A second chance at a furever home
There is something about a rescued dog finding her way home that gets you. That was Abbie, arriving at all-natural pet store Bow & Wow one afternoon—dressed for the occasion in a little dress of her own. A two-year-old aspin and cancer survivor, Abbie has already been through more than most dogs her age. Yet among the shelves of food, treats, toys, and pet essentials, she seemed less like a dog defined by what she had survived and more like what she really is: a young dog with plenty of life ahead of her.
But what she needs now is a family.
Abbie’s story brings together two organizations with different but complementary roles. Bow & Wow promotes responsible pet parenting through education, nutrition, and carefully selected products. Project Kuna rescues, rehabilitates, and re-homes abused, abandoned, and neglected dogs and cats.
Together, they make a simple point—that rescue is only part of the story. We also need to understand what it means to care for an animal for life.
On making informed choices
Founded in 2008 by Romy Sia, one of the founders of Healthy Options, Bow & Wow grew from a love of animals and a desire to give Filipino pet parents safer, more transparent choices. The 2007 to 2008 melamine poisoning incident underscored the importance of knowing what goes into the food we give our pets.
Among those helping pet parents make informed choices is Jessica Eslao, pet care adviser at Bow & Wow, who, like the other pet care specialists, is a pet parent herself.
The difference between a pet owner and a pet parent may sound subtle, but it matters. Being a pet parent means thinking about the everyday things that keep an animal healthy and happy—good-quality food, exercise, grooming, veterinary care, and training—while paying attention to changes in behavior or health.
The commitment continues long after the puppy stage, even when things become inconvenient. You are in it for their whole life.
Finding the right home
At Project Kuna, founder Jee Antonio’s journey into rescue began with one neglected dog. She turned to TikTok to raise awareness and funds for its rehabilitation, and what started as one small act grew into an organization that began informally in 2023 and became a fully registered nonprofit in 2025.
Since then, Kuna has rescued and re-homed more than 450 dogs and cats.
Project Kuna is not a shelter. Instead, rescued animals stay in foster homes, where volunteers open their doors and give them a chance to experience what being part of a home feels like.
For volunteer Mariel Tagle, it began with an adoption-drive post online. She decided to help and found herself continuing to be part of the work.
Rescue takes more than good intentions. Veterinary treatment and rehabilitation can be costly, and finding a permanent home takes time. Potential adopters need to be screened, lifestyles considered, and personalities matched.
The goal isn’t simply to find a home, but the right one. And once that dog comes home, the commitment is for life.
Fostering safety and safely
Fostering is another way to help. A typical Project Kuna foster placement lasts around three months, with families screened and regular check-ins. For someone not ready to adopt, it can be a chance to help prepare an animal for a permanent home.
And sometimes, it is the ordinary things that tell you a rescue is beginning to feel safe. Learning where the food bowl is. Stretching out on a soft bed. Getting excited when the leash comes out. Finding a favorite toy. Choosing to sit beside you. For an animal that has been neglected or abandoned, these little things can mean everything.
That is what happens to so many foster dogs. They arrive needing care, and slowly, almost imperceptibly, begin to understand the rhythms of a home. They learn that meals come regularly, that someone will take them for a walk, that a hand reaching toward them can mean comfort rather than fear.
And eventually, they are ready to do it all over again—but this time, with a family of their own.
Love is an open door
Not everyone is ready to adopt, and that is okay. There are many ways to get involved—you can foster, volunteer, donate, or simply share a rescue post.
Or start with the pet already at home. Feed them well. Take them to the vet. Give them exercise. Pay attention. Be patient. Keep showing up.
Because animal welfare is not only about giving an animal a second chance. It is also about creating a culture where fewer animals are abandoned in the first place—where pets are chosen thoughtfully, cared for properly, spayed or neutered responsibly, and loved for their entire lives.
And perhaps that is what a second chance really looks like. A full bowl. A soft bed. A daily walk. A trip to the vet. A favorite spot on the couch. Someone who chooses to stay.
We often think of rescue as the moment an animal is saved. Perhaps the greatest part comes after: the quiet, ordinary life that follows.
For Abbie, as with so many foster dogs, the hope is not simply to be rescued. It is to be chosen—to have someone to come home to, and to know that this time, they’ll come back to a home that is theirs for good.
Because sometimes, giving an animal a better life begins simply by opening the door.
Could you be a foster?
You don’t have to be ready for forever to make a difference. Fostering gives a rescued dog or cat a temporary home while they wait for a permanent family—and a chance to experience everyday home life: meals, walks, playtime, a soft bed, and companionship.
Could you help?
• Have the time and resources to provide food, basic care, and veterinary needs
• Have a safe space and patience for a rescue adjusting to a new environment
• Help with routines, socialization, and care
• Be open to check-ins with the rescue organization
• Be willing to say goodbye when their forever family comes along
You may only have them for a few months, but those months can change everything.
Want to help?
Foster, adopt, volunteer, donate, support Bow & Wow’s donation program, or share a rescue story. Every action can help an animal find her way home. (Bonus: Pick up the featured Schesir Taste the World cans at Bow & Wow; the extra cans will go directly to partner pet rescue foundations.)
To learn more about fostering, adoption, and volunteer opportunities, reach out to @projectkuna on Instagram.
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