#WomenPower: Roiselle’s commitment with best friends

CAGAYAN DE ORO. Roiselle, who is a dog lover, owns around 28 dogs and feeds more than 20 dogs outside her house. (Photo from Roiselle Acaylar)
CAGAYAN DE ORO. Roiselle, who is a dog lover, owns around 28 dogs and feeds more than 20 dogs outside her house. (Photo from Roiselle Acaylar)

WE ALREADY heard of several amazing women who participated during revolutions, rescued people from life-threatening situations and activists fighting for what they stand for.

There are also women who fight and rescue not only humans but dogs, too, especially in the country’s present society where animal cruelty/abuse are being practiced.

Possessing a heart that loves all kinds of dogs, be it a “pure” breed or not like an “aspin” (asong Pinoy, Filipino dogs) as we locally call them, Roiselle Gay Acaylar has been rescuing dogs from the streets and from cruel owners since 2009 when she moved in to Buena Oro, Macasandig, Cagayan de Oro City.

“Pagbalhin nako ana nga balay, daghan kay ko nakita nga mga stray dogs sa palibot. Naay gibilin sa gawas, nakita nako, ako dayun gialagaan. Wala gyu’y nag influence nako (When I transferred to that house, I have seen many stray dogs around. There’s one left outside, and when I saw it, I took care of it. No one influenced me to do it),” she said.

Early footsteps

Since she was young, Roiselle loves and treasures dogs and considers herself as the “black sheep” of the family as she is the only dog lover among them.

In 1992, she started joining in dog shows and garnered several awards and national titles, including Hall of Fame, Philippine Grand Champion and Philippine Champion, with her three Rottweilers Buddy, Pretty and Anna.

It was in 2004 that she stopped doing dog shows, saying that her dogs were already old at the time and she doesn’t have any title she wanted to accomplish.

Years after, she started rescuing stray dogs beginning with an aspin she met in the streets of Buena Oro called Jackelyn, a dog who was injured on her back and a mom to many puppies.

“Muanha siya sa balay, mokaon lang siya (she goes to the house and eat). Matingala ko kay daghan ang iyang kan-on, mahurot niya ang usa ka bowl nga dog food. Paghuman dayon, mogawas sya (I was wondering why she ate a lot, she can empty a bowl of dog food. And when she’s done, she goes out),” she said.

One day, she followed Jackelyn and discovered that the dog spits every dog food she ate to feed her puppies.

Roiselle adopted the dog and the puppies and at present, all of them are living together with her husband, Kjell Sjostrom, and other dogs that she have rescued since then.

Life and death

Rescuing dogs as an easy task is an understatement. Roiselle’s experience is a testament that it can also be a matter of life and death.

There were times, as she can recall, that she was chased by someone carrying a bolo (machete) and, an instant when she was held at gunpoint.

All of which she experienced because of her determination to rescue the dogs who suffered abuse from their owners and those who capture dogs for their meat.

“Gilakag ko’g sundang, dinhi ni nahitabo sa Iponan nga highway (I was chased in Iponan highway by a person with a bolo). Ang tag-iya sa balay, ipaihaw niya ang iyang tanan nga iro (The owner wanted to slaughter the dogs),” she said, fearing that once slaughtered, these dogs will be cooked and eaten by dog-eating people.

“Ang iya lang gibilin ang iyang duha ka Siberian Husky (The owner only wanted to retain the two Siberian Huskies). Ang ipaihaw niya is katong mga bisaya. So giadtoan namo, gi-rescue namo (The owner wanted to slaughter only those aspins, so we went there to rescue),” Roiselle said, adding that the owner planned to kill the nine aspin dogs.

As she saw how the caretakers of the house threw the dogs out of the house, Roiselle, whose heart hurt at seeing the dogs being treated cruelly, confronted them and a fight broke out.

And even though the caretakers brought out a bolo, this did not stop Roiselle from chasing after them. In the end, she was able to rescue one mother dog and her four puppies. However, she was not able to rescue the other four dogs.

“Dili naman nila ipakuha sa amo, so gipatay nila (the owners didn’t want us to get the dogs, so they killed them),” Roiselle said.

Another instance was when she noticed a group of nine men in her neighborhood who surrounded a dog to capture and cook it.

The men already had a bolo in their possession and threatened Roiselle with it. However, she did not backed down and called the police.

“Ila daw kong patyon (they threatened to kill me), ila kong sakaan sa balay (they threatened to enter our house),” she said.

“So ako silang giignan: “Sakaa lang ko. Ok ra sa ako patyon ko ninyo. At least na save nako ang iro (I told them, go ahead, I am fine that I’ll be the one you will kill instead, at least I have saved the dog),’” Roiselle shared.

She experienced being held at gunpoint when she was in Bulua late in the evening and saw a soldier riding a motorcycle while dragging a pitiful-looking dog.

“Ako siya giignan (I told him): ‘Imong giabusaran ang imong pagka government employee (you abused your status being a government employee),” she said.

“Then iya ko gitutukan og pusil. Wala lang ko, ‘kung gusto ko nimo pusilon, pusila ko basta kuhaon nako ang iro.’ Nakuha nako ang iro (that’s when he pointed a gun at me. I didn’t budge. If you want to shoot me, go ahead, as long as I can get the dog. And so I took the dog),” Roiselle said.

Leading on

With all these dangerous experiences, Roiselle’ s husband, even though expressing his support for his wife’ s passion, warned her that if she continues, she will not be alive next year.

Nonetheless, Roiselle still decided to continue rescuing dogs and taking care of them despite being diabetic and having heart problems.

Her message to her fellow pet owners:

“Tender, love and care. Provide for the medicine, shelter, water and food. And love them.”

At present, Roiselle also rescues and takes care of the dogs for the Animal Rescue de Kagay-an, a dog shelter located in Barangay Bayanga, Cagayan de Oro City.

She’s also encouraging everyone to donate, be it monetary or in kind, to the shelter for them to provide food and medicine to the dogs.

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