To a Filipino, the word 'Askal' can easily be associated to the Philippine local dog, or the native dog. 'Askal' is derived from the words 'Aso' which means Dog, and 'Kalye' which means street; ultimately meaning 'Asong Kalye' or street dogs (stray dogs).

Q:What makes these dogs so special that I have to write about them?
A: All dogs are special and anyone can write about them!

To a Filipino who has been living here for 29 years, I have seen how these native dogs are being treated in society. I have seen them being cared for much like other pure pedigree bred dogs, nurtured and loved by families or individuals. I have also seen them being brutally maltreated, left to rot and die, worse - eaten. I have seen all of those things in my life, despite having cared for these native dogs before, I just could not save them all, or even save a couple more.

IRO

What I am writing about today, is something that I have come across recently. A movement that aids these stray dogs in caring for them, advertise for their adoption to fellow dog lovers, feed them, nurture them with the help of volunteer Vets. 'Iro' which means dog in the Visayan vernacular also stands for "Island Rescue Organization", an organization that is centered towards the rehabilitation and the aid of these stray and/or abandoned dogs.

Based in the island of Cebu, the "IRO" was created way back 2010 by a group of volunteers in the hope to rescue these Man's strayed best friends.

There goals which have been taken from their website is as follows:

• To promote responsible ownership and humane treatment of all animals through cooperation, outreach, and education with the community
• To advocate the development and enforcement of humane and effective animal welfare laws
• To rescue and rehabilitate abused, abandoned and neglected animals
• To provide a healthy, loving, no-kill sanctuary for rescue animals
• To promote adoption of companion animals into permanent homes
• To promote control and health management of the animal population through spaying/neutering and vaccinating

You can definitely check more about them HERE.
And If you feel like lending a hand through a donation, you can also drop by HERE.

Love me like you do...

As I have mentioned, I have had my fair share of loving and caring for these beautiful creatures. But what is common to a Filipino trait always has something to do with wanting or owning something that is foreign. The want to own a Siberian Husky or an Alaskan Malamute or even a St. Bernard, in a tropical country such as the Philippines. Whose regular temperature goes around the 30 degree Celsius area. This is definitely is not a practical thing to do, but we Filipinos generally just wants to own these and many others while disregarding, and more often than not, taking for granted our very own local dogs.

We have to start looking beyond the breed.

Local is Good Too!

We seem to think that owning pedigree breeds means owning a smart dog, a guard dog, or a playful dog for that matter. How is our local dog any less that those breeds if we take the time to teaching them.

Who says you can't train a native dog?

Philippine Coast Guard trains local dogs for bomb sniffing. Source

Check out some of the more famous Local Philippine Dogs:

• Roy- Receives a Star from the Philippine Army for having played a major role in the search and rescue operation, following a landslide in the province of Benguet. Source

• Kabang - Hero dog whose snout was ripped off saving 2 little girls Source

With these 2 examples alone, it just goes to show how dog owners reflect their own dogs. If we treat them right, spend time with them, teach them in our own way, we can actually produce a quality local dog. A dog that is definitely worthy of praise.

Education is not limited to human beings, Education can be for Animals too.

Finish Line

I guess German Shepherds and Belgian Malinois will no longer be the only breeds we will be seeing in ports in the near future. I believe that one day, the Philippine local dogs will be the ones taking the charge in overseeing the safety of these ports soon. More than that, with the rescue operations created by the Island Rescue Organization on these local dogs, I hope that many would partake in this selfless gesture in aiding these pups and hopefully provide these dogs a family someday.

This is something I will definitely be teaching my child, to look beyond breeds and care for these living creatures to the best that he can. They also have a life to live as we all do.

I guess that sums it up, but before I would let you go just a little FUN FACT.

Did you know that the Philippine National Football team is named after the Askals? Azkals, as they are called, represents the PHL in the AFC or the Asian Football Confederation. Though the purpose of naming them Azkals initially did not represents that of the Philippine stray dog, it started out when it was being renamed into Calle Azul (Streets of Blue) which was represented by their team colors. Something I just new myself. LOL Source

That is definitely a wrap! Please FOLLOW me, as I am planning to do more good to know stuff from the Philippines.
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Check out my previous Good to Know Articles:

• Good to Know: Kwek-Kwek, The Street Egg
• Good to Know: The Mayon Volcano - An Active Perfect Cone
• Good to Know: SINULOG - One Beat, One Dance, One Vision
• Good to Know: Habal-Habal, The Two Wheeled Taxi
• Good to Know: Jeepney, The Colorful Kings
• Good to Know: Balut! A Bizarre Gastronomic Experience
• Good to Know: Apo Whang-Od - The Living Legend

See you guys on the next Good to Know...

Good to Know: Askals - No Dog Should be Left Behind

IRO

Love me like you do...

Local is Good Too!

Philippine Coast Guard trains local dogs for bomb sniffing. Source

• Roy- Receives a Star from the Philippine Army for having played a major role in the search and rescue operation, following a landslide in the province of Benguet. Source

• Kabang - Hero dog whose snout was ripped off saving 2 little girls Source

Finish Line

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All credit goes to the photo's respective owners. I own none of these pictures. They are as stated on the sources provided.