In the Philippines, animal lovers book Valentine's dates with shelter dogs

Burgos feeds a rescued dog, Hawthorne, during a Valentine's Day date, at PAWS Shelter in Quezon City on Feb 14, 2023. -

MANILA (Reuters): Philippine government worker Mary Grace Burgos, 24, had several cute dates lined up for on Valentine's Day with one thing in common: they were all dogs up for adoption.

Burgos was among a dozen of people who chose to spend their Valentine's Day at an animal shelter in the Philippine capital. The shelter, run by the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), charged guests 500 to 1,000 pesos (US$9.12 - $18.24) to spend half an hour with a furry date. The entry fee will go toward running the shelter, which cares for over 240 dogs and cats.