We are thrilled to announce the success of our Run for Kapon fundraiser to end the dog meat trade, rabies, and animal homelessness in the Philippines! From the island of Siargao in the Philippines to the city of Los Angeles, devoted activists united in solidarity to make a lasting impact for dogs and cats in desperate need. Here’s how we’re going to save animals with the funds raised by our supporters.

Run for Kapon - Philippines

In the early morning hours of International Homeless Animals Day, August 17, 2024, the community of Siargao, Philippines, lined up for an athletic demonstration of dedication to the island’s animals. Dogs and humans of all abilities competed or participated for fun — and all for an important cause.

Cats and dogs in the Philippines can be starved or poisoned in shelters, cruelly abused on the streets, or fall victim to rabies, or the dog meat trade. Run for Kapon, hosted in its second year by In Defense of Animals and our partner, SPAR Philippines, is a powerful community action to raise awareness and directly address animal suffering through “kapon” (Philippino for “neuter”) and “ligayt” (spay) surgeries.

We were delighted to have the powerful backing of General Luna Vice-Mayor Romina R. Sajulga and Councilor Bingle Silvosa, plus a host of celebrities who brought crucial attention to our cause. Actor and influencer Andi Eigenmann promoted the event, sports presenter Marc Nelson hosted a special dinner for sponsors, and Philippine TV megastar, Korina Sanchez-Roxas once again highlighted Run for Kapon on her national TV show, Rated Korina.

Run for Kapon - Worldwide

In the U.S., Rayko Takahashi, a singer, composer, multi-instrumentalist, and founding member of our Global Anti-Dog Meat Coalition, hosted the first-ever Run for Kapon companion event outside the Philippines. With help from the In Defense of Animals leadership team, Rayko dedicated her birthday celebration to the cause, empowering dog and human guests to walk 5k to raise funds and show solidarity with Phillipino animal activists before giving a live performance.

The success of this campaign hinged on the incredible efforts of individuals across the U.S. and around the world. We are deeply moved by the participation of dozens of runners across 12 U.S. states, with international support from participants in Milan, London, and Halifax. Equally important are In Defense of Animals supporters who dug deeply into their wallets to sponsor runners and kapon surgeries.

Thank you and congratulations to everyone who took part!

Thanks to the overwhelming support, we raised enough funds to meet our target: to sponsor 500 lifesaving surgeries and vaccinations — which underpins every issue affecting homeless animals and cuts off the supply chain to the dog meat trade.

Next Steps - Kapon & Ligayt Project

Korina Sanchez-Roxas will lead our first kapon project in Daku Island, a small district in Siargao with approximately 200 residents. Animal guardians on this island do not have access to veterinary care. They must take a boat to cross the mainland, and as a result, animals there often suffer from neglect and cruelty. 

Although Daku Island is remote and isolated, we aim to vaccinate and spay/neuter all the island’s dogs and cats, focusing on prevention. Our volunteers have already gathered initial data on the domestic animal population with a view to starting rabies vaccinations and neuter “kapon” surgeries in the community imminently.

Daku Island is a popular spot for tourists to go island hopping. By making it rabies-free and animal-friendly, we hope to ensure that residents and tourists can coexist peacefully with the animals. It will become the standard for all 7,641 Philippino islands to meet. SPAR will monitor the island to ensure the project is a success and the animal population becomes a poster-island for humane management and coexistence.

We thank the local district for collaborating with us, demonstrating how NGOs and local governments can work together for animal welfare. We plan to extend this project to three more districts, focusing on smaller islands as model pilot projects.

Kapon is Just the Beginning

Whether taking part in a run, walk, or roll, hosting a gathering, sponsoring a surgery, or simply spreading the word, every action contributed to our shared goal. These individual efforts show the power of collective action, proving that distance is no object when it comes to tackling animal cruelty.

Thanks to your dedication, we have made significant strides in our mission to end animal cruelty. We managed to raise funds to spay and neuter hundreds of animals, which will not only reduce animal homelessness but also disrupt the conditions that allow the illegal dog meat trade to thrive. 

Our work is just beginning, and it’s not too late for you to take part:

• Sponsor a surgery - every $17 you donate will spay or neuter one cat or dog!
• Demand change for animals in shelters - sign our alert
• Save dog and cat meat survivors - help us end the trade worldwide

Thank you for your unwavering support. Let’s continue to make the world a safer place for all animals.