Don’t Ignore Homeless Animals—They Need Our Help

Millions suffer from homelessness in the Philippines. These Filipinos do what they can to keep themselves and their families going, some of them sleeping under bridges when it’s time to retire at night. What many fail to consider when discussing the country’s battle against homelessness, however, is the number of stray animals who endure the same fate as their human counterparts.

Stray cats and dogs in the Philippines are labeled puspins and aspins—slang for pusang Pinoy and asong Pinoy, terms that translate as “Filipino cat” and “Filipino dog.” While these terms may seem harmless, they have accrued connotations that, unfortunately, help make stray animals seem mundane and unwanted compared to purebred, pedigreed companions.

The harsh reality for stray animals in the Philippines is that there are just too many of them. Many people resort to harming or killing off entire stray animal populations for the safety of their own properties. But a humane solution to overpopulation that animal-welfare advocates have embraced is spaying and neutering stray cats and dogs. Sterilization allows for the control of stray animal populations without harming them or evicting them from their territories. With Adopt, Don't Shop, these animals could have their second life. Puspins or aspins, they may come in different shapes and sizes, boast many different colors, and—with sufficient care and attention— they can still become the most sociable of creatures. They are strong and beautiful and just as capable of love and affection as purebred companions. We should look at each of them and see no difference in the way that they wake up, stretch, and cry for food early in the morning. We should see no difference in the way that they all adore being cuddled and abhor being bathed. We should see no difference in the way that they live, and we should see no difference in the way that they love. It’s high time that we look beyond a superficial consideration such as breed and open our homes to the countless nonhuman animals in search of places to call their own.