Dear Directors, 

We are volunteers and supporters of the Merville Community Cats and Dogs (MCCD), an independent group that takes responsibility for the animals in our community. MCCD conducts Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Release (TNVR) operations, manages cat feedings, and looks after 15 dogs kept in an enclosure built on MPHA land on Barcelona Street.

MCCD has also delivered significant results for the welfare of our animals and community, including facilitating TNVR for over 260 cats and the adoption of over 90 animals.

We have seen your latest circular announcing the availability of our dogs for adoption and your plan to turn over unadopted dogs to the Parañaque City pound. We agree that all the dogs must eventually be adopted, an effort that MCCD has been facilitating for years. This requires continued feeding, sheltering, socialization, and rehabilitation - all of which are responsibilities which the MCCD team has taken on at their own expense and minimal cost to MPHA.

However, we disagree with the practical setting of a deadline on this endeavor by sending unadopted animals to the pound after a yet unspecified period of time. Abandoning our dogs to the overcrowded city pound is to assure them of an almost certain death. 

We firmly believe that because these dogs were rescued within our community, we must also bear the responsibility of helping them find good homes. We also believe that MCCD’s TNVR and adoption efforts are necessary to sustainably address what we believe to be permanently recurring issues with animals typical of a suburban community like Merville. These actions not only benefit these voiceless animals, but ultimately contribute to making Merville a stronger, healthier, and kinder community.

MCCD has achieved much with limited resources and a short timeframe, but we believe that MCCD can do more for our animals and our community with greater support from its leaders.

May we ask that MCCD be allowed to continue operating from the strip of land behind the shed on Barcelona Street, particularly in housing our rescues, until operations are deemed complete; that is, all rescues have been successfully rehomed.

These are simple and concrete steps that cost MPHA and our community little, but which go a long way in building a more compassionate and sustainable community.