Dumaguete Animal Sanctuary

Every Life Matters

RIP

Dina

Dina

On Friday 2 June 2024, we made the very hard decision to release Dina from her suffering. We rescued her about two weeks before because she had a large infected lump on the side of her mouth. We took her for x-rays and couldn't see cancer but the infection was so big, it was obscuring it. 

Dina

Dina

Dina when rescued

Dina when rescued

We had her on anti-inflammatory medications and antibiotics but after a few days it became clear that it was cancer. We started her on chemotherapy but there was no improvement.

She was clearly a traumatized soul as she screamed every time we touched her. She would often just face the back of the cage despite our efforts to soothe her. Given that she was 12 to 13 years old, the poor prognosis and her level of discomfort we did the right thing and released her from suffering. She had suffered enough in this lifetime.
She looked so sad all the time and we wanted so much for her to recover and experience love, kindness and a family of her own. We're sorry Dina that you didn't get your happy ending. Run free sweet girl.

DINA RIP

DINA RIP

Davey

Davey

We are so sad to report that Davey passed away suddenly on 18 May 2024.  He held a very special place in our hearts. Despite all his misfortunes, he was such a bundle of joy. He lived a full life at the Sanctuary  and was a favourite of our volunteers, so he got a lot of extra walks.

Davey

Davey

Davey

Davey

We rescued Davey in September 2022. He had a terrible maggot-filled wound on his bottom, one of his feet was missing, and he had damage to his penis. We had to amputate his leg and also his penis, which because of the injuries he sustained, was permanently out and getting abrasions and infections. It’s not as horrific as it sounds, as we made him a small opening so that his anatomy was like a female dog.

Davey

Davey

Last week, we noticed blood in his urine. An ultrasound showed that he had large bladder stones, which would need surgery. Doc Erica had just returned to Isabela but decided to come back to do the surgery. The night before she arrived, Davey stopped eating and started vomiting – signs of kidney problems. We knew he would have surgery the next day, so we put him on IV. Up to this point, he was his usual happy-go-lucky self. Tragically, as Erica was on the way to the Sanctuary from the airport, Davey had a seizure. Despite our desperate attempts to resuscitate him, he passed away.
Looking through his old videos wasn’t easy, and more than a few tears were shed. At the same time we realized how happy he was in all the videos, and it made us realize he had had such a good life in the year and a half we had him. This makes saying goodbye somewhat easier.
Dear Davey, you were loved beyond measure. We hope Shaun, Max, and all the others we’ve lost are waiting for you on the rainbow bridge. Run free, sweet boy.

Bett and Bram

Bett and Bram

Bett, female

Bett, female

Bram

Bram

It's s upsetting when young lives, barely begun, are cut short on the threshold of a bright future.  Bett and Bram, carelessly discarded on the streets, were rescued on 5 April 2024.  They were very small and under-nourished, but had a spark of life about them that was impossible not to cherish.  Just when they began to put on weight, they both caught Distemper, which had yet to reveal itself after the rescue of another rescue who initially tested negative.  Bett succumbed first, with Bram holding out another week before losing his battle.   Bett passed away on 3 May 2024, and Bram followed her on 13 May 2024.

Bram, male

Bram, male

We are heart-broken to lose them.  Distemper is a cruel virus, and with such young dogs, even with the first dose of vaccine in them to help build immunity, the chances of survival are low.  We will give them every chance, but only the dog can fight for it's life.  It's a fight these two do not have to win anymore, and we hope they are reunited - starting and ending life together - lives in which we hope they felt love from us to the end.

Bett

Bett

Nacho

Nacho

Nacho passed away on 12 May 2024.  He was rescued 14 March 2024 because he had multiple tumors, some were due to TVT, which is highly treatable, but he also had Squamous Cell Carcinoma in advanced stage.
We were treating him with chemotherapy but as some tumors were diminishing, others were appearing. We were in the process of discussing how to proceed with treatment when he died.

Nacho when rescued

Nacho when rescued

Nacho when rescued

Nacho when rescued

One of the dangers of chemo is that as the tumors get broken down, toxins can affect organs.
We believe this is what happened with Nacho.
At least he had 2 months of good food, love and care, and sponsors who were cheering him on.
Thank you to his sponsors for helping us give him the best chance.

Run free, I hope Max and Shaun were there to meet you as you crossed.

Nacho when rescued

Nacho when rescued

Nala

Nala

Nala

Nala

Despite being so stretched, on 4 May 2024 we picked up an old dog, called Nala, and housed her in the vet's accommodation in Bacong.  She was so painfully thin with a massive maggot infected wound on her side. We tried to take blood for testing but she didn't have enough! She was around 10 years old, and we were hoping to commence treatment, but she suffered a cardiac arrest in the evening and could not be revived. She was the sweetest girl, and didn't stop talking from the moment we picked her up. We're sorry we didn't get to you sooner, Nala.