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Heart Evangelista recently spent time with rescued animals at the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), an organization she has served as an ambassador since 2007.

"It's nice to come and just be here when you're sad because it's a give-and-take moment na you're sad, they're sad. You need love, they need love," she said in the pilot episode of her reality series Heart World.

During her visit to the animal shelter, Heart bonded with several dogs and cats currently under the care of PAWS, petting, playing, reading books to them, and encouraging potential adopters to consider giving shelter animals a permanent home.

Heart has long been an advocate for animal welfare.

Her passion for the cause is rooted in personal experience. Her beloved aspin (Asong Pinoy), Panda, has been part of her life since 2015, after she rescued him and welcomed him into her home.

Heart also revealed that she adopted a stray cat recently during the lowest points in her life. "Napulot ko s'ya sa shooting range so naka-cage sila, in-abandon ng mom so I got all the kittens. In-adopt 'yung iba, tapos in-adopt ko 'yung isa."

She often reminds her followers about the message “Adopt, Don't Shop,” a campaign encouraging people to adopt animals from shelters instead of purchasing them from breeders or pet stores.

Like Panda, Heart believes that animals can become cherished companions and loving family members, too. "Ako, wala akong anak pero feeling ko, may mga anak ako and that's priceless for me. So adopt talaga and don't shop is my take on that."

Meanwhile, PAWS executive director, Atty. Anna Cabrera, attested to Heart's genuine compassion for animals. She recalled that the actress once volunteered in rescue efforts for animals affected by the Taal Volcano eruption.

Anna said, "In person, si Heart is really genuine when it comes to animals. We know her kasi talagang noong Taal Volcano eruption, she asked us, secret lang, sama ako sa inyo and we were worried about our safety kasi talagang mag-e-erupt yung volcano, but she really wanted to help the animals.

"So medyo natakot kami kasi she was really crawling under houses, she's giving food to the animals, she was handling animals."

Heart emphasized that animals have also feelings, noting that "they have so much love to give" when given the chance to be cared for and protected.

"More than anything, a lot of people complain na wala silang love life, feeling nila they are not loved. Marami ngang nagtatanong 'pag namatayan ka ng aso na bakit aso lang 'yan, it's a big insult kasi minsan daig pa nga nila 'yung tao kung gaano ka nila kamahal e."

Beyond her work in animal welfare, Heart is also a passionate advocate for children affected by thalassemia, a genetic blood disorder.

Heart World airs every Saturday, 9:30 p.m. on GMA. Episodes, highlights, and other exclusive content of Heart World are available on GMANetwork.com and on GMA Play, the official streaming video app of GMA Network.

Global Pinoys can also catch the reality series via GMA Pinoy TV.

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