Lucky Pet Lovers Celebrated Valentine's Day By Going on 'Dates' with Shelter Pets

Genny Glassman
·2 min read
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Love is in the air! Pet lovers in Manila were treated to a Valentine's Day to remember this year, thanks to Philippine Animal Welfare (PAWS). The organization set human participants up on "fur dates" with some of their rescued animals. And the results were downright adorable.

Guests got to cuddle, feed, and give treats to the animals, who had been saved from abuse or neglect.

No ordinary speed dating event, organizers planned the event to help raise awareness and to encourage people to come out and adopt. They also hoped to remove the stigma against shelter animals. And to expose the animals to humans who will treat them right.

Related: Valentine's Day Flowers to Keep Away From Pets at All Costs

"With this event, they (the animals) see that not all people out there in the outside world are out to hurt them," Sharon Yap, a campaign officer at PAWS, told Reuters.

Entrance cost 750 pesos (about $13 USD) and went towards snacks and treats for the pets. PAWS told the news outlet that most of the 65 dogs and 170 cat were rescued from cruelty or neglect. Making it so, so important that they find a new home.

It's not clear how many animals were adopted that day, but some people who came out said that they felt moved by the experience.

"What these sheltered animals have been through is different. For me, they are more worthy to be given the opportunity to be loved by us," 29-year-old Chia Llanes, 29 explained to the news outlet. Llanes spent her "date" with a cute tan-coated pup.

More About the Phillippine Animal Welfare Society

The organization does good throughout the rest of the year too. According to their website, "PAWS is a registered non-profit organization which is dedicated to the protection and the promotion of humane treatment of all animals."

This means they run programming in effort to "end pet homelessness through spay/neuter initiatives." These programs include the Clinic Kapon, KabaliCAT, Fetch & Fix, Kapon Outreach, and Kapon for All Pets.

The organization also specializes in humane education, works with International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) for disaster relief, runs the Dr. Dog program which brings pups to cheer people up in schools or hospitals, and animal advocacy.

As they explain online, PAWS is opposed to animal experimentation and animal fighting. They also are against Greyhound racing, puppy mills, and the retail sale of animals.

With events like the one PAWS ran on Valentine's Day, the organization can reach out to their local communities and help gain support. Plus, it's way better than human speed dating. So we think the attendees were more than happy to do some good this February 14.

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