After accepting the role as a celebrity ambassador for the Philippine Animal Welfare Society starting last year, actress and animal lover Jodi Sta. Maria continues to her advocacy to help improve the situation of homeless animals in the country. During the launch to end the NGO’s new Homeless Not Worthless campaign last August 15, the well loved actress took the stage to encourage the public to open their hearts and rescue aspins off the streets.
“Sana po sa mga nandito ngayon sana ay you can adopt or rescue and make them feel safe and loved and valued. Sana po matingnan din natin sila. Maaaring karamihan sa kanila walang mga bahay pero hindi ibig sabihin na wala po silang kuwenta o wala silang halaga. Kasi sa totoo lang, yung mga rescue na furbabies, sa kanila mo talaga mararamdaman yung pinaka pinakamalambing, yung pinaka pinakamatamis na pagmamahal. And I think it’s because that is their way of thanking us for the love that they have been given. That’s my story (with my own rescues),” Jodi shared.
READ: Jodi Sta. Maria shares her 'stop the car' moment with her rescued aspin Putol
A staunch believer in advocating for better animal welfare in the country, Jodi explained why she is passionate about helping PAWS spread the word about their various campaigns. “It’s very important because we want to be able to send a message out there na especially right now there is a growing animal homelessness crisis in the Philippines and gusto natin na maiparating yun sa mga tao and make people aware that there is a crisis pero naman tayong nakikitang solusyon diyan. So ang nakikita nating puwede gawin diyan is to adopt, rescue, and ang pinaka importante, lagi ko talagang ina-advocate ito, ang pagpapakapon ng ating mga animals so that hindi na sila dumadami at hindi na tayo nakakakita ng mga animals sa street,” she said.
READ: Jodi Sta. Maria advocates for puspins as a new cat ambassador
When not busy with showbiz commitments as one of the most in demand actresses in the country, Jodi shared that she is perfectly happy spending time at home with her son Thirdy and the four animals she personally rescued off the streets. “Oh my gosh, isa akong simpleng ina pagdating sa bahay. Ina ni Thirdy, ina ni Kuya Naia, Ate Lily, ni Zandro and ni Putol. I really spend a lot of time with them. Yun lang din talaga. And showering them with love and attention. That’s how I spoil my fur babies. We spend a lot of time within the village so dun ang lahat ng bonding namin.”
Jodi also wanted to highlight how loving local dogs can become, especially when they know they are being rescued and welcomed into a real home, stressing how it is always worth it to choose to adopt over buying a pet.
“I really don’t have anything against animals with breeds, walang problema. But I really do hope lang na hindi natin nakikita na just because aspin sila is mas less yung kanilang value or mas less yung kanilang worth. Sa totoo lang, for me, yung mga pets na kagaya ng aspins na na-rescue at na-adopt especially, iba rin yung klase ng pagmamahal na binibigay nila kasi I truly believe that they understand and they’re grateful for us choosing them and them also choosing us to be their fur parents. They just show you yung pinakasweet na kind of love na minsan kahit na ayaw mo na, andiyan pa rin talaga sila. Ibang klase ang loyalty din,” Jodi explained.
For more information on the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) and their Homeless Not Worthless campaign as well as how to adopt shelter aspin or puspin, just log on to www.paws.org.ph today.