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Hope for the Angels Shelter provides loving home for neglected dogs

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Text and photos by Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

<p>Will you provide food and shelter for 221 neglected dogs?</p><p>Since almost six years ago, 53-year old Leah Borbon-Dopelis from Sitio Abuyod in Barangay San Jose, Antipolo City, Rizal, has taken care of abandoned, mistreated, and tortured dogs.</p><p>The former canteen owner built her own shelter named “Hope for the Angels Shelter.” This provides hundreds of stray street dogs with the type of unconditional love a mother gives to her offspring.</p><p>Every day Leah, along with her nephew and two employees perform the same dog-related duties.</p><p>Leah appears tireless in her efforts to ensure that every dog is well-cared for, rising before dawn to purchase ingredients for their dogs&#x27; meals at their local market, to preparing porridge and serving it individually to the different cages based on dogs&#x27; gender and age, to grooming and bathing.</p><p>Since 2017, Leah has supported the canines they rescued in Metro Manila. Her husband and son help, albeit begrudgingly. Despite opposition from her family, Leah was able to persuade her husband to let her to pursue her passion for dogs by making a shelter. </p><p>Leah claims she was never a dog enthusiast until desperation prompted her to begin caring for puppies, an experience she describes as &quot;life-changing.&quot;</p><p>Six years ago, Leah rescued her first dog, Chuchay, from the construction site commissary where her husband is a foreman. </p><p>Due to the imminent slaughter of Chuchay by construction employees, Leah began rescuing abused dogs. </p><p>“Dahil sa matinding awa ko sa aso ay nagdesisyon ako na simulan ang misyon na sumagip at mag-alaga ng mga asong pinapabayaan,” she says. </p><p>Chuchay is one of the hundreds of canines whose names and origins Leah can recall from her shelter. Another one she remembers is Dora. Due to its violent owner, Leah feels sad when she recalls her first encounter with Dora. Leah promised Dora, upon seeing her, that she would be her mother until her last breath: “Sobrang mahal ko ang mga aso. Kahit buksan ang puso ko mahal ko sila.” </p><p>Leah draws fortitude and inspiration from her dogs. She believes that these canines return her support and affection. Leah says her dogs have protected her and her family from intruders and illness.</p><p>Leah acknowledges that setting up her shelter was challenging because her neighbors wanted to leave the area due to the disruption her dog refuge was causing. Another problem is finances. She says ideally, she would need P7,000 a day to purchase dog food and medicine. To save on money, Leah makes porridge, using money from her budget. Fortunately, the shelter also receives donations from both local and foreign benefactors found through social media. </p><p>Leah is aware that her shelter has more shoes to fill, but she will continue to protect and save &quot;man&#x27;s best friend.&quot;</p><div class="media-content"><div class="slider-for"><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/life/06/10/1-dog-shelter.jpg"/></div><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/life/06/10/2-dog-shelter.jpg"/></div><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/life/06/10/3-dog-shelter.jpg"/></div><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/life/06/10/4-dog-shelter.jpg"/></div><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/life/06/10/5-dog-shelter.jpg"/></div><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/life/06/10/6-dog-shelter.jpg"/></div><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/life/06/10/7-dog-shelter.jpg"/></div><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/life/06/10/8-dog-shelter.jpg"/></div><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/life/06/10/9-dog-shelter.jpg"/></div><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/life/06/10/10-dog-shelter.jpg"/></div><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/life/06/10/11-dog-shelter.jpg"/></div><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/life/06/10/12-dog-shelter.jpg"/></div><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/life/06/10/13-dog-shelter.jpg"/></div><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/life/06/10/14-dog-shelter.jpg"/></div><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/life/06/10/15-dog-shelter.jpg"/></div></div><div class="media-content slider-desc"><div class="item-desc"><p>Leah Borbon, owner of the Hope for the Angels Shelter, cuddles sheltered dogs in Sitio Abuyod in Antipolo, Rizal. <cite>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>A fence separates the male and female dogs housed inside the dog shelter to control its population. <cite>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN news</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Hope for the Angels Shelter houses around 200 abandoned and abused dogs adopted by Leah Borbon-Dopelis. <cite>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Leah gives out dog treats inside the shelter in Sitio Abuyod in Antipolo, Rizal. <cite>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Workers assist Leah in preparing food given as donations. <cite>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Dog food servings are distributed individually to the 221 dogs as some of them become aggressive when given at the same time. <cite>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Some dogs stay inside Leah’s house particularly during bad weather. <cite>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Leah looks forward to regular bonding moments with the shelter dogs, which according to her boosts, happiness and helps her overcome depression. <cite>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Leah Borbon, owner of the Hope for the Angels Shelter, watches the dogs inside the shelter located in Sitio Abuyod in Antipolo, Rizal. <cite>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Workers assist Leah in preparing food given as donations. <cite>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Workers assist Leah in preparing food given as donations. <cite>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>The dogs housed inside the shelter are given regular baths twice a week due to the scarcity of water in the dog shelter. <cite>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>The team had to wait for water delivery given the limited supply in the area. <cite>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Workers ensure that dog pens and other areas are cleaned regularly to to minimize spread of disease in dogs. <cite>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Leah Borbon, owner of the Hope for the Angels Shelter, finds fulfilment with every abandoned dog saved. <cite>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</cite></p></div></div></div>

Since almost six years ago, Leah Borbon-Dopelis from Sitio Abuyod in Barangay San Jose, Antipolo City, Rizal, has taken care of abandoned dogs.

Hope for the Angels Shelter provides loving home for neglected dogs

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Hope for the Angels Shelter provides loving home for neglected dogs

Text and photos by Maria Tan,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 10, 2023 03:07 PM PHT

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Updated June 11, 2023 09:49 AM PHT

Read More:

dog

dog shelter

Hope for the Angels Shelter

Leah Borbon-Dopelis

stray dogs

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