What You Need to Know About GrabPet

If you've been seeing the announcements recently, it's good news for you and your fur babies as the GRAB Superapp now offers a service called GrabPet. It's a new, safe and convenient way to make sure you get to travel with your pet, whether furry or scaly, and bring them from point A to point B.

If it's that time of the month where you have to bring your pets to the veterinary clinic, your favorite groomer, pet cafe's or a play date with another pet, you can now do it with one press of a button if you are covered. They did this in the past and this is some sort of a re-introduction, so for the time being, it's going to be only available in select areas in Metro Manila. Much of the GrabPet fleet are 6 seaters to make sure you've got ample amount of space when you need to travel with the kids with 2 or 4 feet.

You need to remember a few things though to avail one. A ride can only be done with human passengers, you can't leave your pets alone with the driver. As a pet owner, you need to also make sure your furry kids are clean and not infested with parasites/fleas. You can only bring 2 small/medium sized pets or 1 large pet every booking. They also are required to be in diapers and inside carriers to make sure they don't soil the cars while on transport.

Grab drivers in this particular service have been trained for it and yes, your pets are also insured if they are in the car. For starters, it is available in Makati, BGC, Shaw, Ortigas, Pasay Mall of Asia, NAIA, Malate and San Juan (more areas soon!). You may check the fine print here.

One "Pawsome Day" at Golden Haven

For those who have an additional and special member in the family, this would certainly be good news for you. If you're taking care of a dog, a cat or anything in between, Golden Haven Memorial Parks Inc. recently held their "Pawsome Day" at all their affiliated properties nationwide. Folks brought their furry kids to their over 30+ properties and had a grand time playing with them last August 19th. Much of the properties were filled to the brim with dogs, cats, and other animal friends, all aimed to bond with their furry pets while inside the confines of the sprawling property.

They also invited several pet related businesses in the event so the fur parents won't have to go far in order to take care of their pals, even went to lenghts in doing a pet fashion show during the event. The audience certainly enjoyed the various clothes ther wore on the catwalk, of which made them extra adorable. It was a mix of barking, laughing and music in the venue, something they wanted to do to make each property a place not just for our loved ones, but to celebrate life while we're living.

The President of Golden Haven Ms. Emy Lustado says "Holding this event affirmed our efforts to be not just a place of peace for the departed, but to also have awesome experiences with their loved ones. Pets have always been cherished confidants, and give us a source of boundless happiness. It is but right to give them this Pawsome day!"

This is their second year of holding this event, and by the looks of it, they're raring to make this an annual thing for the whole Golden Haven community. If you want to know more, you can search Golden Haven on social channels of their website goldenhaven.com.ph today.

EFFITIX Now in the Philippines

Pets are all part of the family. They bring so much joy which to me is priceless and can never be replaced. Taking care of them is essential, and these days we can never be too complacent as a simple mosquito bite would carry disease, but now there's something that can prevent that.

Pharma company Virbac knows how the Philippines need solutions for animal health. This is why they are bringing in Effitix, a topical solution for canines so they won't get tick or flea infestations. This also could save them from heartworms as it repels mosquitoes which cause these problems too, and can do it in a span of 4 weeks. 

Dr. Remil Galay a professor of Veterinary Medicine from the UPLB says "Dogs can be sick by pathogens from tick bites. Based in our studies Ehrlichia Canis is the most common detected in the Philippines. A study published last year include Ricketsia, Lice, we need to keep this off our dogs. There are a lot of methods you can employ, like soaps and shampoos, but that doesn't last after washing. The protection doesn't last long. Fipronil remains effective in killing brown dog ticks. There are new drugs combined with it which gives stronger killing effects, additionally prevent resistance to one drug. It is also shown effective in different kind of ticks."

Dr. Sheila Chavez who is the Technical Assistant Manager for Companion Animals from Virbac Philippines showed how to apply the topical solution to pets. She broke off the top, put the liquid and lathered it onto the skin (not the hair).

Journalist Gretchen Malalad wore the fur Mommy hat during the event and talked about how she took care of her fur babies. She rescue cats and dogs, put some of them for adoption. She also neuter and spays them to prevent animal abandonment. Being a dog lover, she had one of her dogs always play and run with her, though one day, the doggie got too tired. She got him to a vet, but when his blood tests came, he had heartworms. It was a long treatment, took 6-8 months and regular checkup. She used Effitx to also rid him of ticks and lice too. She also tried it on her other dogs and saw it was clearly effective. She wanted to have known about it before her doggie got sick, she's glad Effitix is now in the country.

This also kills them within 24 hours and still work even if they take a bath, shampoo, a dip in a pool and usual activities. They come in pipettes so it's easier to apply on our best friends to keep our cute little doggies safe from harmful parasites. It's only for doggos eight weeks old and above and comes in different sizes since dogs don't come in one size. This is good news for those keeping their pets at home, and you can get them starting December 16 via authorized online pet stores and  probably shops and clinics by February next year. You may check pH.virbac.com for more information about the topical solution they offer. You can also follow their social channels @VirbacPH on FB and @virbac_philippines on IG because they update often there.

Effitix costs Php 345 for the 4-10kg size, and for the 10-20kg size costs Php 365. They also have a promo on December giving free brush with shampoo container. (Will be announced on social channels soon) so stay tuned!

Of course, consult your vet at all times. 

PASIG CITY LGU Starts Pet Microchip Service

Mayor Vico Sotto of Pasig City

It's such a good feeling if you feel the government is doing its job, you feel your taxes are all worth it not only for you, but the whole community. A few days ago, I've had the opportunity to witness the launch of Pasig City's Pet Identification Project (Pet i-Chip) using microchip technology. No less than the good looking Mayor Vico Sotto of Pasig City lead ceremonies together with the city Veterinary Services Department and Plaridel Products and Services Inc.

 

Mayor Vico says "This was presented to me during the pandemic and the delay was because of obvious reasons. We had to prioritize a few other things because of it. But now that we're slowly going back to normal, we are going forward with the programs of the city. I would like to thank Ortigas for letting us use Tiendesitas as venue for this event, our councilors who are also working hard to put measures on local government policies (RA 9482), our Barangay officials."

The program is also designed in conjunction with Pasig City's goal of being rabies free. Recent figures mentioned during the event that there are only a few cases (17) this last quarter which is already an improvement from previous numbers which reached hundreds. In the Philippines, there are lots of deaths resulting from animal bites. Aside from that, pet owners would be able to register, monitor temperature of their pets, health history and vaccinations in case they need to. This will be all administered by Veterinarians and will be FREE of charge in the city of Pasig. They will be also issued a Pet Passport that they get to keep for records. In case they lose their pets, it's easier to track ownership as registration requires owner information. This would be a huge change in the lives of pet owners, convenient too that roll out will commence in the next few months according to the city vet. They will be doing the activity together with their rabies shot which they have been doing on a weekly basis. Information will also be held confidential under the pet registration of the City of Pasig.

 

They also showed us the actual microchip and the process on how they implant it. It took a few minutes and much of it was double checking the chip which they scan before, and while it's already implanted. This will also be available in private vet clinics (with its usual cost). So if you're interested, all schedules will be posted at the Pasig City Facebook page and the city veterinary department's channels. If you need more information about the chip, visit plaridel.com.ph or animal-id.net.ph and it's all there!

PAWS Pushes for Spay/Neuter with New KAPON Program

Anna Cabrera Head of PAWS

The Philippine Animal Welfare Society has been established since 1954. They're a non profit, volunteer based organization dedicated for the protection of animals. In the country, they've been pushing for pet care and adoption like no other. This time, they're campaigning for spay/neutering so we could better take care of our pets. PAWS doesn't enforce collection of strays, the government does that, nor are they a destination for pets that owners wouldn't be able to care for as these are done by city pounds (though no government facility accept "for adoption dogs").

Anna Cabrera who heads PAWS says "The stray problem can be solved by neutering. Strays are homeless dogs/cats/animals. As of 2019, there are about 12 Million of them in the country. They usually start out as pets, when owners can't afford to take care of them, they throw animals on the streets and reproduce with other strays hence the problem at hand. The cycle continues til now. If you don't spay neuter pets, they get pregnant and more unwanted dogs, cats or animals. Often, people don't see the connection with the spay/neutering with taking care of pets. Sadly rabies is super high in deaths in the world and the Philippines ranks 7. It can also cause mange, transmissible venereal tumor and other disease. It's also very contagious. There are also problems of dog feces in the streets, it can cause a lot of problems with humans too. They are also probe in scavenging in garbage dumps, which is another problem. They can chase people, after runners, bikers, cars. If they get bitten, that'll be another issue. There is a huge need for animal control, this is why we need the Anti Rabies Act so enforcers would be able to enforce laws and protect humans as their mandate. All strays will be rounded up under law. You can't put the burden on animal welfare groups because chances are, their shelters are all full. Spay and Neutering is a strategy that is sustainable. "Kapon for all pets" is a solution, done by a vet, under humane procedures. It reduces chances of breast cancers, uterine infections, no heat cycles, less spraying and markings. This brings down numbers of unwanted pets too. This is a nationwide approach encouraging private spay-neuter programs in partnership with PAWS, veterinary clinics, the government and their respective local units. We believe pet homelessness can be resolved in 5 years. PAWS will provide 50,000 pesos worth of surgical materials for 10 free spay/neuter every month for participating LGU's. We would want this to be written into law, hopefully done nationwide. February 22 is International Spay Day, and hopefully we can have good numbers to announce when this is done in local government units. Given the right procedure, one person at a time, we will keep hammering at it, we don't give up, we can do so much more!"

You see, with this procedure, pets would be healthy, gain weight, even prevent the ridiculous amount of population of dogs/cats, stray animals which could not be managed by owners in order to take care of them all properly. This way, they won't be in harms way. If you want to know more, visit paws.org.ph or pawsphilippines on FB and IG.

Century City Mall is Now Pet Friendly

It's a wondeful day to see super cute pets at Century City Mall in Makati. Today they're holding a Philippine Canine Club Inc. event at the top floor of the mall for all dog enthusiasts, even from the Asia Pacific region to see who's the best in show. They have separate categories according to the dog's breed and I don't even know where to look because they are all so beautiful! 

The mall also has pet access registration going on available every Tuesdays, Friday-Saturday. But you can always go to http://centurycitymall.com.ph/ if you want to have them registered early on. Now the rules are simple, you can take your pets anywhere except the cinemas and there are specific stickers which you can find in their stores to know if they are allowed fully or in just certain areas. 

As a responsible pet owner, you should also have them in diapers, on top of paper or plastic when they are dining, and of course you should have a way to pick up after your dog, that's a must! 

It's going to be a regular thing now and they're still in the works of having a few buildings nearby to house condominium units and a supposed Asian Breast Center that's got state of the art facilities for your medical needs soon! They are part of Century Properties, so there's really nowhere to go but up!

KUMAGCOW

Fresh Blogs Fast!

The Gerald Anderson Foundation

Fresh from his very successful movie "Always be my Maybe" with vixen Arci Muñoz, Gerald Anderson now takes the role of a philantrophist as he puts on his own new training school for super hero pets with "The Gerald Anderson Foundation". The fund will be used to train dogs specifically meant to be for search and rescue operations. This coincided with his birthday last week as his way of giving back to the community. He also seeked the help of his Dad and brother Ken who will mostly facilitate the trainings set in Clark Airbase in Pampanga. 

They are currently training 4 dogs in the facility but the hope is to get this into the grassroots level. We all know calamities have struck the country and the aid of our k9 friends would definitely help in making search and rescue fast if we train dogs in the community. That would enable dog owners and lovers to be a step beyond just being a companion in the household. Now they can be of help when earthquakes, floods or any incident where search and rescue is of utmost importance. 

His celebrity friends like Piolo Pascual, Rayver Cruz and Enchcong Dee also expressed their support for the project and had shown great interest to help the good looking former PBB housemate with his cause. Most of the proceeds of his foundation will go to the food and vitamins so they could have these superheroes in tip top shape. I asked Gerald about how he thinks he became very successful in the film and tv industry and he quipped it is all because of the countless people and fans who have helped him all these years. Here's a very short interview we did during the conference.

If you would like to help Gerald and his family get these dogs shelter and become the super heroes they are destined for, you can help by donating to his cause. Visit their official website www.geraldandersonfoundation.org or email info@geraldandersonfoundation.org or donations@geraldandersonfoundation.org if you need to ask questions about how to help in this cause that Gerald Anderson is heading. You can also call 804 16 14, 09216522826, or 09951589115.

For more information about their cause:

Gerald Anderson Foundation

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Visit their official website

http://geraldandersonfoundation.org

Bela Padilla Visits P.A.W.S.

Gorgeous on a hot sunny day, Bela Padilla celebrated a worthy birthday at PAWS (Philippine Animal Welfare Society's Rehab Center). She might be a good actress and model in our eyes but what I saw that afternoon was a different side of her. She actually adores kids and the elderly but when asked how to celebrate her birthday this year, she thought about the plight of the cute little animals and this foundation. It's something different but very close to her heart.

Together with Belavers (her official fan club) and us, we proceeded to get to know the facility found in Quezon City. It's right underneath the bridge going to Marikina. The place currently only holds abandoned cats and dogs. It's not a pound so they can't hold everything and they don't put down animals like your local pound. Bela donated food and cleaning materials for the shelter because it's something that they really need. If you have time and resources to do this, I suggest you bring along your friends and get involved. Bela and the Belavers even prepared their food that afternoon. They made food servings for the cats and dogs in different cages. There are a lot and some of them are really not in good condition. There are even some of them in the ICU cage that the lone veterinarian is taking care of. Mind you, they have 2 operating tables and only 1 vet for the whole facility. There are hundreds of cats there, I don't even know how they're doing it but I think the volunteers have a lot to do with it.

PAWS Shelter Director Ms. Heidi Guzon says that some pet owners fail to think long and hard about the responsibilities of pet ownership before they actually get a pet. She also encourages that before getting one, one should consider getting those from a shelter first. The rescued cats and dogs from these establishments are taken cared of, given the right amount of cure then trained physically and psychologically. When they are ready, they confirm if the pets are good for adoption and screen owners as a process. This would make sure that the receiving families would surely take care of these cats and dogs. Something that would benefit both the pets and those that would adopt them.