What happens to a dog when no one is there to help? In places where veterinary care is out of reach and cruelty goes unchecked. Earl’s story gives us a devastating answer — but also a reason to hope.
During one of their street feeding rounds in the Philippines, local animal welfare group Furry Friends found a dog in horrific condition. His head was infected with a wound, crawling with maggots, the result of a savage dog attack. He was standing at the edge of the group withdrawn, clearly in agony.
They named him Earl.
Furry Friends had no funds for the intensive care he needed. But they remembered us from a mobile clinic we ran in their area last year, and reached out for help.
We took Earl in immediately. The infection had already spread through his body, and his condition was critical. He was rushed into emergency surgery, and for 48 hours it was touch and go.
But Earl fought.
He began to stabilise — slowly, steadily. His strength returned, his eyes brightened. Despite the trauma he’d endured, Earl remained gentle and affectionate. It’s likely he was once a loved pet, abandoned when care became too expensive or inconvenient.
Sadly, Earl’s story is far too common.
A Bigger Picture
In the Philippines, the cost of veterinary care continues to rise, putting even basic treatment out of reach for many. Dogs suffer from preventable diseases like parvovirus and rabies which we at IWCT can help with by giving them the 5 in 1 vaccine. Others face cruelty, starvation, or untreated injuries, issues that just aren’t thought of outside of the Philippines, due to the differing cultures around dogs compared to western countries.
Without education and affordable care, animals are abandoned, left to survive alone on the streets – if they survive at all.
Help Us Do More
Earl is recovering, but so many others still need urgent help.
Your donation could mean the difference between life and death for a dog like Earl.
Donate now and help us fight cruelty, fund emergency treatment, and educate communities to care for their animals.
