The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), together with the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), rolled out the ‘Angel Pets’ program on Saturday (December 7) in another DSWD-managed residential care facility.

A group of emotional-support dogs dubbed ‘Dr. Dogs’ from PAWS made the rounds to the Sanctuary Center in Mandaluyong City, bringing soothing and fun-filled interactions with the adult women-residents of the care facility.

Angel Pets is a heartwarming initiative of the DSWD and PAWS that aims to bring the therapeutic power of animals to improve the emotional conditions of clients from select Centers and Residential Care Facilities (CRCFs) of the DSWD.

One of the two pilot implementation sites of the program, the Sanctuary Center is a 24-hour residential care facility that serves as a refuge for adult women who have been abandoned, neglected, or are living with psycho-social disabilities, specifically those aged 18 and above.

The Dr. Dogs made their ‘first duty’ call last November 16 at the Marillac Hills – National Training School for Girls (NSTG), a center that provides residential care and rehabilitation for minor girls aged 7 to 17 who are survivors of sexual abuse or human trafficking or are children in conflict with the law. (LSJ)