The Marikina City government opened a new animal rescue and shelter facility on Oct. 4, providing rescued dogs and cats with temporary housing, food, veterinary care and adoption services under the city’s no-kill policy.
Located along Gil Fernando Avenue, across from the City Engineering Warehouse in Barangay Sto. Niño, the Marikina Animal Rescue and Shelter serves as a temporary home for abandoned and rescued animals while they await adoption.
Led by Mayor Maan Teodoro, the initiative follows a no-kill policy that prioritizes the protection and care of rescued animals instead of euthanizing them simply because they have not found permanent homes.
The facility includes a veterinary clinic, pet play area and adoption center. Marikina residents can also access veterinary checkups for their pets and free daily anti-rabies vaccinations as part of the city’s efforts to promote responsible pet ownership and prevent rabies infections.
The shelter officially opened during the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals. Its inauguration formed part of the city’s Paws & Friends Festival and PAWNTASTIC Marikina Car-Free Sunday, which featured a community pet walk, pet blessing and free anti-rabies vaccination activities.
The city government also plans to introduce its Rescue-Neuter-Adopt Program in November, prioritizing stray dogs and cats. The program will be implemented gradually, depending on available resources and the facility’s capacity to provide safe veterinary procedures.
Through the new shelter and its planned adoption and neutering initiatives, Marikina aims to expand animal welfare services while encouraging residents to adopt rescued animals and participate in responsible pet ownership.
