Pet Adoptions Are Available at These Organizations

(SPOT.ph) You’ve heard it before, but bears emphasis; adopt don’t shop, especially in the Philippines where stray cats and dogs roam the streets with no guarantee of a tomorrow. When people think of animal shelters, they’re quick to believe dogs there have "defects," personality issues, and more. The truth of the matter is, many of these pets have been abandoned or were rescued from the streets or calamities, some after a long time of fending for themselves. Shelter animals are equally adorable and loving, and if you’re looking to give a rescue a forever home, know that there are several organizations in the country offering pet adoptions.

Also read: GUIDE: Pet Travel Requirements in the Philippines for 2024

Before adopting a pet

Do take note that just because you want to adopt, it doesn’t mean you can just get any random cat or dog after paying the adoption fee. Organizations will ask you questions about your lifestyle, like how big your space is, what a typical day is like for you, if you have kids or seniors in the house, and if you have other pets. It’s all for good reason; they need to know if a particular rescue’s personality and size are a match for you and all who live in your space. More than just reducing the number of strays on the street and rescues in shelters, it’s also about finding a friend you know can stay with you for good.

And of course, pet ownership doesn’t end at adopting a rescue. Keep in mind that you’ll have to feed them, too, and that both cats and dogs need routine visits to the vet, ample playtime, and proper socialization. It sounds like a lot of work, but trust us when we say your new pet will repay you with love tenfold.

Below, we list down pet adoption centers and organizations nationwide where adoption fees will cost you P1,000 or less. You’re not only gaining a loyal friend, you’re also reducing the number of cats and dogs wandering the streets and giving another rescue a chance to be rehabilitated and rehomed.

Also read: Adopt, Don't Shop: Quezon City Opens Animal Care Center

These organizations save rescues and offer pet adoptions

The Philippine Animal Welfare Society

The Philippine Animal Welfare Society or PAWS is the most known and largest animal welfare organization in the country and has been around since 1954. In its 70-year history, PAWS has fought for better animal laws and has served as shelter for strays, all in the hopes of rehoming them and limiting stray populations in a healthy and humane way. All the rescues in their care up for adoption have been vaccinated and spayed or neutered.

Interested pet parents must submit an application form, undergo an interview, make a physical visit to the shelter, and pay an adoption fee of P1,000 for dogs and P500 for cats.

PAWS is at Aurora Boulevard, Katipunan Valley, Loyola Heights, Quezon City. For more information, visit the PAWS website.

Hound Haven

While most shelters take in every cat or dog in need of help, Hound Haven specializes in caring for retired military working dogs and contract working dogs in their sunset years. It is the first of its kind in the country. The Bulacan-based organization is well aware that their senior dogs need special care given their size, training, previous working conditions, and age. As such, screening is stricter than usual.

The adoption process requires the submission of an application form, a virtual interview, pick-up from the shelter, and a foster period of one month to see if the dog is a good fit for your home and lifestyle. You’ll also be required to send frequent updates and feedback so they can assess how the K-9 is adjusting to the foster home. Successful fosters will be allowed to adopt. Adoption fee is P7,500 for the rehabilitation and care of the K-9 during its stay at Hound Haven.

Hound Haven is at 353 Pinaglagarian Street, Pulong Yantok, Angat, Bulacan. For more information, visit the Hound Haven website

Pawssion Project

Bacolod-based organization Pawssion Project was established in 2018 and constructed their second shelter in Bulacan in 2019 in order to accommodate more rescues. There are thousands of rescues in search of their forever homes, several of which are brought along to pet fairs in hopes of meeting their human. Animals in Pawssion Project are usually rescued from abusive environments, local pounds, or from the streets. Rescues up for adoption have been vaccinated, dewormed, and spayed or neutered.

In order to adopt a pet, you must submit an application form, undergo an interview and visit the shelter either in Bacolod or Bulacan to pick up the rescue. Adoption fee for both cats and dogs is P1,000 per animal.

Pawssion Project has two locations, one at 1429 Paradise 1, Purok 7 Tungkong Mangga, San Jose del Monte City, Bulacan and one at Balay Pawssion, Hacienda Eliza, Barangay Granada, Bacolod City. For more information, visit the Pawssion Project website.

Lara’s Ark

What started as a disaster relief operation for animals abandoned during the Taal eruption in 2020 has become a bigger commitment to help more animals years later. The organization continues to provide aid for disaster-stricken animals and regular rescues, working tirelessly to get animals to their forever homes. Some of their rescue alums have even ended up abroad!

Rescues at Lara’s Ark have been vaccinated, dewormed, and spayed or neutered. Like other organizations, you must submit an application form, undergo an interview, and pay an adoption fee of P1,000. In case you already have a pet or several, you’ll be asked to bring them to the shelter to see if your furbaby and the rescue are compatible.

Lara’s Ark has two locations, one at 585 Calbayog Street, Mandaluyong City and one at JP Laurel St., Nasugbu City. For more information, visit the Lara’s Ark Instagram page.

Also read: Adopt, Don't Shop: These Rescue Cats and Dogs Are Looking for a Furever Home

Philippine Animal Rescue Team

Philippine Animal Rescue Team or PART is the first and only SEC-registered animal rescue organization in the country. Aside from the usual vaccination, deworming, and spaying or neutering, their rescue dogs are also microchipped and are set to receive a 25% discount on all medical services from their partner veterinary service provider, Pendragon Veterinary Clinic.

The adoption process entails a visit to the dog or cat in person, submission of application form, an interview, and a signed contract. Adoption fee for dogs is P500, and P200 for cats, both of which are non-refundable in the event that a rescue is returned. PART may also conduct surprise home visits to ensure the rescue’s safety and welfare, as agreed upon in the contract.

PART is at 4611 Maulawin Street, Pagsanjan, Laguna. For more information, visit the PART website.

CARA Welfare Philippines

CARA Welfare is a non-profit organization that is guided by compassion and responsibility for animals. They offer veterinary consultations at an affordable price point and run neuter programs in barangays and villages to limit population boom amongst cats and dogs. They also work with commercial establishments to care for stray cats and dogs.

While not an animal shelter per se, CARA does house some rescues that are available for adoption, with each one vaccinated, dewormed, and spayed or neutered. Potential owners must visit at least once for cats and twice for dogs and fill out the application form. Once reviewed, a CARA volunteer will schedule a home visit to ensure that the environment is safe and a perfect fit for the animal. Once approved, you can pick up the cat or dog and pay the P1,500 adoption fee for dogs and P1,000 for cats.

CARA Welfare is at 175 Lopez-Rizal corner Samat Streets, Rizal, Mandaluyong City. For more information, visit the CARA Welfare website.

Aklan Animal Rescue and Rehabilitation Center

The Aklan Animal Rescue and Rehabilitation Center or AARRC is guided by a simple principle: animal welfare equals human welfare, which is why they have a holistic approach to rescuing cats and dogs. Apart from providing help to rescue animals, they also employ and buying food and supplies locally to help the community, and are more than willing to help potential pet owners and volunteers better understand animals. They even have a special section for dogs in need of rehabilitation and are accepting foster volunteers, so you can still help even if you can’t adopt right now.

All cats and dogs available for adoption have been vaccinated, dewormed, and spayed or neutered. The application process includes a visit to the animal, a house check, a signed adoption agreement, and an adoption fee of P1,000. Don’t forget to bring two IDs as well!

AARRC is at Sunflower Road, Andagao, Aklan, Kalibo. For more information, visit the AARRC website.

Happy Animals Club Adoptions Center

It all started in 2014 when a nine-year-old boy started feeding strays with his pocket money. Now, Happy Animals Club has the HAC Adoptions Center which focuses on rehoming their rescues while their main page plucks animals from abusive situations.

Every dog has been vaccinated and dewormed and adoptions are free. The adoption process includes a visit to the shelter, a home visit, and a form. Shelter visits are by appointment and are required before adoption. Once approved, Happy Animals Club will deliver the rescue to your home, free of charge.

Interested owners must permanently live in Davao, have a stable income, and have a gated or fenced house.

Happy Animals Club is at Barangay Matina Aplaya, Davao City. For more information, visit the HAC Adoptions Center Facebook page.

Also read: 10 Animal Shelters and Organizations Where You Can Adopt, Not Shop