On 1 December 2022, we did something we rarely do - we paid a visit to the Dumaguete Pound, hoping to find one of our main supporter's dog, Bluebell, who had gone missing. Sadly she wasn't there, but we couldn't face the thought of leaving the poor dogs there awaiting a lethal injection later that day. Gene was one of them. The Pound collects reported strays and keeps them for three days, waiting for any owner to claim them. When they are not (and most are not), the City's policy is to put them to sleep. We cannot take every Pound dog, which is why we don't visit if we can help it. It's just too painful. One of the seven, Champ, never made it through the night - he was just too ill - but we gave him a chance all the same. RIP Champ. Another,Jessa, was pregnant and gave birth to three puppies, two of which survived (Bryce and Bettina), and they stayed in the Quarantine area in their own private room. Gene has some damage to his left eye, which may have been abuse, or disease, we cannot be sure, but he is certainly quite nervous around people.