Animal Welfare Groups Rescue Dogs, Cats, Livestock After Taal Volcano Eruption

Animal welfare groups mobilize for Taal Volcano aftermath

Following the eruption of Taal Volcano on Sunday afternoon, several animal welfare organizations sprang into action to aid creatures abandoned in the ash‑laden towns of Batangas. The Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), PETA Asia, and Guardians of the Fur deployed teams to locate and retrieve dogs, cats, chickens, cows, and horses that had been left behind when residents fled for safety.

Rescues in ash‑covered communities

Volunteers scoured evacuated neighborhoods, finding hundreds of animals stranded amid falling ash. Among them were two dogs still chained and two chickens that remained free, as noted in a video shared by PAWS on its website. The footage shows a hungry stray dog being fed, accompanied by the caption: “We heard him howling pitifully across the road. “Marble” (that’s what we call him) was thirsty and hungry. There were two of them- chained dogs (and two chickens, who were, at least, free) – among the hundreds of animals left behind by their owners who have evacuated Talisay, Batangas in the wake of Taal’s eruption.”

Care and relocation

All rescued animals were transported to safer locations where they received food, water, and veterinary attention from the responding groups. The organizations emphasized that ongoing care depends on public assistance, urging donations of money, pet food, or supplies such as collars and leashes to sustain their relief efforts.

Health risks posed by volcanic ash

Experts warn that animals face heightened danger from ashfall because they inhale more particulate matter per breath than humans, increasing their susceptibility to respiratory and other health issues. This vulnerability underscores the urgency of removing livestock and pets from contaminated zones.

Government appeal for community help

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) echoed the call for resident involvement, advising those in affected areas to turn over any found animals to the nearest DENR office. DENR Undersecretary Benny Antiporda stressed the point with the remark: “We know that residents have evacuated but if we can take care of the animals even temporarily, let’s do it.”

Related coverage

Additional reports highlight ongoing rescue operations after the Taal eruption, note that power plants in the impacted zones remain functional, and reference previous PAWS efforts to save animals during the disaster. The story is tagged with #Animal, #Volcano, #Climate, and #News.