The Sanctuary
Dogs Mountain Sanctuary Philippines, now into its 16 Th year, has been steadily built up and privately run over the past years using our own funds. Not for profit or gain, but solely to provide a safe sanctuary home for unfortunate dogs. We also help provide future protection for the mountain land and its wildlife.
This mountain land was bought in 2006 to provide a desperately needed sanctuary for dogs rescued from abuse, abandonment and the very upsetting Dog Meat Trade. Despite being illegal in the Philippines, this cruel trade continues to cause unimaginable and unnecessary suffering to many thousands of helpless dogs and cats in this and other Asian countries.
Since 2006, Dogs Mountain Sanctuary has cared for over 4000 rescued and abandoned dogs. Sadly, many of these dogs are no longer with us. However, for the rest of their lives, whether limited, or for a long time, they were cared for, loved, happy, and eventually found peace.
Our Location
Our sanctuary lies at the south westerly foot of its own mountain, adjacent to rice fields and near the town of Naguilian, situated about 6 hours drive north of Manila and close to the South China Sea coast. The climate here is usually hot, with an annual rainy, typhoon season that lasts about 4 months and some cold nights from November to February. The mountain land is a natural habitat for a wonderful variety of colourful wildlife.
Birds, fruit bats, butterflies, snakes, lizards and some monkeys live among the old narra, mahogany, cotton, mango and banana trees. They share this land with the rescued dogs, cats, goats and those who care for them. We ensure the wildlife live undisturbed by humans. Cotton trees line our western boundary with the rice fields, catching the lovely sunsets.
Our Facility
Our resident are not offered for adoption. Once an animal comes to us, this is their forever home for life, where at this sanctuary, each dog and cat has a name and every animal has a right to live.
We are a no-kill Sanctuary, and also a Hospice for those who have life-limiting conditions. No animal is ever euthanized due to space or time considerations.
Our residents live mainly in same sex, social groups. They all live in good quality, strong houses with yards or gardens — not in cages or solitary confinement unless ill.
Our dogs are free to play with one another, lie in the sun or shade, on or off ground. They receive full vaccinations with visits to vets when required.
Our Filipino team keeps the sanctuary nice and clean, wash and care for the dogs and feed them 2 meals every day.
We find that some dogs form strong friendships and long time bonds with one another, which is lovely to see, so we keep friends and happy groups together. We do not keep unsociable, solitary or aggressive dogs in isolation, preferring to gently integrate them into new or existing groups. Sometimes we have to keep any ‘fighters’ on a lead for a while ‘within’ the group (a chain if they’re strong). This allows all to interact and get used to each other yet gives protection for the whole group. We’ve had some great success with this method.
There is always music from the sanctuary speakers, and often many of the dogs seem to really enjoy a joint howling/singing session. There’s always one or two ‘ring leaders’ who start them off, then they all join in. Great sound!
Today, we continue to provide a forever home and care to these over 55 resident animals who have been rescued from the dog meat trade, neglected, abandoned, killing pounds. Many of these dogs are over 15 years old with us; some we have cared for since 2006; all these dogs and cats are still have another more 15 years.
John and Shirley and Sonia and Dogs Mountain, we promised our four-legged babies that nothing terrible would ever happen to them again. And never be going out in this sanctuary. We do all our powers to protect them till their very last breath of their life in peace, happiness , comfort.
Sanctuary provides a comfortable home to all care workers, as well as local and international volunteers, allowing round the clock company for the animal residents in our care.
The sanctuary goal is to save as many animals as we can, so as financial permits, we put new rescues in the sanctuary, where they will be free to enjoy life away from harm and threats .
We hope this venture may inspire others to acquire a patch of land, preserve existing wildlife and create more animal sanctuaries in the Philippines, Southeast Asia and beyond.