In a concerted effort to combat pet homelessness and promote responsible pet ownership, Mars Philippines, in partnership with the Animal Kingdom Foundation (AKF) and Shopwise, has launched its first-ever Global Adoption Weekend in Manila. The event, held at the Shopwise Pet Fair at Ayala Malls Circuit Makati, is part of Mars’ global initiative spanning 12 countries and aims to drive pet adoption through an innovative approach.
The Global Adoption Weekend leverages insights from the Mars Pet Parent Study, which reveals that only 4% of Filipino pet parents adopt pets from shelters, despite the benefits. Mars’ initiative seeks to address this gap by digitalizing the adoption process, making it more accessible and focused on compatibility. Through their online adoption portal, WeR4HappyTails, prospective adopters can match with pets in real-time based on personality, lifestyle, and energy compatibility, which significantly increases the chances of successful, lasting adoptions. Since its Philippine launch, the portal has helped over 160 pets find new homes and provided educational resources on responsible pet ownership to thousands of Filipinos.
A highlight of the WeR4HappyTails platform is its Compatibility Quiz, which matches adopters with pets suited to their personalities and lifestyles. Mars Philippines General Manager, John Racoma, emphasized that the company’s commitment to creating “A Better World for Pets” is realized through partnerships with like-minded organizations, helping both local breeds such as Aspin and Puspin find loving homes. He praised Shopwise’s involvement in helping create a community of responsible pet owners and advocates for pet welfare.
“With the availability of the online portal, we have unlocked accessibility for many more Filipinos to find a loving companion to bring to their homes and give local shelters such as Animal Kingdom Foundation a fighting chance to help more local breeds, Aspin and Puspin, get the life they deserve. We also commend partners like Shopwise who bring efforts on the ground and allow communities to see the impact of getting together or bayanihan in establishing a neighborhood that is full of responsible pet-owners and an animal-loving society,” according to Racoma.
The event drew support from prominent figures such as Brian Poe-Llamanzares, National Chairman of FPJ Panday Bayanihan, who commended Mars for its advocacy efforts. Poe-Llamanzares acknowledged the alignment of Mars’ work with the office’s recent motion to strengthen the Animal Welfare Act, focusing on improving animal welfare standards and enforcement.
Animal Kingdom Foundation President Atty. Heidi Marquez-Caguioa expressed her gratitude for Mars’ commitment to shelter pets, particularly for promoting the adoption of Aspin and Puspin breeds. The partnership, she said, is an important step toward raising awareness about the positive aspects of shelter adoption.
Mars Philippines’ Global Adoption Weekend also includes a social media campaign, encouraging pet owners to share their adoption stories using the hashtags #MarsPetAdoption, #MarsPetAdoptionSEA, and #CommitToCompatibilitySEA. For each post shared, Mars will donate pet food to local shelters, with additional rewards for the most popular posts, including a month’s supply of pet food and special Pedigree gift boxes.