ESA KOTTON: FROM UPD STREET DOG TO STAGE DOG WITH A CAUSE

 By  ©Khrysta Imperial Rara
        Founder, Friends of Campus Animals (FOCA UP) 

Emotional Support Animal (ESA) KOTTON from the College of Media and Communication led the FOCA delegation as we went onstage to receive the Gawad Tsanselor Para Sa Natatanging Lingkod Pangkomunidad. His tail wagged with joy and confidence as we walked toward UPD Chancellor Carlo Vistan. Kotton then sat down on command and faced the cameras.

Kotton’s buddies were on stage, too - FOCA ESAs Hora and Sora from the College of Education and ESA Miyo from the Department of Mining, Metallurgical, and Materials Engineering (DMMME).

Flashback to February 2019. Then Chancellor Michael Tan had just announced the new ESA program and introduced Kotton and Tisay, a friendly dog from Quezon Hall, to UP officials during the 70th anniversary of the transfer of the campus from Ermita to Diliman.

                                            Chancellor Tan announcing the new ESA program

Under the glaring lights, Kotton led me, his handler, to the middle of the stage. Then he looked around at the audience and sat down sans a verbal command. The officials gasped and applauded.

 

                                        Kotton and Tisay being dubbed as the First UPD's ESAs

KOTTON was a roaming stray pup back in 2018 when FOCA first tapped him for ESA work in some UPD colleges.

He witnessed FOCA’s successes and challenges before, during and after the covid lockdown. He was present during three UP-led TNVR (Trap-Neuter-Vaccination-Return) operations conducted jointly with Animal Kingdom Foundation (AKF) in 2019 and the Quezon City Veterinary Office in 2022 at Balay Kaibigan (BK), the venue that Chancellor Tan had set up for this purpose and for conducting animal welfare seminars in the campus. Kotton also watched as people adopted the newly neutered campus dogs and cats.

                                                 Students visiting the Balai Kaibigan

When ESA training was organized for the campus stray dogs in early 2020, Kotton joined them and learned obedience and socialization skills. He also attended the 2-year SAGIP Search and Rescue K9 training with other strays. And from late 2022-2023, he went hungry with his feline and canine friends when food ran out after projects at BK were cancelled.

                                              Kotton in-training as Search and Rescue canine

For some reasons, BK was going to be shut down in a few months. We at FOCA had to move heaven and earth to find homes for 40 cats and dogs still up for adoption at that time. Most of the animals were adopted while 9 cats and 4 dogs found a home at the Animal Kingdom Foundation (AKF) shelter in Tarlac. To save the ESA Program, six dogs were taken in by OVCSA in December 2023. Kotton came home with me.

 

            Students and others interacting with the cats and dogs put up for adoption at the BK

Since he was an original and experienced UPD ESA with many fans around the campus, he was included in the ESA program which was re-launched in January 2024 at The Third Space, a venue where students can study, relax, eat, socialize and play with the UP and FOCA ESAs. FOCA trained the student assistants and the dogs for ESA work.

 

                                                             Kotton with fellow ESAs

Kotton represents the homeless animals in the UPD campus who roam in search of food and shelter. He represents the street animals who found homes and those who became ESAs. But most of all, he represents the hope for community acceptance and care of stray animals.

   
       Kotton --  from a young, thin stray campus dog to a healthy well-adjusted ESA .

Although most of his roamer friends are now gone, either due to the harsh and dangerous life on the streets or the impounding of campus animals in 2024, Kotton still loves to meet up with the strays.

REALITY CHECK:

Stray animals are not the problem. The human attitude is. Kotton and his friends never wanted to be stray and homeless. People caused the problem through neglect and wrong beliefs.

Animal management is key to solving the situation, and the solution includes neutering, adoption, humane education, a better garbage management and stakeholder consultation and participation.

Humane animal management is a responsibility that falls on the entire community, not just on one individual, group or office.

It is now time for residents, faculty, officials, students, employees and the community to cooperate, collaborate and get their act together. Let’s help each other make a better world for all. Perhaps one day, there will be more Kottons in safe homes than neglected campus dogs in dangerous streets.

Kotton’s walk on stage for the GAWAD TSANSELOR symbolizes FOCA’s hope and dream that soon, all stray animals will be treated as true members of the community.

Always remember: ONE COMMUNITY. ONE HEALTH. ONE WELFARE.

         

(Thank you to the Gawad Tsanselor committees and judges and to all the FOCA members and volunteers, the different UP agencies and administrators, animal welfare organizations, veterinary groups (esp. the QC Vet Office) who have helped FOCA and the campus animals throughout the decade and more.)