PAWS FACEBOOK POSTING GUIDELINES

We reserve the right to update and modify these guidelines accordingly at any given time.

NOTE: The opinion of the posters, official volunteers and/or unofficial volunteers and concerned citizens or supporters does not reflect the position of PAWS as a non-profit, non-government organization.

1. Only PAWS Admin and Moderators can post on the wall. Please keep comments to wall announcements on topic. We reserve the right to delete comments as we see fit.

Off topic comments or inappropriate comments (especially foul language or violent content) in the wall announcements may be deleted without warning to the poster.

STRICTLY NOT ALLOWED. Comments that will be automatically deleted without warning or response to the poster:
  • Abandonment / Adoption / Rehoming posts - Posts asking people to adopt your pet/s or your rescues will be deleted. Any adoption/rehoming posts must be approved by PAWS and must adhere to the PAWS Rehoming Conditions (see PAWS Rehoming Policy in the FAQs).
  • Posts or advertisements about breeding, stud, mating or pets for sale.

Comments that may be automatically deleted without warning or response to the poster:
  • Posts of links, that when clicked, show "This content is currently unavailable" or "Content cannot be found".
  • Posts of links that are just reposted or shared - with no other info or description about the said link. (Read Facebook Posting Guideline #5 and #6 below and check the FAQS.)

We also reserve the right to ban posters as we see fit if their comments are not constructive and causes disruption to the discussion.

We encourage everyone to practice responsible posting to keep the PAWS Page clean and focused, which is why were are requesting everyone to please keep replies on topic if and when you have a comment/question regarding an announcement made.

If there is a topic/issue that you feel PAWS should announce or look into, please CONTACT PAWS THROUGH PROPER CHANNELS -- EMAIL philpaws@paws.org.ph CC: pawsphinquiries@gmail.com  (We try to reply within 48hours. If you do not receive a reply by then, kindly resend your email) or CALL tel. 475-1688 during office hours (Mondays to Saturdays except holidays, 10am-5pm). -- instead of posting it as an off topic comment. Your FB post/comment may get lost and go unnoticed amidst all the other comments posted. Facebook is not the proper channel to report to PAWS.
Despite the actions of animal offenders, we wish to remind everyone to practice respect, maturity and proper online decorum when posting a comment. We understand that everyone has a right to voice out his or her opinion and we welcome healthy discussions. However, violent and disrespectful negative reactions such as cursing, name-calling, death threats and the like are not constructive comments. Posting these kinds of comments that need moderation gives the PAWS staff more work instead of focusing on more urgent matters such as the current investigations and cases involving dog fights, dog katay and other offenses such as animal abuse and neglect - those of which we are able to take action for because witnesses have come forward and were willing to provide affidavits to find justice for the animals. We hope for your understanding and cooperation in this matter. All comments that contain foul language or violent contents can and will be deleted without warning.

The PAWS Facebook page will not be a channel for cyberbullying especially if the accusations haven't been verified, no case has been filed and no witnesses are willing to testify. Offensive posts will be deleted.

We hope you understand that all decisions that the organization makes are always in accordance to our policies, principles and morals. The safety and welfare of the PARC animals and the animals outside of the shelter are always the biggest and most constant concern and focus. We want all those who commit animal cruelty, abuse or neglect to take responsibility and face the consequences of their actions, no matter how small or grave the act was.

Rest assured that all activities in or out of the shelter that involve contact with animals are done under the strict supervision of PAWS volunteers and staff.

2. Read the wall announcement and FAQS thoroughly before posting.

Before you post a comment, call or email us, please take the time to read the entire announcement and browse through the PAWS Website and the PAWS FAQS. Info on volunteering, adopting, reporting animal cruelty, reporting animal neglect, helping injured stray animals, PAWS policies, spay/neuter, etc. can be found there. If you have a question, it might have already been answered in the PAWS FAQs Section. You'll save time and you'll get the answer with less effort and without the wait.

We have provided the guidelines and information in our FAQs Section so that concerned animal lovers and PAWS Facebook posters can be proactive and do not have to wait for a reply on Facebook - since we do not routinely check all posts for queries, especially older posts. Please make reading a habit - read the PAWS announcements in full, including the comments.

Please remember that PAWS is an NGO with very limited resources, very few active volunteers, and no funding from the government. We need ordinary people, volunteers like yourself, to help us by being PROACTIVE. By doing that, you just rescued an animal and helped us rescue more. The answers are all in our FAQs. We may not be able to answer all your queries via Facebook or email because it takes time away from our staff and very few active volunteers to rescue and care for other animals in more distressed conditions

3. Type properly.

Please type out all your words when posting and avoid typing with:
  • text lingo
  • jejemon
  • shortcuts
  • dO noT tYpe Lyk diS eiTHer
  • ALL CAPS (considered as shouting online)
so that questions/discussions can be easily read and responded to. If we can't decipher or understand your post, you may not receive a reply. Kindly follow proper netiquette (internet etiquette) when posting.

4. No spamming. No flooding.

Repeated posts (posting the same comment more than once, or posting the same topic or link more than once) is considered spamming. Repeated posts will be deleted accordingly without warning.

5. Online photos/videos (in Facebook, etc) showing animal abuse/cruelty

On finding online photos/videos (in Facebook, etc) showing animal abuse/cruelty:
  • If one comes across a photo or video in Facebook or online that shows animal abuse/cruelty (i.e., the case of Jerzon Senador hanging the puppy on a clothesline), we appeal to everyone to send concrete information instead of reposting or forwarding photos/links. Find out what was going on, verify, obtain the necessary details. What we need is specific information about the people involved (name, address, contact info, other info that can help us locate said persons), if this occurred in the Philippines, and possible witnesses who can execute affidavits and help us bring these people to justice. Without further info or witness affidavits, PAWS cannot proceed with proper legal course of action because, sadly, posting horrible pics and sharing stories online isn't enough to prosecute animal offenders.

  • Concerned animal lovers can repost the photos/links in their own personal social networks to help raise awareness, but not to cyberbully and not to spam other pages. PAWS is usually among the first parties to receive alerts anyway before they even go viral. Just because we don't post it on our wall, it doesn't mean it has not been brought to our attention.  We just opt to be responsible and choose not to discriminately broadcast it to the public without verification, concrete info and affidavit from witness. PAWS Staff/Volunteers try to check on reports as soon as possible, and getting repeated links/images and entertaining each report that comes in about the same case will slow their efforts to check other reports and help others in need. As stated in guideline #4, repeated posts will be deleted. Links/photos that did not occur in the Philippines will also be deleted. Read the FAQ on what to do when one sees a photo/video/Facebook profile showing animal cruelty.

  • As an organization with track record and credibility, PAWS will not ride in the bandwagon of cyberbullying, which can be unhelpful and possibly detrimental in actually filing a case versus animal offenders. Before making any announcement in our social networking sites, PAWS believes in verifying facts first. It is just fair to all parties that accusations are verified and there is actual proof of the offender committing animal cruelty/neglect (this is why witnesses or people with personal knowledge of the act who are willing to submit affidavits are important). Cyberbullying will not get animal offenders in jail. This will also give the offending party the heads up to whitewash or cover up their crimes, or worse to threaten those who are willing to testify. If animal cruelty/neglect occurs in schools or offices, and cyberbullying by individuals or Facebook pages is initiated (regardless if they are well-meaning and just want to help the animals), know that the school/office may become evasive and uncooperative because the name of their institution/company is being dragged into the issue and they may refuse any chance at education because they would think it as a tactic to enter their territory and further investigate the case.

6. Photos that show an animal in need of medical care

On finding photos in Facebook showing an animal in need of medical care (i.e. "5-month pregnant dog"):
  • If animal has an owner - first and foremost, please advise pet owner to bring his/her pet to a vet ASAP. There are several options if the pet owner does not have enough funds for medical care -- bring the pet to the city vet, the low-cost PAWS Clinic (clinic hours: 1:00-3:00pm only, Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, CLOSED during all Wednesdays, Sundays, holidays) and, for Metro Manila cases, other low-cost clinics such as UP Veterinary Teaching Hospital, CARA Clinic or PSPCA or the city vet of that area. Pet owner may even request the nearest vet or regular vet (the one who vaccinates the pet every year) for a discount, waived fees or if he/she can pay through installment.

  • If animal is a stray, please read the PAWS FAQ for guidelines on what YOU can do to help strays/rescue emergencies and be ready to provide complete information when you report through proper channels. Do not repost the link in the PAWS Facebook.

As an NGO that is not funded by the government and relies solely on donations and fundraisers to keep operations running, PAWS cannot afford to extend financial assistance or pay vet bills of other clinics since we are also in need of funds. Instead, we help by offering low-cost vet services at our clinic in QC.

If the animal has already been treated or rescued (by PAWS or any other animal welfare group or individual), please stop reposting the link asking for help for the animal and help update and inform everyone about the current status of the animal to avoid spamming. Please also inform the original concerned citizen who uploaded the photos to take them down or at least update the posts.

7. Witnesses of suspected pet neglect, animal abuse/cruelty

On cases of suspected pet neglect, animal abuse/cruelty:
  • We always advise our volunteers and concerned citizens alike to thoroughly assess the situation whenever a suspected case of animal cruelty or neglect is apparent. We also strongly encourage people to exert an effort in communicating with pet owners, or ask help from neighbors or local authorities who might be able to assist in these types of events.
  • After assessment and when reporting a situation, please don't forget to provide the name, contact #, address of the person/s involved. These details are important in order for any action to take place. In cases of neglect or abuse, please mention if you are willing to make an affidavit stating that you have personal knowledge that the dog/cat is neglected or abused in order for us to "seize" the dog/cat legally. Refer to PAWS FAQS on how to report animal cruelty and what to do when you see pet neglect.
  • NOTE: PAWS is not law enforcement, and is not like the animal cops or ASPCA that you see on tv in Animal Planet. PAWS does not have legal authority to seize/confiscate owned animals. This has to be coordinated with police and proper charges have to be filed, and to do this, PAWS needs witnesses to submit affidavits. Without written affidavit & witness willing to come forward, PAWS could not forge ahead w/ further legal action.

8. On sick pets

If your pet is sick or not feeling well, please take your pet to a licensed vet ASAP. Posting online or on Facebook should not be considered a vet substitute. Your sick pet needs to be properly examined and diagnosed by a licensed vet in order to provide the right treatment. Some vet clinics are listed here (includes low cost vet clinics): http://www.paws.org.ph/my-pet-is-sick-what-do-i-do.html If you would like the PAWS shelter vet to examine your pet, please bring your pet to the low-cost PARC Clinic during consultation hours: 1:00pm-3:00pm, Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays (Note: PARC Clinic is closed on holidays). As responsible owners, please exert the effort to take your pet to a vet to get the proper treatment he needs to get well. If you do not have enough budget, talk to the vet and ask if you can get a discount or if you can pay by installment.

=== THANK YOU FOR READING AND FOR UNDERSTANDING ===

The guidelines (in the FAQ section of the website) were put up so people can do things at their own level, without waiting for PAWS to scramble for available volunteers to answer the email or Facebook comment or go out on a rescue.

Thank you for understanding and for supporting PAWS.

Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS)
PAWS Animal Rehabilitation Center (PARC)
Aurora Blvd., Katipunan Valley, Loyola Heights Q.C.
Office hours: Mondays to Saturdays, 10am - 5pm, except Sundays and holidays
Tel #: 475-1688 (only during ofc hours. There is no PAWS hotline.)
Email: philpaws@paws.org.ph CC: pawsphinquiries@gmail.com

===

The shelter is full. With strict quarantine protocol and admission policies, we will not allow overcrowding that will jeopardize the health, general welfare and care of the current shelter animals, some of which are undergoing rehabilitation health-wise and behavior-wise. We urge rescuers and good samaritans to foster (temporarily keep) any rescues or strays they may encounter, or at least provide food/water/temporary shelter for the animal. Help us get more shelter animals adopted so that other rescues may be admitted into the shelter.