I have a small confession to make. In a sea of dog lovers, I’m an odd one out—growing up, I’ve never had a furry friend that tagged along with me since my family isn’t big on animals at home. The closest thing that I had to a pet was a goldfish during kindergarten, when my mom hurriedly acquired one since I had nothing to show for “Bring Your Pet to Class Day.”

While I haven’t had that emotional connection to pets during my childhood, it’s a whole other case when I saw them for myself. (Spoiler alert: No one, not even I, can resist their puppy dog eyes.)

Last Sept. 27, Scout’s parent company Hinge Inquirer spent a day at Pawssion Project in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan. Since its launch in 2018, the non-profit project has been rescuing stray and maltreated dogs, giving them some TLC before adoption. To make their temporary home more of a comfortable stay, the Hinge team lent a hand in clearing trash, painting the shelters’ walls, and washing the dogs till they’re squeaky clean.

Once the team stepped into the animal shelter, we could already tell that the dogs are a playful bunch—while others were understandably more on the shy side, the rest approached us without hesitation, eagerly asking to be petted. Some dogs were quick to warm up to their human soulmates. Case in point: Our group publisher, Bea Ledesma, adopted Tiger, who now roams around our office to everyone’s delight.

A lot of these furry friends are still waiting to be adopted. If you want to give them a new place to stay, adoption over at Pawssion Project is free of charge. But do your homework as a potential pet owner: While it’s been said numerous times, having a pet comes with its fair share of responsibilities. These dogs shouldn’t be caged, and vaccinations must be updated every year. In the case of puppies and unsterilized dogs, they must be spayed and neutered when they’re at least 7-8 months old.

If you wish to adopt these adorable doggos, you may visit Pawssion Project’s shelters in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan, and Victorias City, Negros Occidental. You can also donate and volunteer by contacting them through [email protected], (0977) 821-0271, or through the project’s Facebook and Instagram.

Don’t forget: Adopt, don’t shop. You’ll save these dogs from the street, and help them live better lives along the way.

To see the dogs that are up for adoption, head over to this article.

Header art by Cathy Dizon

Photos by Cathy Dizon and Katrina Maisie Cabral