Talisay City Employees Adopt Stray Dogs, Promoting a Pet-Friendly Community

Stray Asong Pinoy, or "aspins," roaming near Talisay City Hall in Cebu have found refuge with city employees who have taken them in and provided care. Among the offices involved, the Talisay City Tourism Office has adopted four notable "aspins" named Brownie, Whitey, Biggie, and Tiger, a female dog, who have been under their care for nearly three years.

These dogs have grown to become part of the office environment, often greeting visitors as a warm welcome. Mikki Aznar, Talisay City Tourism Officer, recalled that the dogs were originally skinny puppies when employees first began feeding them outside the City Hall premises.

"The puppies were very thin at the start," Aznar explained. "Since many of our staff are dog lovers, we naturally began caring for them. The dogs have since become a source of comfort and stress relief for us, showing great affection."

The office's compassion extends beyond dogs; two years ago, they also rescued a group of sickly cats found near the flagpole area. With medical assistance from Dr. Ma. Christine Hope Dejadena, Chief of the Talisay City Veterinarian's Office, all animals have been neutered, spayed, vaccinated, and given necessary vitamins.

Despite the affection for these animals, office policies require the dogs to be removed from the premises by 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. daily. At night, the dogs are secured in cages, and the office conducts weekly cleaning and disinfection to maintain hygiene.

Another well-known canine resident, "Buddy," serves as a guard dog and is adopted by the City Engineering Office. Additional rescued dogs are currently cared for by the City Agriculture Office.

Aznar highlighted that these rescue efforts reflect Talisay City’s commitment to building a pet-friendly community. She expressed hope that these initiatives inspire others to become responsible pet owners and engage in animal rescue advocacy.

"Our work with these animals is a step toward making Talisay a more compassionate city," she said. "We encourage others to follow suit and help nurture a culture of care for our pets."

This initiative underscores the city government’s dedication not only to public service but also to animal welfare.