DSWD, PAWS team up for Angel Pets

THE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is forging a partnership with the Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) for the agency's Angel Pets program. DSWD Secretary Rexlon Gatchalian met with officials of PAWS in Quezon City last Friday to plan a joint initiative that aims to provide animal-assisted therapy, especially for vulnerable communities. Gatchalian and PAWS Executive Director Anna Cabrera agreed that raising cats and dogs may help individuals deal with stress and enhance their mental health. "DSWD will work on a collaboration with PAWS that will deploy their Doctor Dogs into the department's new program — Angel Pets," Gatchalian said. "Our emotional support dogs will be deployed in our various care facilities as a healing intervention for our clients who are victims of traumatic experiences, including abuse, exploitation, among others," he added. Cotton, a Bichon Frise, and Twister, a long-haired Chihuahua, were introduced during the meeting as members of the PAWS elite squad of Doctor Dogs, or emotional support dogs. The Doctor Dogs project is PAWS' long-running program that pairs emotional support dogs with patients and clients who are experiencing medical or emotional stress. "Our social workers and care facility workers will conduct a long-term study of the progress of our clients as they mingle with the support dogs," Gatchalian said. "This program between the two groups will be the first sustaining endeavor of its kind," he added. DSWD officials who joined the meeting were Social Technology Bureau director Helen Suzara, division chiefs Darlene Dancel and Rebecca Ballesteros, and Kelziah Louise Enriquez. Other PAWS officials who met the DSWD chief were board member Cristina Martinez and Sharon Yap, PAWS Education and Campaign officer.