Almira of 4th Impact. Images: Instagram/@4thimpact_almira, @4thimpactmusic
Almira Cercado of P-pop girl group 4th Impact said she and her sisters are not “irresponsible pet owners,” weeks after their online fundraising campaign for their 200 Shih Tzu dogs was taken down.
In February, the quartet drew backlash from the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) and netizens after opening a fundraising campaign on GoFundMe’s official website to build a “farm lot for our 200 Shih Tzu dogs.”
The fundraiser was eventually removed from the platform days later.
On Monday, April 15, Almira took to Instagram to defend herself and her sisters Irene, Mylene, and Celina following the incident, stressing that they are “never irresponsible pet owners.”
Aside from her statement, the lengthy statement includes a screenshot of the refunded amount from the fundraising platform.
“This post is basically letting everyone know that we are closing this chapter and that we are never irresponsible pet owners,” she said. “[We received] 5 Shih Tzus from different fans and these 5 pups are not related at all. I have gifted one boy Gucci and he mated all the girls except Bombom. They multiply so fast.”
This led to 4th Impact to give some of their dogs to their friends. However, they were once again faced with a “noise complaint from [their] neighbor” which “forced” them to seek another place for their “male dogs.”
“So I made a GoFundMe page [because I] believe we have Dreamers who know our story and that they will support my vision of putting up a farm [for our dogs],” she wrote, referring to their fans.
“I guess I didn’t think carefully before I did it because I will do anything in legal way just to provide for our dogs.”
Almira then explained that “false accusations and horrible news” made against the group on March 4 prompted her to take down the online fundraiser.
She also said they “only” have their dogs to relieve their stress.
“I decided to delete it myself and the funds are already refunded to our Dreamers minutes after it was deleted… We never go to parties, don’t have a social life because we are the bread and butter of our whole family. We finance our studies and finished the degree by singing but our dogs are the only stress reliever for us and meant the world to us,” she said.
READ: Poe pushes bill giving animal welfare law more teeth
Almira’s appeal
Almira assured her followers that 4th Impact will “work harder” to build a farm for their dogs while appealing to the public to stop “spreading hate” on social media.
“We are not famous and we are aware of that but that doesn’t mean we have no right to try to reach for our goals and dreams.”
“Let’s not use social media to spread hate! We don’t have the choice but to continue chasing for our dreams even we want to give up sometimes,” she continued.
“Sometimes it’s hard to fight when you are alone… even friends from the industry tried to make fuss about us.”
4th Impact. Images: Instagram/@4thimpactmusic
The singer then reflected on the incident, saying that it was a time they understood who their “real friends” were.
“I realized we just love to perform and inspire people. Music has changed our lives from a probinsyana raised in Isabela to being 4th Impact. People say we are 4 Impactas, no impact, Madam Inutz variants, name everything but I don’t care. As long as we are not stepping on someone we will be proud that singing is our bread and butter,” she said.
Almira also addressed 4th Impact’s attendance to Taylor Swift’s Eras tour in her statement, pointing out that the group attended her California leg in SoFi Stadium last August 2023.
Meanwhile, Irene, Mylene, and Celina have yet to address the backlash, as of press time.