Security Guard Breaks The Mall’s Rules To Care For Pregnant Stray Dog

If you happen to find yourself at the mall in Cebu City, Philippines, you may run into a security guard and the stray dog he cares for.

Although the mall is pet-friendly, stray dogs are not welcome in the building. The scruffy dog hanging with the guard caught shopper Gretel Eleazar during a recent trip, so she approached the two of them to learn more.

Photo: Gretel Eleazar

As it turns out, the security guard, Danilo Reyeg, named the stray dog Franci and has always held a spot in his heart for animals.

He started feeding stray dogs that would roam the mall, but Franci was the only dog to follow him around: “Franci is now with him, still at the mall where he works. He takes turns feeding Franci with another security guard named Mr. Quinner Cansana,” Eleazar told The Dodo.

Photo: Gretel Eleazar

Franci has been semi-adopted by the guard and looks forward to their daily rounds of the mall.:“[Reyeg] sort of adopted this mama dog,” Eleazar told CDN Digital. “He even taught the dog commands like ‘sit’ and the dog follows it. It is so cute.”

Photo: Gretel Eleazar

When Franci gave birth outside the mall, it was Reyeg made sure they were safe and well-fed.

As the puppies got older, they knew they needed to find them permanent homes: “They gave the pups to friends who like puppies,” Eleazar said. “They know this process is called ‘adoption.’”

Photo: Gretel Eleazar

Reyeg’s relationship with Franci has inspired others working at the mall to help the homeless dogs, including a disabled dog named Micmic.

“[Reyeg] pays the mall landscaper to help him feed and bathe a dog named Micmic,” Eleazar said. “And a lady who works at the restaurant inside the mall collects the food scraps to distribute to the dogs who roam the mall, including Franci and Micmic.”

Photo: Gretel Eleazar

Eleazar is the founder of a Facebook group called Saving Strays Cebu. She and Reyeg now work together to help find homes for the dogs that roam the mall. Eleazar has brought Micmic to a clinic for medical treatment and is arranging for Franci to get spayed.