide adequate sustenance or shelter,
- abandons a pet
- subjects an animal to fights
- conducts unauthorized animal testing
- kills or engages in the slaughter for food of dogs and cats
- sells and breeds pets without the approval of the Bureau of Animal Industry
The law has teeth. Anyone who is charged with violating the Animal Welfare Act will face imprisonment and a fine—from six months and P30,000 to two years and P250,000.
Take action but don’t act alone.
Report the case of animal cruelty to your barangay and the police.
Make sure you have correct and complete information and documentary evidence (photos or videos) of the offense.
Many complain but very few actually do their part. Animal welfare in the country can only prosper if we all do our part.
Stray Animals
Under the Anti Rabies Act, the City Vet or Pound is responsible for humanely collecting stray dogs on the streets. If the dogs are not claimed or adopted after a certain period, which could be three days to a week, they are euthanized.
The city pound has space and budget for only a limited number of dogs. No one likes this–but unless more people will choose to adopt rather than shop, homeless dogs will continue having the same sad fate.
If you witness cruelty and neglect at the city pound, report it to the cops. The problem will not be corrected if witnesses refuse to take action.
Have your dog/s regularly vaccinated against Rabies. Keep them well fed and groomed. Provide them a clean and loving home.
Do not let them roam the streets but neither should you keep them locked up in small cages. Find a way to secure your house so that they have mobility but will not be able to escape into the streets.
Keep your dogs on a leash when you walk them.
Getting Involved
Donate
Thank you! Your donation will help us continue our mission to fight for animal rights.
Learn about how you Donate here.
Adopt, Foster or Sponsor a Pet
Thank you for opening your heart to a rescued animal! To ensure that our beloved rescues go to a safe and loving home, however, you need to follow our adoption process.
First, choose a pet. Meet your chosen furbaby. Complete the adoption form. Schedule a home visit of a volunteer to your home. Pay the adoption fee (P800 cat; P1,200 dog; P3,500 Laguna Pit Bull). Bring home your new family member.
The adoption fee covers the vaccination cost, which is actually just a fraction of the cost we have spent to nurse our rescued pet to health. When you adopt a pet from CARA, you are bringing home an animal that is already vaccinated, spayed/neutered, and socialized.
Consider the adoption fee a donation helping us continue our animal welfare advocacy and a sign of your lifetime commitment to your new family member.
Definitely! Because CARA does not run an animal shelter, rescued animals need to be placed in a good home with fosters that are interested in investing energy and time and, possibly, financial resources in rehabilitating the animal and preparing it for its forever home.
Absolutely! We know the feeling – you want to take them all home but most of us who love animals already have pets. But you can still help!
Sponsor a pet to support its food, vaccinations, medical care, spaying/neutering, and toys. Your support will allow us to help more animals in
Invite CARA
Of course! Are you a school, business, or local government official and you would like to promote responsible pet ownership and animal welfare in your organization or area, maybe as part of your corporate social responsibility or advocacy programs?
Do invite CARA as we have volunteer speakers that you can tap for your activities!
Our teaching programs center on the following:
- Showing compassion for living creatures
- Responsible pet ownership (spaying/neutering pets)
- Pet adoption
- Laws protecting animals from harm
- Trap-Neuter-Release (TNR)
- Laguna Pit Bulls Project
- Proper Pet Care
- Proactive Animal Welfare Advocacy
- Pets and Kids
- Pets and Emergencies
There is no speaker fee–our speakers are all volunteers–but we do encourage you to donate to CARA. There are several ways to donate:
- Donation of one or more of the following: canned dog food and/or cat food, dry dog food and cat food, cat litter, other pet stuff (but not shampoo/soap as CARA already has enough of this).
- “Pass the hat” among attendees, students, teachers.
- Outright monetary donation. A school may write a letter to the parents to encourage them to donate.
The donated items are then collected over a period of time, say two weeks prior to the visit. If more donations come in after the visit, then a CARA representative can pick them up later.
Send us an invitation with event details through secretary@caraphil.org.
We will check the availability of the CARA speakers, ambassaDOGS, and diploCATS. If they are available on the event dates, we shall immediately let you know.
They are the doggies and kitties of our volunteer speakers. Most were rescued, adopted, and are now happy members of the CARA family.
They often represent CARA in events and school visits. Of course, they are always accompanied by their human parents.
Volunteer
Yes! CARA would not have survived this long if not for the efforts of volunteers.
We need volunteers to help us boost our adoption, TNR, and education programs. Opportunities include making home visits, walking our rescues, blogging, creating graphics designs, and organizing events.
We’re big on educating the public, especially the next generation, about responsible pet ownership so we also need volunteers who can be trained to represent CARA in schools and events.
Learn more about CARA’s volunteer opportunities.
To volunteer, you must meet our volunteer requirements, fill out our volunteer form, attend an orientation, and spend time with the animals in our care.
Learn more about CARA’s volunteer program.
Pet Ownership
First, love your pets like family. Having a pet is a lifetime commitment. Make sure your pets are well fed, groomed, and happy.
Secure your pets inside your property but do not keep them locked up in a small cage.
Walk your dogs regularly and make sure your dogs are leashed properly and your cats crated properly when outside your home.
Have your dogs and cats vaccinated regularly and make sure they receive vet care when they need it. Please also spay or neuter your pet.
It’s healthy for your pet, for you, and for the community. It helps dogs and cats live longer, healthier lives as it helps prevent a number of serious diseases like pyometra, ovarian/uterine cancer, and testicular cancer. They will be less likely to roam as they will no longer need to search for mates.
Irresponsible breeding contributes significantly to the number of stray dogs and cats. By spaying/neutering your pet, you become part of the solution and not the problem.
Read more about the benefits of spaying /neutering your pets.
Firstly, abandoning pets is considered animal cruelty in violation of Republic Act No. 10631 or the Amended Animal Welfare Act. If you abandon your pets, you are committing a crime.
Secondly, CARA is not an animal shelter. Please find a real loving home for your pets if you absolutely can’t care for them any longer.
Thirdly, having pets is a big responsibility and a commitment. Pets are family.