For animals left behind, Biyaya is a blessing

The numbers at Biyaya Animal Sanctuary tell a story of both rescue and waiting. 

As of June 2026, Biyaya had helped 7,696 cats and dogs since 2022, while 629 had been rehomed and delivered to their forever homes, according to figures presented at the sanctuary in Alfonso, Cavite. 

Today, the sanctuary is home to more than 1,800 dogs and around 150 cats, according to Kim Young, its shelter manager. 

For many of them, finding a family can take time. 

“Last month, there were only eight dogs that were adopted,” Young told ABS-CBN. 

She said Biyaya has been having a difficult time with adoptions. Most of the dogs in their care are big, and families tend to choose puppies over them. 

The animals still waiting for homes remain part of Biyaya’s daily work.

Some of the animals arrive after being found in places where they should never have been in the first place. 

Biyaya has a rescue team that goes around Metro Manila to respond to animals in distress. Young recalled cases involving dogs that became stuck along SLEX or Skyway. 

Once rescued, the dogs are brought to Biyaya Animal Care’s 24/7 veterinary facility in Mandaluyong for a general checkup. If they are cleared, they are brought to the sanctuary in Alfonso. 

There, they are prepared for a life that may eventually include a new family.

The dogs are spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and microchipped. The cats are also spayed or neutered and vaccinated, but not microchipped. 

Young said the sanctuary chose to microchip the dogs partly because of the sheer number of animals in its care. With more than 1,800 dogs, remembering every name can be difficult. 

Some cats do find homes, although Young said they are not adopted as often as the dogs. 

And then there are those who are too sick or weak to be put up for adoption.

During our visit, we went inside a section of the sanctuary for cats that were too sick or weak to be put up for adoption. I offered them treats, expecting the usual reaction from a cat at home. Instead, some barely responded. They were too weak to get excited, even about something that would normally have a cat running toward you. 

These were cats who were no longer waiting for a family to come along and take them home. The people caring for them were simply making sure they were comfortable, giving them food, medicine, and whatever care they needed for whatever time they had left. 

It is a difficult reality of rescue work. Some animals get a second chance with a family. For others, the sanctuary is where they will spend the rest of their lives. 

“If ever they don’t get adopted, this is their home,” Young said.

Biyaya does not require visitors to arrive ready to adopt. 

Young encourages people to come to the sanctuary simply to spend time with the animals. For the dogs, that interaction can help them become more comfortable around people and improve their chances of adoption. 

“It makes a big difference in their chances of getting adopted,” she said. “They get used to being around people, they learn to greet and interact with them, and as they become more comfortable and friendly, their chances of finding a home increase.” 

It is one reason Biyaya keeps its space open to visitors. The dogs get to meet people, receive attention, and become more accustomed to human interaction. 

Young also hopes visitors will consider fostering, adopting, or donating. 

“I’d like to invite everyone to come and visit us here at Biyaya Animal Sanctuary,” she said. “Even just visiting, spending time with the rescues, and helping us play with them can make a big difference in their rehabilitation.” 

For now, food is among the sanctuary’s most immediate needs. 

“Right now, what we really need are dog food and cat food. Those are the most important because they run out so quickly,” Young said. 

Some fast-food restaurants donate scrap meat, which Biyaya mixes with rice and squash that it buys for the dogs. Funding for the sanctuary comes from the hospitals under Biyaya Animal Care, Young said. 

Food is one need Biyaya can never afford to run out of.

Purina Cares Day brought more than 40 Nestlé employee volunteers and media partners to Biyaya this October. 

The volunteers helped with the sanctuary’s daily work, including feeding and cleaning, and spent time with the rescues. They also toured the sanctuary and learned about some of the stories of neglect and abandonment behind the animals in its care. 

The activity was part of Purina Cares, an annual global initiative that brings volunteers together for community service and animal welfare efforts. 

For the volunteers, it was a chance to see the work that goes on behind the scenes at a sanctuary that cares for animals whether or not they are eventually adopted.

People shop for animals like home decor, and the ones who don’t fit the aesthetic are left to fade into the background. The old aspin. The sick puspin. The big dog that has spent years waiting. At Biyaya, you see what happens to the animals who don’t get chosen. They remain there, cared for, fed, and given a place to call home, even when no family comes for them. 

Walking past their runs, you begin to wonder how many animals are left behind simply because society has decided what a pet is supposed to look like. — All photos by Ralph Revelar Sarza