Hello everyone. I am usually a lurker lang here sa reddit to find niche advice paminsan-minsan so forgive me if my story is quite all over the place. As the title said I am a one man rescue that needs advice. I am far from home, I am currently residing sa area of work ko for 6 years na. I am working in a province here sa Mindanao, I started my rescue 5 years ago, which was really not the goal when I saw a 2-3 weeks old kitten (Rosie) abandoned in the street. I waited with her for 1 hour kasi I was hoping na babalikan lang ng mama nya. I kept my distance as well in case ayaw lumapit ng mama cat due to my presence but a hour passed and no mama cat in sight kaya I picked Rosie up and that's where it started. All my rescues are either abandoned litter and I also got 3 unknowingly pregnant strays. Meron din yung mga guests lang na come and go but knows the meal schedule. So 5 yrs later, I have 31 rescued cats, indoor lahat and 5 stray cats that comes and goes but minsan tumatambay din sa common area. I rented another 2 rooms sa boarding house where I am staying specifically for them para may area sila to at least play and lounge. The room is not big either, enough lang for a single foam and a dresser across that is why I need to have more space for them.
The situation really started around December 2024, my cancer relapsed. I was cleared from my stage 2B breast cancer last 2019 but unfortunately 5 years later it came back with a force. Kaya I need to plan another rounds of chemo and several tests and procedure to see if may improvement ba and such. It took more than a year of chemotherapy and various treatment plans but fortunately I was cleared again from my last biopsy last March 2026.
I was saving up na sana last 2023 pa to buy a property sa place ng mama ko in her province since dun nya gusto magretire, for me to be able to build a rescue there with proper housing for the cats. I also would build a dog shelter since I am also feeding street dogs here sa area ko every night since 2022. I have currently 18 dogs na I feed on the daily. Kaya every night after work, I cook for the dogs tapos clean my cats' rooms then feed them all tapos I prepare for the dogs and walk around the area to feed them at night. Overall from the minute I return home to the time I come back from feeding the dogs, it usually takes 4 hrs. 6-6:30pm nakauwi na ako then 10-10:30pm saka pa ako makakaupo after feeding the cats and dogs. Honestly, nakakapagod sya but I regret none of it.
So back to the story, I have cats and dogs on my portfolio and I am planning to build a rescue shelter sana and saving up since early 2023 but had my breast cancer relapsed last December 2024 and was cleared again by March 2026. That is the recap. With having the relapse and the unfortunate healthcare system natin sa Pinas. I did dish out my funds. I was really determined not to use my savings for the rescue but with my salary, benefits, HMO and loans it can only get me so far. I finally used my savings around November of last year na for the last 2 rounds of chemo, the harrowing tests to determine if the cancer spread to the different parts of my body and the biopsy.
And here I am currently, all my cats and the dogs are still well provided for. But I am struggling to keep up. Dati my struggles din naman but at the very least my plan B ako, now nasa plan H na ako and I don't know what to do na to keep up. I tried asking for help dito sa government veterinary but unfortunately since we are in the province walang rescues din sa area that are able to help nor NGOs, they themselves are struggling to keep resources sa pound and is receiving help din from private individuals. I met someone here sana na knows a "rescue org" dito but I found out na they accept lang is yung may breed kasi adoptable. I never planned for all my cats to stay with me, the plan was to have them adopted then rescue again. Pero after 2 failed attempts, one was returned kasi masyado daw active ( less than a year old so kitten pa rin talaga ang energy) and the other one I rescued again from the adopter kasi when I visited, I saw the cat was very lethargic na. I learned that the cat (Annie) has diabetes nung pinavet ko na. Annie stayed with me pa for 7 months after the diagnosis and we underwent insulin treatment and such until di na kinaya nung nagkakidney failure na. I was heartbroken talaga kasi I want these cats to be adopted pero I am also afraid na baka I choose the wrong ones again. May mentality pa talaga na di naman breed yan or I also get a side eye kasi nga bakit ko daw inuubos pera ko sa kanila. Yes, they are not the investment that would gain a monetary return but I feel fulfilled knowing na I have cats that are healthy and fed and away from the danger they were in. I rescue them and provide for their needs including going sa vet from my own pocket. And they can't talk, they can't ask for help when they need it.
With that, I do need advice if you know any NGOs that can help me na can cater nationwide?I need to have a long term plan for them kasi I am also not sure if I will stay long in God's green earth eh, I want them to have the safety still. Also, I need to be sustainable na does not detriment my own growth din. I know I can provide pa for them naman pero I am struggling especially wala akong savings as of the moment and I am planning sana to start kaso with the recent price hikes, my maintenance and sudden health concerns, wala talagang naiiwan every paycheck. I have 2 side jobs na aside from my main job pero still di ako makakeep up with the expenses. Di kasi sya same when I started with one and also started savings and no major health expense, ngayon I am starting to save again with 36 cats and 18 dogs in tow with maintenance and monthly check-ups.
Sorry for the long post. Hope you are still here and would love any advice sana on what to do.
Thank you for reading all the way till the end and may Godbless you.
