MANILA, Philippines — Actresses Carla Abellana and Heart Evangelista translated their love for animals to action by distributing food to animals left behind by their owners at the height of Taal Volcano’s eruption last month.
Heart and Carla recently joined relief operations to feed animals in towns hit by the volcanic eruption initiated by the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS).
“PAWS continues its daily relief operations this week as the team travels to one of the hardest hit towns near Taal Volcano to help feed more than 400 starving animals left behind during the evacuation,” Paws said Thursday in a Facebook post.
Heart was among the volunteers who fed the animals left in affected towns, as seen in the photos shared by the animal welfare group.
Heart Evangelista feeds hungry dogs near Taal Volcano. (Photo courtesy of PAWS)
“It is very heartbreaking to see many of the houses that have collapsed from the sheer weight of the volcanic ash. Most of the animals the team encountered were very friendly (a sure sign that they were owned pets) but thin and weak from lack of food,” PAWS added.
Carla also joined PAWS’ relief distribution work for pets and other livestock, as seen in a separate post of the group.
Carla Abellana takes part in an animal rescue and relief operation in Batangas. (Photo courtesy of PAWS)
“Carla is one of the PAWS volunteers who have signed up to do relief distribution work for dogs, cats and livestock in locked down areas of Batangas where these left-behind pets needed to be fed,” PAWS said.
This is not the first time for both actresses to join PAWS in its advocacy to care for animals.
In 2018, Heart launched a campaign with PAWS – “Have a Heart for Aspins” urging the public to “#AdoptDontShop.”
Carla, in 2013, helped PAWS lobby for the amendment of the Animal Welfare Act and supported its campaign for the inclusion of animals in national disaster-preparedness plan.