NLEX Corporation now has professionals who motorists can call upon in the event they encounter stray animals along the expressway. They are the NLEX Animal Rescue Team.

The 31-member team has undergone training with the Marilao Municipal Veterinary Services Office covering proper animal handling and rescue procedures. NLEX has also equipped the team with the necessary gear and vaccines to respond to stray dogs and cats along the expressway.

Once rescued, the animals will be turned over to the Marilao Animal Shelter and Care Facility for continued monitoring and care.

NLEX may have launched this initiative after an incident on NLEX last March involving a woman who stopped on the expressway to move a dog’s carcass and recorded the incident for social media. While the intention was good, it may have resulted in a vehicle pileup or even fatalities along the busy expressway. Fortunately, it did not lead to a pileup, although the driver was later given a suspension of her driver’s license by the Land Transportation Office (LTO).

The initiative is part of NLEX Corporation’s “I Care For Strays” program, which promotes animal welfare and responsible pet ownership while providing a safer way to respond to stray animals found along the expressway.

If you encounter a stray animal along NLEX, don’t stop or attempt to rescue it yourself. Instead, let the trained Animal Rescue Team handle it by calling 1-35000, which is available 24/7. Be ready to provide your exact kilometer marker and direction of travel, and make sure your mobile phone has enough regular load to make the call.