2024 has been one of both challenges and rewards for IWCT. As we reflect and review on the past twelve months, we are reminded of the unwavering dedication of our team, who have worked tirelessly to support the dogs and communities we serve in the Philippines. Despite facing obstacles such as reduced donations and increased costs, the ongoing needs of stray and vulnerable animals, and the ever-present demand for our services, our commitment to making a difference has never faltered.
As we look ahead, we remain steadfast in our mission from our Treatment Centre base, implementing new strategies and strengthening partnerships to ensure we can continue to protect, heal, and advise those who need us most. Together, we are building a brighter future for dogs and the communities who care for them.
IWCT Clinics In Review
We have continued our twice weekly clinics at our Treatment Centre. In addition to these, we have supported the Tarlac City Veterinary Office once a month with a spay clinic, returned to Iloilo and Guimaras for our annual outreach clinic and also held mobile spay clinics in 13 other barangays.
This has resulted in nearly 7,000 dogs vaccinated against rabies and 2,150 dogs spayed or neutered.
As well as administering rabies vaccinations and performing spay operations, we also provide free vitamin and de-wormer to dogs and cats at our clinics. Thanks to a collaboration with dog food manufacturer Top Breed, we are now able to offer Wellness Clinics. These clinics provide free advice and resources to pet owners, who can bring their animal to the clinic for a complimentary check up and receive a vitamin and de-wormer.
All these clinics promote responsible pet ownership, support pets and their owners and humanely control the pet population in the Philippines.
IWCT Rescue Dogs
IWCT is called upon every week to rescue a dog in need. We stand by that we are not a shelter and advise many people to seek support from their local shelter in the first instance. We do however, make some exceptions for dogs who are in dire need of medical care. Over the past year, the following rescue dogs have come into our world:
- Ellie
- Pebbles
- Bracken
- Cooper
- Friday
- Cloudy
- Bhe
- Jackson
- Hope
Our policy of the rescuer who alerts us to a dog in need takes responsibility for it once it has healed continues to be successful. All these dogs apart from Cooper have a forever home in place once they are fully recovered and rehabilitated. Cooper was alerted to us by Josie, who is homeless and already takes care of several street dogs. He will remain at IWCT until we find him a suitable home.
The dog to remain with us is Ellie, who has really stolen our hearts. Ellie had previously had a home before being abandoned. He is the sweetest dog and now lives in the Treatment Centre with the team, rather than in the kennels. He attends team meetings and has become part of the family.
We really do get attached to the rescue dogs who remain with IWCT and treat them as if they were our own pets. Naturally, we also grieve when they pass away and this year we sadly said goodbye to Cheska and Clover. Both these dogs had been with us for several years, rescued when we were at our former, rented Treatment Centre. Cheska and Clover had very different personalities, but were both happy dogs. Their lives may have been cut short, but at least they were in a safe and loving place with us for most of it.
Stray Feeding Programme Review
Every other month, we have joined delivery driver Jeff on his stray feeding rounds in areas such as Manila and Cavite. Thanks to the donations of dog food by pet owners who visit the Centre, we are able to provide a mixture of wet and dry food at little cost to the hungry dogs on the streets. Whilst feeding the 1000’s of roaming and stray dogs isn’t a long term solution to the dog population problem in the Philippines, it does help alleviate their suffering and also highlights areas to us which could benefit from spay clinics in the future. We don’t have the resources to run a Catch, Spay, Release Programme, but we have made connections with organisations who do, so an objective in the future is to try to support such a programme which will have a positive effect on dog population control.
Review Of IWCT Education Programme
This year we visited more schools than ever with a brand new Education Programme. This interactive programme was incredibly engaging. We discussed safety around roaming dogs, rabies awareness and promoted what an amazing pet a dog is.
Whilst we would like to continue these next year, they are quite costly and time consuming so we have had to cut back on plans for 2025. Our website continues to have free materials available to download, but our team love the in person interaction with the school pupils. Perhaps with some corporate support in 2025 we can continue the Education Programme on a monthly basis as we intended it.
Supporters In The Philippines
On the subject of Corporate Support, we have had a great start in our campaign for support from corporate companies in the Philippines. Several hotel groups have donated used towels and bedsheets for our kennels and clinics. Ascot Group (a call centre company) also attended our Treatment Centre for a team day. They brought pots of paint and painted our kennels and walked our rescue dogs.
Filipino actress, Teresa Loyzaga, returned to the Treatment Centre for the second time in 2024. She has an amazing way with the rescue dogs, her patience and kindness shines through and the dogs pick up on this instantly and love being in her company.
This year we have also had visits and gifts from Michelle Cobb, a professional volleyballer, Bini Aiya, a pop star and former pupil of our Executive Director Suzanne and Steph Ongkiko, an Instagram Influencer.
CEO Visit
Most of you are aware of Kaytie’s visit to the Philippines towards the end of the year. Kaytie last visited when the new Treatment Centre had just been opened. Returning to see the team, the rescue dogs and witness the growth in them all first hand was extremely rewarding. Kaytie was most taken by Ellie, for she had only seen photos of him sent by the team. Whilst she was aware of his progress, she didn’t recognise the happy little dog who greeted her at the Treatment Centre reception. It was a very heartwarming moment.
IWCT Review Of Future Plans
As we look ahead to 2025, we have reluctantly had to reduce the number of clinics we had planned. Unfortunately, we do not have the funds to continue at this rate. It is a real shame for there is such a high demand for our services in the Philippines, not least the 6 month wait list for spay and neuter clinics.
Our main objective is securing the future of the Treatment Centre and resident rescue dogs. By limiting our external clinics, we can ensure that this is achieved. With more regular donations and perhaps some support from Trusts and Corporate Sponsors, we could look to increase on our clinic schedule again.
In the Philippines, we now have a part time events and fundraising coordinator, Jenlyn, and it is thanks to her that businesses in the country are starting to not only know about us, but also support us. In the UK, the team and Trustees are working to fundraise with Trusts and Foundations, in addition to our online fundraisers.
We know times are tough for everyone and we appreciate every single donation. Rest assured, your donation goes a long way to make a difference to the lives of so many dogs in the Philippines and the team are more determined than ever to continue making an impact.
Thank you for your support. Please continue to follow our work in 2025 and consider making a donation if you are able to.
We wish you a happy, safe and successful 2025.
