Pets like cats and dogs have long earned the reputation of being not only adorable animals but also beloved companions that many treat as part of their families. Most of these pets serve as stress relievers that never fail to bring a smile to people’s faces after a long day, which has led to many of them taking on roles such as emotional support animals (ESAs) or pets that provide support to individuals with mental health disabilities.
However, despite how a pet may show affection for their owners, not all pets are suited to become ESAs.
During a roundtable discussion at the UPaw Fair 2024 held in UP Diliman last Nov. 16, Animal Care and Disease Control Division Quezon City Veterinary Office Division Chief Dr. Rey del Napoles explained the criteria for pets to be recognized as emotional support animals.
“It starts with a good human-animal bond. The animal has to establish a good bond with a human right away. They should not be selective in who they link to and should have the capacity to be able to identify if a person needs them. A skittish cat or dog won’t be able to become an emotional support animal because it would cause a lot of problems,” said del Napoles.
With UP Diliman being home to many stray cats and dogs that interact with students, the roundtable discussion delved into the topics surrounding ESAs such as the importance of neutering, the proper way to rescue stray animals, and how to interact with animals for the first time.
The discussion featured insights from other resource speakers such as UP Diliman Emotional Support Animals Program OVCSA head Khrysta Imperial Rara, who shared how some of the university’s ESAs have helped students, Utak at Pusa admin Eleanor Agulto, who explained how neutering can help in dealing with the overpopulation of stray animals, and student assistant and ESA handler Kyle Gabriel Ranis, who talked about his experiences in becoming a handler of ESAs.
The resource speakers also discussed UP Diliman’s ESA program that consists of dogs that are mostly strays and are currently residing in the university’s Kamia Residence Hall. They also shared that the program, which was helpful to many students in relieving them from the stress that comes with their workload from school as well as their private lives, has also been adapted by UP Visayas.
“I want to encourage students to give animals a chance. I know some people grew up not fond of animals because of reasons like allergies in the family but even while you’re here, why not try to get to know our ESAs and learn more about the advocacy that comes with them,” said Rara.
Apart from the round table discussion, the UPaw Fair 2024 also featured activities such as a pet parade where cats and dogs walked around the campus while dressed in fun costumes of cartoon characters and several raffle draws featuring special prizes. There were also various booths offering pet-related items ranging from pet food to on-the-spot pet portraits.
The event was hosted by Utak at Pusa, the flagship project of the animal welfare organization Friends of Campus Animals (FOCA UP).
