“Tails” from the Heart
PAL flight Purser Mary Ann Reyes tells her story in advocating for animal welfare and finding hope for strays.
Mary Ann Reyes is a PAL cabin crew, mother, animal welfare advocate and volunteer. She inspires people to care for strays despite the busy schedule of a flight purser.
During her childhood, Purser Maan grew her love for animals through her mother. Her family was never used to buying pets. They would instead adopt their neighbor’s kittens, which their neighbor couldn’t handle caring for. At 6 years old, Purser Maan had as much as 12 cats. “You don’t buy, you rescue”, she says.
Purser Maan vividly recalls her beloved pet named Valentine, a Shih Tzu and Japanese spitz mix. Valentine was her companion through many experiences. From graduating high school, getting married and when she joined PAL as a cabin crew. She would even take Valentine to the in-flight center with her. Valentine was with Purser Maan for 17 years. His resting place is in her garden, still close to Purser Maan.
Purser Maan narrates another notable pet. A cat named Mio, who was her first rescue cat. Mio was rescued last October 2023 after being hit by a vehicle. Through rescuing Mio, she was introduced to two rescuers who later turned into her friends. Mio is very close to Purser Maan. He currently lives happily and healthily in the Purser’s home.
Burrito is another memorable rescue. He was a Pinscher and Chihuahua mix rescued when Purser Maan’s daughter saw a woman in their subdivision carrying a dog placed inside a plastic bag. The woman intended to throw the dog away like trash. Burrito was rescued and adopted by the family. She stayed with them for 7 years until he crossed the rainbow bridge.
At present, Purser Maan has two dogs named Clementine and Pickles and eight cats, all rescues, spayed and neutered. She is also one of the founders of two animal welfare groups, where members connected through their love for animals.
The Ridgemont Animal Welfare promotes subdivisions to become pet-friendly by rescuing strays and building shelters inside their premises. The group currently has five active members and a small shelter with eight rescues in Cainta, Rizal. One key program of the group is sponsoring quarterly spay and neuter drives.
The Philippine Society for the Humane Treatment of Animals (PSHTAI) started last March 2024 and currently has six active members. While the group hopes to have their own shelter, members foster rescues in their homes. The society also organizes weekly bazaars to raise funds to care for its rescues. The group is working to further establish the organization and is eyeing to further expand its membership of volunteers and host adoption drives for their rescues.
“I really hope we open our hearts to stray animals and that is our goal in PSHTAI, we save lives, and we give HOPE”.
Purser says that she often feels fulfilled when she cares for animals needing shelter and a home. “Through caring for them, you can also feel their feelings. You also save a life through fostering and adoption”.
Purser Maan shares that most of her cabin crew friends support her organizations and extend their donations. She also shares that she would always carry cat food in her car to feed stray cats she encounters on her way to work.
With her passion and genuine love for animals, Purser Maan feels thankful that she has the support of her husband in her advocacies. They also raised a daughter who’s also an animal lover and keeps the company of a pet cat in her college dorm.
Purser Maan also hopes that many children will grow to be animal lovers in this society and have respect for animals. She also wishes that Filipinos would consider adopting Asong Pinoy or Aspins; and Pusang Pinoy or Puspins over dogs and cats with breed.
When asked about her message to fellow PALers and animal lovers, she urges people to be responsible pet owners and care for their pets until their last day. Having a pet is indeed a life-long commitment.
Read more stories in the latest issue of The PALiner https://thepaliner.philippineairlines.com/2024/10/07/the-paliner-september-2024-issue/
