Dumaguete Animal Sanctuary

Every Life Matters

Dog Update

Orson

Orson

Orson

Orson

Orson was rescued on 15 January 2025.  We brought him in to the Sanctuary and took him for x-rays but he had a complete fracture of his spine and there is no neurosurgeon here to do the necessary surgery.
He would never regain the ability to move so we released him from his pain and suffering and sent him on his way with love.
Orson, we are so sorry that you endured what you did.
At the very least, we minimised your suffering.
Run free, you were loved even for a short time and you mattered to us.

Orli adopted again!

Orli Adopted Again!

We were thrilled when orli was adopted in October 2024 to a family that fit all our criteria. However, you can never know for certain how good a home it will turn out to be.
Last week, the adopter messaged us saying he was bringing Orli - renamed Jasper back to the shelter.
He said Jasper was chewing slippers and destroying neighbors' plants, and he wasn't going to train him not to do it.
There are times when adoptions don't work out for various reasons, but what is confusing is when people are surprised that puppies act like puppies!
They chew everything, especially if they are not given enough stimulation, exercise, and attention.
Jasper's adopter never asked for help or told us there was a problem - they just gave up on him right in the middle of the Distemper outbreak.
Luckily, Crystal, our dog trainer, took him in and rehabilitated him for free at her home so he was not exposed to Distemper.
We called him Orli again as he didn't respond to the name Jasper.

We are happy to report that we believe Orli found his perfect home with Eunice, Philam and little JJ.  They added him to their family on 11 January 2025.
He has a massive garden to run around in and has also gained two siblings, DAS adoptees Ori and Gailen, who Eunice adopted a few weeks ago.
It's wonderful to see these three rescues having fun and just being dogs.
Thank you so much Eunice and family, for giving Orli his third chance at the life he deserves!

Myla and Marigold adopted!

Myla and Marigold Adopted!

Myla Marigold adopted

Myla Marigold adopted

We are happy to report that Marigold and Myla were adopted today!
Because of the Distemper outbreak at the Sanctuary we've not been able to get any dogs adopted. But Marigold and Myla were staying at the vet house so they were never exposed to Distemper. On 10 January 2025, they were adopted by Romy Pangilinan and family!

Marigold

Marigold

Marigold, female

Marigold, female

Sad news of Puppies with Distemper

Sad News of Puppies with Distemper

We ended 2024 on such a high with the completion of the recent fundraiser, however, we are starting 2025 with a challenging, worrying situation. We have another Distemper outbreak.
We are not sure how it got into the Sanctuary as we test every new rescue for Distemper before they come in, but the tests can only detect the virus if the viral load is high enough. 

Finn, male

Finn, male

Distemper, being a viral disease, has no cure. The only way to overcome it is if the immune system can fight it off.  All our dogs are vaccinated against Distemper, but the vaccination does not always prevent the disease. If a dog is vaccinated when its immune system is compromised, it often won't build up enough immunity. 

Rafa

Rafa

Giselle, female

Giselle, female

In some cases, a dog may have just contracted the virus days before, and it doesn't register. We believe this is what happened with the puppies we found in the sack on the side of the road a few weeks ago.
Once a dog contracts the Distemper virus, it can take up to a month for symptoms to show, and in this time it can pass it on to other dogs. 

Gabriella, female

Gabriella, female

Sick, old, weak or very young puppies are always vulnerable even if they are vaccinated.  Our current Sanctuary is too small to provide adequate isolation areas. Ideally, dogs should be put into a system whereby they have no contact with other dogs until at least 6 weeks after intake. This is what will happen at the new Sanctuary.

By the time we discovered that the puppies had Distemper, they had already been close to other dogs in quarantine. It is also carried on clothing and airborne, it's so difficult to contain. We have given all dogs something called Can Glob D, which is an antibody booster specifically for Distemper, but it's not cheap.  We have lost eight puppies already - Garret, Geraldine, Gillian, Gabriel, Rafa, Finn, Giselle and Gabriella.  We desperately hope that will be an end to it, but with many other dogs exposed and testing positive, we just have to everything in our power to help them fight this awful disease. 

Gabriel, male

Gabriel, male

Garret, male

Garret, male

Gabriel, male

Gillian, female

Gillian, female