Second chances and first dates for Manila’s rescued pets<br /><br />Dozens of rescued dogs and cats swap kennels for dates with pet lovers on Feb. 12, 2026 as an animal shelter in the Philippine capital launches a Valentine’s Day 'Fur Date' event pairing sheltered animals with pet lovers hoping to offer them new homes. Handlers from Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) arranged short 'meet-and-greet dates,' allowing visitors to spend one‑on‑one time with the animals, in an effort to boost adoptions. PAWS Executive Director Anna Cabrera said the Valentine’s program was designed to help people connect with animals beyond the usual shelter walk‑through. Among the participants was Tali, a pup rescued in 2021 with a wire collar painfully embedded around her neck. Despite her trauma, he eagerly bounded toward visitors having treats being given to her. Nearby, a shy rescued cat named 'Thirdy' happily played with cat toys as she purred through the noise of the crowd.<br /><br />REUTERS VIDEO<br /><br />Check out our Streaming Channel: https://streaming.manilatimes.net/<br /><br />Subscribe to The Manila Times Channel - https://tmt.ph/YTSubscribe<br /><br />Visit our website at [https://www.manilatimes.net](https://www.manilatimes.net/)<br /><br />Follow us:<br />Facebook - https://tmt.ph/facebook<br />Instagram - https://tmt.ph/instagram<br />Twitter - https://tmt.ph/twitter<br />DailyMotion - https://tmt.ph/dailymotion<br /><br />Subscribe to our Digital Edition - https://tmt.ph/digital<br /><br />Check out our Podcasts:<br />Spotify - https://tmt.ph/spotify<br />Apple Podcasts - https://tmt.ph/applepodcasts<br />Amazon Music - https://tmt.ph/amazonmusic<br />Deezer: https://tmt.ph/deezer<br />Tune In: https://tmt.ph/tunein<br /><br />#TheManilaTimes<br />#TMTNews<br />#Pets<br />#Philippines
