The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) hopes to transform lives with its new pet companionship program, by bringing the comforting presence of animals into residential care facilities.

DSWD on Sunday, Oct. 6 unveiled the “Angel Pets” program, an innovative initiative focused on improving the psychological well-being of individuals, particularly children and women, in DSWD residential care facilities through animal-assisted therapy.

Secretary Rex Gatchalian emphasized that the Angel Pets program, in partnership with the Philippine Animal Welfare Society’s (PAWS) Dr. Dog program, aims to enrich the lives of those in residential care facilities by integrating positive and enjoyable interactions with animals as part of therapeutic and supportive practices.

Gatchalian and PAWS Executive Director Anna Cabrera formalized the program implementation with a memorandum of agreement (MOA).

“First, like PAWS, DSWD wants to create a better place for all of us, whether you are a two-legged individual or a four-legged fellow. Second, we always believe that, like PAWS, DSWD fights for those who cannot speak for themselves” Gatchalian said.

“Many individuals in our care have faced exploitation and trauma. We believe that by partnering with PAWS, we can create more positive outcomes for those we serve,” he said.

Under the MOA, the Angel Pets program will be piloted at the Marillac Hills-National Training School for Girls—a center that provides residential care and rehabilitation to minor girls seven to 17 years old, who are survivors of sexual abuse, human trafficking, and children in conflict with the law.

The Sanctuary Center in Muntinlupa City is a 24-hour residential care facility, that serves as a place of refuge and home for abandoned, neglected, and unattached adult women with improved psycho-social disability, ages 18 and above.

Gatchalian said DSWD's team, including psychometricians, social workers, and houseparents, addresses the emotional challenges faced by residents. However, the Angel Pets program is a cutting-edge initiative because it incorporates “doctor dogs” to provide therapy for individuals in residential care facilities.

He cited studies that prove the therapeutic benefits of animal interactions and expressed his anticipation for documenting these effects within DSWD facilities.

“There are so many anecdotal stories of how pets can calm us down and how therapeutic it is to have pets. But nobody has actually documented it in long-term research in the Philippines. Hopefully, this research can help us better understand how pets can actually heal, not only those undergoing severe trauma but also help us in managing work-life balance,” Gatchalian said.

The Angel Pets program includes a set of animal-assisted interventions focused on improving the individual's psychological well-being through interaction with volunteer “doctor dogs.”

DSWD operates 76 facilities that support abused and neglected women, children, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities, offering various psychosocial interventions tailored to their needs.