A Happy Ending: Survivor of Dog Meat Trade Now Helping Children Heal

A Happy Ending: Survivor of Dog Meat Trade Now Helping Children Heal

September 16, 2008

Dr. Adonis with patient. © Philippine Animal Welfare Society

By Carly Ikuma

Last year, a dog named Brown-Brown was rescued from a truck bound for Benguet's dog slaughterhouses during an HSI-led seizure. Brown-Brown immediately captured the attention of his rescuers, and despite the horrific ordeal he had just experienced, displayed a friendly and docile nature which made him an ideal candidate for adoption.

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The Philippine Animal Welfare Society, an HSI Animal Advocate, placed Brown-Brown at the PAWS Animal Rehabilitation Center to recover. He found a permanent home shortly after with Rhea Oropilla, a preschool teacher and PAWS volunteer. Renamed Adonis, he became a certified therapy dog and joined PAWS' Dr. Dog program.

Healing Paws

In December 2007, only five months after he was rescued from the back of a dog meat trader's truck, Adonis made his first visit to a the pediatric cancer ward of the National Children's Hospital in Quezon City.

	Dr. Adonis with owner Rhea Oropilla and a smiling Iverson. © Kristin Ty

"It's heartening to see children and dogs together, enjoying each other's company," says Dr. Julian Lecciones, medical director of the hospital. "These programs obviously have a positive effect on the kids."

Anna Hashim-Cabrera, PAWS' Director, was present on the day Adonis made his first visit.

"A woman was standing outside the Dr. Dog room, watching with her son, who was in the hospital for treatment," says Cabrera. "He had been crying for over an hour; the mother said that he immediately started smiling when he saw Adonis and the others. This is a child who benefited from simply catching a glimpse of the dogs!"

Adonis and Rhea have since made several trips to the hospital.

Dr. Adonis with Abigail. © Philippine Animal Welfare Society

From Street Dog to Doctor Dog

Patients and families at the hospital were surprised to learn that Adonis had survived the dog meat trade to become a certified therapy dog.

"Most of our first Doctor Dogs were purebreds," explains Cabrera. "Mongrels and street dogs are often so poorly treated that they have temperament problems, being scared or distrustful of humans." But Adonis broke that mold, says Cabrera.

Many street dogs end up victims of the dog meat trade, but they all have the potential to become therapy dogs if only given the chance. Adonis is one of the lucky ones.

Adonis, a gentle soul who just needed a second chance, is now giving kids in need a comforting furry shoulder to lean on.