PETIZONE

BARBIE CUTE

2013-04-15T15:24:00.001+08:00

Note: This article was first published in Animal Scene magazine issue of December 2012

A cuddly pekingese, Epoy was very close to our heart. So there was much grief when he was claimed by a kidney ailment last Valentine’s Day.

As days passed, I would always hear my wife lament why Epoy hasn’t come back yet. To console her, I would share my thoughts that perhaps Epoy was still looking for a good vehicle, i.e. a nice breed of dog.

We don’t buy pets. Jedi, our first dog, was given by my sister. Epoy was a gift from an officemate and Tisoy came from a friend. Even Twinkle, our rock pigeon, just landed on our driveway as if coming from nowhere.

Even Tisoy, our white spitz, seemed to be missing Epoy. He would sit in the front door and watch the gate. It’s a good thing that his appetite for food was not affected.

We would like to believe that Epoy would find a way back home thru a puppy. And from where? I had no answer for that.
Dra. May Balcita at left with Bambi
It was a hot afternoon when our neighbor Teddy texted me. He was asking if we were ready to take in a new pet. His pug just gave birth to 6 puppies.

After consulting with my wife, I texted back in the affirmative. With my camera and a bit of euphoria, I went out to see the puppies.

The one-day old puglets all looked the same. But in our minds, we were thinking that Epoy was successful in treading his way back to us.

From time to time, I would be visiting the puglets to take photos and videos. I would also bring some dog treats for Angela, the mother of the puppies.

After a week, my wife received a message from Epoy’s vet. We thought we were just being informed that her pekingese gave birth to two puppies. But we got the surprise of our lives when Dra. May Balcita promised one of the puppies to us.

We had difficulty sleeping that night because of mixed emotions. The cotton white pekingese was born on June 4, exactly on Epoy’s birthday. Speculations aside, we decided to put a closure to the sadness that was haunting us.

The pekingese puppies were named Barbie and Bambi. Although the two puppies looked almost the same, Barbie was admittedly bigger and cuter.

After several visits to Dra. May’s clinic, the time came that Barbie was finally released to be an official part of our family. Born and raised in the vet’s clinic, it was Barbie’s first time to go out of their domain.
Barbie being introduced to our other pets
Upon entering the car, Barbie gazed around if trying to recognize the environment. I shook off the thought that this puppy had known the car. But when Barbie stared at me, I developed goose bumps.

Before the car moved, the white pekingese was reaching for the air vent, seemingly enjoying the cool air. Once in a while, Barbie would be looking at me as I was driving.

Before we reached home, Barbie had tasted the following: my hand, the hem of my shirt and the hand brake handle several times. Upon reaching home, Barbie’s eyes made an inventory of our house.

Barbie saw Twinkle who was waiting by the stairway. Tisoy was on a leash near the door while the puglet Pipoy was in a small cage. There was not much fanfare, a good indication that our pets had accepted the newcomer.

Before the day was over, it was obvious that Barbie was enamored with Tisoy. She would beckon Tisoy with soft barks. But Tisoy was naturally aloof so he would just go away. It didn’t occur to us that Barbie’s mother looked like Tisoy.

Unlike Pipoy who is a dynamo, Barbie plays coy all the time. So even if my wife was tired coming home from work, she couldn’t resist Barbie’s bid to be carried. As a reward for the affection, Barbie would continually lick her hand.

When we released Barbie for the first time, it was a revelation that our demure pekingese descended from the tribe of whirlwinds. The pent up energy was only waiting to be released.
Barbie's first trip to the mall
Barbie would run in circles before moving in a straight direction. She would hide behind the sofa before darting out to surprise us. And when we ignore her, she would get our attention with the use of her teeth.

In the concrete garden, Barbie did some sniffing before finally settling with the santan plant. That was Epoy’s favorite spot especially when the santan was abundant with flowers.

From licking our hand, Barbie graduated into nibbling and then gnawing and finally to sniffing. For a good starting lesson, according to Dra. May, we should reprimand Barbie by a mild slap on her behind (to restrain her from biting).

Barbie shows good behavior with food. Unlike Pipoy who would whine when hungry, Barbie just waits to be fed. And she always finishes her meal no matter how long it takes.

Bathing time is fun time because Barbie enjoys the warm water. However, we need two towels for drying – one for her coat and another towel for her mouth to chew on.
Barbie partying with other dogs in Circulo Verde, Pasig City
And for her favorite pastime – car ride - Barbie would be on my wife’s lap and act like a tourist on a sight-seeing trip. Street vendors think that Barbie was a stuff toy.

We really feel that Epoy came back. And we are so grateful to Dra. May Balcita for giving us this bundle of happiness.

PIPOY THE DYNAMO

2013-03-02T05:47:00.001+08:00

Note: This article was first published in Animal Scene Magazine issue of September 2012

Short of two months old, Pipoy arrived in our home on that Sunday night of July. With that frail and fragile look, the baby pug appeared wanting in special attention.

Being a newbie to a pug, I did some research and found out that pugs have that innate dynamism because of their genetic makeup. So pugs are like dogs in the wild waiting to be domesticated.

I believe that the pug’s acrid smell is emitted from the pleats in its face. The fold is a good breeding ground for bacteria. It is advised to wipe the face once in a while for odor control.

Using materials from a bookshelf, we built a special cage so Pipoy can stay in the living room. And for toilet-training, old newspapers serve as matting of the cage.

First photo of Pipoy in our home
Being new to the environment, it was expected for the puppy to resist confinement. Pipoy would be pushing the cage with his head in trying to find an egress.

As a sign of surrender, the little pug would whine. Obviously, the antic is to solicit affection but no one wants to carry the puglet because it bites for the fun of it. .

To restrain Pipoy’s constant whining at night, our compassionate maid offered to sleep beside the little creature. The electric fan assures Pipoy to have a good night’s sleep.

A mixed pug, Pipoy sprang from the bloodline of Bruno and Angela, both owned by Teddy Tom. Due to birthing difficulties, two females died leaving only 4 male puglets in the litter.

Pipoy's parents - Angela and Bruno
To avoid being accidentally smothered, Teddy had separated the puglets from their mother. Nursing times were always under the supervision of Teddy’s wife.

When the puppies were weaned, Pipoy was given to us while his brother Chuk went to Teddy’s friend Edel Sulit. Pipoy’s two other brothers, Spike and Chuck, stayed with Teddy.

We named him Pipoy for two reasons. It sounds like Epoy, our beloved pekingese who passed away last Valentine’s day. And there’s a semblance of similarity with the actor Pipoy a.k.a. Larry Silva.

Angela and her newly born puglets being watched by Veronica Tom

For Pipoy’s first breakfast, we gave him a spoonful of dog food laced with milk. But before feeding, I scooped up the puglet and let him loose in the terrace to check his condition.

Lo and behold. The little animal has a built-in turbo engine powered by an energizer battery inside his little body. It was really amazing to see how this cry baby could release such energy.

His first foray was the hem of my pants. Not content with gnawing, he would wag his head as if the cloth would give way. I had to raise both my feet to save my trousers from imminent destruction.

Tisoy obviously jealous of Pipoy being carried by Ninang
Pipoy’s next prey was the potted plants. He picked on the leaves like he was picking cash from a money tree. And then he seemed ecstatic upon seeing the mat near the terrace entrance. More head wagging again.

To divert Pipoy’s attention, I gave him my slippers. What a sight. He was like an ant pulling a loot that is much bigger than him.

In a matter of two days, Pipoy could move the cage which was made of lightweight materials. I placed some weight on top so Pipoy couldn’t topple it in one heave.

A genuine dynamo, Pipoy would be making paper airplanes from the newspaper matting of his cage. And then he would test his teeth by biting the wires of his cage.

Pipoy ganging up on a slipper
And if Pipoy thinks there was nothing else to do inside his cage then that’s the time to whine. Vocal reprimands wouldn’t deter this little creature from his racket.

What noise he could make with his little vocal cords. But it is clear that Pipoy just wanted to be near us. To settle the issue, Pipoy is given regular hugging hours.

Not only the people in our house are affected by the presence of Pipoy. Even Tisoy, our 5-year old spitz, and Twinkle, our domesticated rock pigeon, both seem confused.

Perhaps irritated by Pipoy’s noise, Tisoy would be hiding in the maid’s room. At times, Twinkle would be staring at Pipoy as if saying, “Who is this critter? Is he the son of Shrek?”

As what the vet said, we need to exert extra attention. It’s common for pets to exhibit jealousy in different forms when there’s a new arrival.

Pipoy's brother Chuk being flanked by new owners Lala and Colleen Bernardo
On Pipoy’s fifth day with us, there seemed to be a problem because his feces didn’t look good. And on the next day, blood was clearly present. But despite the ailment, Pipoy’s energy did not wane a bit.

Dr. Ignacio, our long time vet, gave Pipoy a shot and prescribed antibiotics to combat the suspected bacteria. In the afternoon, everything looked normal once again.

Twinkle the rock pigeon is staring at Pipoy
The vet advised us to restrict the puglet from biting anything dirty. So we had to buy some toys for Pipoy to be preoccupied with instead of training his eyes on dirty things like my slippers.

We know that it would take time before Pipoy could adjust to his new environment. A week or two for toilet training and a month maybe to acclimatize with Tisoy.

Hopefully, Pipoy would learn how to socialize with our other pets and with the humans as well. Otherwise he would be staying in the cage for the rest of his life.

LITTLE BIG BIRTHDAY BASH

2013-01-17T06:26:00.001+08:00

Note: Published in Animal Scene magazine issue of July 2010

Our little dog, Epoy the pekingese, was to turn seven. “It’s a cause for celebration,” exclaimed a friend who is a dog lover through and through.

We have lived in our home for quite a time and, until this time, we still have to know our neighbors. So why not throw a party for the neighborhood kids?

Epoy carried by Ninang for the birthday cake photo
The excitement of a party instantly heightened the atmosphere pressure. After getting a pen and paper, my wife, together with our maid, started the brainstorming session by jotting down names.

It didn’t take long for them to come up with a list of 25 kids and 20 adults. But it swelled with the addition of some relatives and dog-lover friends.

Ninong in red with Ricella Zurbito, Jep Manalang with Shadow, Lord Yambao with Shugar
As the planning session progressed, the list got longer and longer. We need to rent chairs, design a tarpaulin, and of course, print the invitation. If there would be loot bags for giveaways then we have to shop for candies, toys and children items.

And so as not to bore the guests, there’s got to be games. And games means prizes, better add that to the shopping list. And do not forget the balloons, please.

Ninang with Ricella and Lord
Speaking of balloons, the budget was now fully inflated. From the simple spaghetti and barbecue, the menu expanded with hotdog cocktails, prawns, fried chicken, lumpiang ubod and the all-time favorite lechon.

What is food without dessert? The usual cones and ice cream in different flavors surely fit the bill. We can top that with leche flan and American fruit salad.

The young Jeric Siopongco and Ann Minnelle Cando with Epoy. At right is Tess Clarin with Tisoy
Come d-day, everything was in place. Perhaps good planning did the trick. And another good thing going for us was the weather. It was all fair and sunny on that 5th of June.

Magnifying our joy was the arrival of Shadow and Shugar, the shih tzus from Pampanga owned by Jep Manalang and Christopher Lord Yambao. Another very welcome guest was Ricella Zurbito of Las Piñas who owns an Aspin named Paris.

Hitting the pot for the jackpot
Epoy, the birthday boy, gamely mingled with the shih tzus in the expanse of our living room. But the guest dogs were somewhat intimidated by Tisoy, our spitz who was incessantly barking. We had no choice but to put Tisoy on a leash.

In the absence of a sound system, we had to improvise so the kids would fully enjoy the games. A laptop with speakers solved our problem. Thanks to the mp3 music that’s free from the internet.

Awarding of prizes to the winners of the parlor games
With the stimulating games and overflowing prizes, the guests - kids and adults as well - truly enjoyed the party. The “hit the pot” was a blockbuster so we had to do a repeat. Fortunately there were a lot of spare candies and coins for that purpose.

And like a real kid celebrating his birthday, Epoy had to blow the candle on his cake after the singing of the birthday anthem. Amid the clicking of cameras, Epoy and his canine friends seem to understand what was happening.

The party hosts: Ninang with Epoy, Tess Clarin with Tisoy. At the back ar Duday Cando, Ann Minnelle and Rojan Cando
At the party’s end, Shadow and Shugar were kept in pet carriers for their trip back home to Pampanga. We fully appreciated the effort of Jep and Lord in bringing along their dogs, considering that they just availed of the public transportation.

We never expected that our neighbors would cooperate with the little fun we had in mind for what’s a party without gifts? A bevy of dog items wrapped with trimmings adorned the corner lamp table – shampoo, soap, towel, canned food and dog treats plus toys.

The gifts for Epoy's birthday
Despite the time, effort and expenses incurred in throwing the big party for a small dog, it’s very gratifying to realize that at last we now know our neighbors. Or I should say, our neighbors now know us.

HOLIDAY SEASON JOYRIDE 2012

2012-12-31T11:33:00.001+08:00

For our annual joyride of the holiday season, we hied off right after lunch of December 30, 2012.

All our dogs were so excited. Even while packing their gear, Tisoy was already whining in anticipation of the car ride. Barbie could also feel with excitement with her eyes while Pipoy was just quiet in his cage.

Just arrived in Eastwood City. Pipoy was barking while Barbie was agitated
When it was time to ride the car, there was agitation in the air. Everybody was rushing as if there was not enough space in the car.

During the travel, Pipoy was panting but not from fatigue but due to extreme excitement. That’s the nature of pugs, easily excited with any activity. We had to pacify Pipoy by mushing his chin and neck.

Corie with Pipoy
First stop was Eastwood City. The cool air of the mall was very inviting especially for Pipoy who was barking all the time ever since we entered the mall. But then again, he was easily pacified when I carried him.

A pictorial inside the mall
When Pipoy was silenced, it was Barbie’s turn to bark at a shih tzu which was dressed in a skirt. Tisoy was really different because he doesn’t mind the elements and obviously was just enjoying the environment.

Alex with the pug Pipoy
After the ice cream cone and some pictorial we proceeded to BGC (Bonifacio Global City) in Taguig. The open air was more accommodating and the puppies, Pipoy and Barbie, savored the litters on the center lawn after drinking cool water.

The dogs are waiting for a drink
In less than a minute, we had difficulty retrieving the cigarette butt inside Barbie’s mouth. After that, Barbie settled for a clump of dried grass.

We had merienda in Brother’s Burger. Tisoy relished the french fries since it was made from real potatoes (unlike the fake french fries of a popular fastfood).

Tisoy looking after their bag
After the humans had snacked, milky sticks for the dogs was in order. It was funny because while giving the treat to Tisoy, Barbie and Pipoy, here came some dogs who probably had smelled the milky sticks.

In a little while, off we went to Ayala Triangle. It was a good thing that we were there 30 minutes before the first show. We were able to secure a bench. Clearly tired, Pipoy and Barbie both took a nap.

Securing a bench for the tired dogs while waiting for the lights show to start
At exactly 6 pm, the light show began. It was a medly of English songs which was a recording of the ABS-CBN’s Philharmonic performance conducted by Gerard Salonga.

The kaleidoscopic show was enchanting with the movement of lights in consonance with the music. Definitely, it was a show so unique and to be remembered.

Barbie and Pipoy both sleepy
Even during the show, lots of cameras could be seen almost everywhere. Pictorials were so common so we had our own pictorial with the lights as well.

Cory with Barbie, a pictorial by the lights
For dinner, we took out Bon Chon chicken and decided to just have dinner at home because the dogs appear so very, very tired already. Tisoy was limping again - his defective front foot is easily stressed out.

Jen and Liezel with Barbie and Pipoy by the lights
Even if they couldn’t speak, we are sure that our dogs had truly enjoyed our holiday season joyride.

OUR PECKING PET

2012-12-09T07:35:00.000+08:00

Note: This article was first published in Animal Scene magazine issue of December 2010

Everytime we arrive home from the office, we are greeted, not only by our two dogs but also by Twinkle. They are expecting pasalubong in the form of Milky sticks, the favorite treat of our pets.

For Tisoy, our 3-year old spitz/pomeranian, and Epoy, our 7-year old pekingese, that’s fine because it is made from chicken meat. But a milky stick for Twinkle? That’s cannibalism of sorts for a rock pigeon.

We sometimes call Twinkle a dog because she acts like one most of the times. And instead of a bite, her weapon is her beak. In fact, Twinkle is very inquisitive because she smells objects especially things that are new in the house.

Twinkle, our pigeon, mingling with Epoy and Tisoy
When there seems to be a commotion like sudden laughter or even a loud sneeze, Twinkle would come flying to check. And when the noise comes from our bedroom, she would knock by hitting the door with her wings.

When our doorbell rings, of course, our dogs would bark. For her part, Twinkle would hastily glide down from the second floor and look thru the screen door. If she feels that no one was minding the gate, she would fly to the screen door as if wanting to open it.

When we have guests in our living room, Twinkle would perch on the top of the stairs to keep watch like a hawk. Often, she would alight on my shoulder as a way of showing off to the visitors.

Feeding by the divider window
And once a guest comes up to the second floor to use the bathroom, Twinkle would emit a cooing sound like a warning. And when the guest doesn’t mind her, Twinkle would launch an attack by pecking on the guest’s feet.

Upon hearing the sound of eating implements being set on the dining table, Twinkle would immediately position herself by the divider window. She relishes sinangag or pandesal in the morning. For lunch or dinner, we give her cooked rice.

What’s amusing is the lizard that normally joins Twinkle during meal times. It’s surprising to notice that Twinkle makes it a point to leave some crumbs for her lizard friend. Talk of peaceful co-existence.

Converting the dish bowl into a private swimming pool
Aside from the grain mixture called concentrate, we also feed Twinkle with uncooked rice and chopped lettuce, the native type. For aid in digestion, she gets to peck on the soil of a big pot in the terrace.

And if Twinkle was ignored during mealtimes, she would come to the dining table and feed on the plate. Or maybe she would roost on the backrest of the chair and drop an atomic bomb.

Speaking of droppings, that’s the primary headache that she gives us. Wiping the floor with a rag is no sweat. But the big problem is cleaning the electric fan where she occasionally roosts and also the computer table.

One of Twinkle’s dirty antics was to drop a bomb when a dog is sleeping near the sofa. Another is the playful pecking on the dog’s tail or feet. There are also times that we, the humans, are not spared of her pecking.

Twinkle's nest by the master bedroom door
It may look silly to have a pigeon inside the house. But it was not our choice. When she made her maiden appearance in our driveway on the Christmas eve of 2007, she chose the cabinet in the garage for her temporary home.

But after the New Year, the winged stranger gatecrashed our home to claim the second floor, right beside our bedroom door. In the short adjustment period of one week. Epoy would continually chase Twinkle while Tisoy would paw her playfully.

The fear that the dogs might harm the pigeon vanished after the honeymoon period when their true colors surfaced. The dogs are actually scared of Twinkle. Perhaps our dogs don’t relish the idea of being massaged by a sharp beak.

In the almost 3 years with us, Twinkle normally mingles with the dogs. When the dogs go out to the garden to answer nature’s call, Twinkle would follow suit. She would gallivant in the garden and sometimes fly to the roof.

Availing the soil of the potted plant
Another fear was that Twinkle might join the flock that we regularly see in the horizon. But a racing pigeon enthusiast said that Twinkle doesn’t have the attitude of a pigeon anymore. So it is safe to assume that Twinkle is more like a dog now.

Although she has a drinking bowl of her own, she uses the dog’s bowl for a swimming pool when the weather is warm. She’s also fond of collecting items like the rawhide bone, paper bills, ribbons and coins.

Being a female, Twinkle observes a feminine cycle. She lays 2 eggs in a span of 3 days then nurses her nest for 18 days. From 4 to 6 times a day, Twinkle leaves her nest for short breaks of 5 to 10 minutes during the nursing period.

We still do not know why Twinkle lays eggs even though she has no mate. Some people say it is because of the food and some say it is the nature of the female pigeon.

Posing for the camera
During these times, Twinkle becomes extremely irritable. When the dogs bark expect them to be attacked when they exit the bedroom. Twinkle also doesn’t like to be touched hence with an attempt, she goes into a stance like a fighting cock.

However, Twinkle is tame when being fed. It is all right to hand feed her with uncooked rice. But cooked rice that would stick to her beak makes her lose her temper. With pandesal, it should be served in bite sized pieces unless you want to hear her growl.

But amid the duty to her nest, Twinkle doesn’t miss a house guest or a commotion especially when the dogs exhibit agitation. She’s also on the lookout when we are using the camera since she is a natural model.

Gallivanting on the window ledge of the master bedroom
At the end of the nursing period. Twinkle becomes active again to exercise her rights and privileges as a superior citizen of our home. This period lasts for 5 to 8 days when she wreaks havoc and sows fear in the hearts of Epoy, Tisoy and the rest of us.

As I write this article, Twinkle keeps on alighting on my computer. And when reprimanded, she goes under the computer table and pecks on my toes. That’s her way of saying that she wants to be cradled by my feet.

THE GREAT TICK ATTACK

2012-11-12T10:57:00.000+08:00

Note: This article was first published in the November 2010 issue of Animal Scene magazine.

When we rented a big house, we had decided not to have a dog for at least one year. The reason? There were ticks everywhere, seemingly the whole house was infested.

Before moving in, of course, we had to fumigate the place. Soap and water wouldn’t do so I consulted a veterinary student. A potent insecticide was recommended. I found it quite expensive for the medium bottle costs 200 pesos.

After mixing half of the bottle contents in half a drum of water, I sprayed the walls and floors. In a few minutes, my hand got numb with the mechanical motion of spraying so I used the dip and splashed the mixture on the area.

When the minor repairs were done, we held a small celebration with friends. But on that very first night, it was disgusting to see some ticks on the floor of the living room.

The terrace entrance where the ticks were lurking
As per my sleuthing, the ticks were coming from the gaps between the brick adornment of the exterior. They enter the house through the gap in the window and straight to the ceiling.

Once up there, the pest have the power to drop itself on the desired spot. So that’s how intelligent those small creatures are. To think that they were able to survive the annihilation process, they look like immortals to me.

The weekly fumigation lasted for months and several thousand pesos for the pesticides. That’s not counting the complaints of neighbors on the strong smell of the spray. But it was well worth it.

The ticks were gone before we had paid our 6th month rental. That means we could have a dog. The house owner said that a guard dog would be ideal because there were many drug users in the nearby squatter area.

Nearly a year of renting the house, we acquired Jedi, a native puppy with a nice thick coat. I had to give it a good bath and a thorough cleanup to eradicate the fleas and a couple of ticks on her ears.

Ninang with Jedi, inspecting the road for ticks
On Jedi’s second day, there was the attack of ticks. Upon closer look, there were about 10 ticks on the ceiling, a few on the wall but none on the exterior wall where it used to nest. They were actually coming from the backyard.

That was a neat lesson. It’s not only the concrete but the soil and the rocks are good hiding places of ticks too. At least wood proved to be not so hospitable to them.

Another cleanup was in order. The big backyard and the front yard consumed more than 3 bottles of pesticides in one month. For the second time, I emitted a sigh of relief.

When we acquired our own house, Jedi was 4 years old and free from any parasite. Unfortunately, our new home had tick nests in the backyard and front yard. In fairness, the interior of the concrete house was clean.

With my past experience with insecticides, not much effort was needed to cleanse the yards. After a week of the chore, our new home was immaculately clean and free of pests.

Ninang carrying Epoy while Tisoy is checking the gate
Years passed and we thought we would be living happily ever after. We now have Epoy, the 7-year old pekingese and Tisoy, the 3-year old Aspin, after Jedi had passed away.

Without warning, both our dogs were having ticks, a few at first but later on we were finding several in both of them. Again, I had to summon the Sherlock Holmes inside of me to pinpoint the source.

The ticks were parading to our gate, with gaps of about a meter like marching soldiers. They were coming from the left and also from the right directions. I couldn’t help but feel confused.

Not only the road itself was infested but both gutters were also teeming with moving black dots. Some ticks even had the temerity to convert the blades of grass into a hammock.

The neighborly elders opined that those ticks were actually hibernating in the vacant lots because there are plenty of Askals here. The sleeping parasites were wakened, according to them, by the big flood of Ondoy.

And since we had learned that pesticide is unhealthy, we resorted to dishwashing soap. We mixed a bottle of the cleansing liquid with half a drum of water. Using a lagadera, we were like gardeners watering the street, at least more than half of it.

After a few days, we also treated the sidewalks at least up to 3 houses from our home. The target areas should be thoroughly wet if not soaking of our mixture. That’s quite a job so I hired 2 people to help us irrigate the area.

After a one week battle with the ticks, the road was finally free of pests
The battle with the ticks lasted for more than a week. We had consumed about 10 bottles of dishwashing soap. Quite expensive but it was well worth it because the street exuded a hygienic scent.

The tick attack cannot just be ignored if you consider the casualty. One dog perished due to severe infestation. The owner said that their Aspin which was tied near the gate, was coated by ticks and probably had lost a lot of blood to the parasites.

It may be an isolated case but the vet said that excessive tick bites could really kill a dog. Another danger posed by ticks is the epidemic that they may bring. They are bloodsuckers so they are potential carriers of diseases.

Like the majority of Metro Manilans, we are also hoping that there wouldn’t be another Ondoy. No more destructive flood. No more tick attacks.

ANOTHER BHS STROLL

2012-10-26T09:24:00.002+08:00

By Tisoy

Ninong had another meeting so off to BHS we go. In case you don’t know, Bonifacio High Street is in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig. It is a dog-friendly place.

We had lunch in a Singaporean resto where the food looked more like Chinese food. It is a good thing that Ninang ordered Hainanese Chicken for me. Wow, so great a taste.

Ninang with Barbie posing by the 3 Volvo cars
It is also a good thing that we got the al fresco table in the corner. Unlike last week where our table was located in the center. This time we were not disturbed by passers by.

Barbie and Pipoy appeared relaxed especially during the meal. As I said, I had chicken but my siblings had their dog food. Maybe next time they will have a taste of that wonderful Hainanese Chicken.

Pipoy feeling hungry already
There were plenty of dogs but most of the people notice us. Perhaps my white color and also of Barbie is really eye-catching. But Pipoy insists that people see him as very cute, hahaha.

When Ninong left, we strolled the length of BHS. Even at early afternoon, there were already lots of people and also pets.

Like before, we savored the cool air of the fountain. But before that, we had dessert in Hobbes and Landes, actually to avail of their airconditioning, hehehe.

Resting on the grassy area
Before 4 o’clock, Ateng and her family arrived. Ate Am-am took Pipoy’s leash while Barbie remains carried by Ninang. You know why? Barbie bites, hahaha, playfully though.

Ninong came back after 5 o’clock. We stayed on the grassy area for a pictorial and also to play. There were some tourists who wanted to have their picture taken with Barbie. I wonder why they don’t like to pose with me.

The Korean lady wanting to have a photo with Barbie
As the sun went down, we walked to the northern part. That’s a newly-renovated area looking like an odeon of the olden times. Many people were seated on the concrete grandstand although there was nothing to see.

A bit later, we went to Bon Chon. It’s a Korean chicken, cheap but delicious. Ate Am-am likes it. However, there was no al fresco area and pets were not allowed inside.

Ateng and family resting by the fountain
Ninong looked for a place to have dinner. Voila! There was the Kabisera ni Dencio. It’s a resto serving native dishes. Quite good, looks okay.

For dinner, Barbie and Pipoy had their dog food. And for me? Well, I was treated to a slab of crispy pata. So nice to dine out with food like that.

The new area in BHS
At around 9 o’clock, Ninong got the car and picked us up. Obviously, everyone was tired of walking, hahaha.

BONI HI STREET STROLL

2012-10-18T13:55:00.002+08:00

By Tisoy

Before attending a weekend meeting in Makati, Ninong decided to bring us along so we can stroll in Boni Hi Street located inside BGC (Bonifacio Global City) in Taguig.

To make an allowance for the traffic, we left early so Ninong wouldn’t be late for his 2 pm appointment. Of course, our caretakers had to come with us because Barbie and Pipoy need to be taken care of.

We had lunch at Abe which serves Pampanga delicacies. Their kare-kare was good, according to Ninang, except that the bagoong was not cooked well. The crispy beef was also okay. But the price was not, hahaha.

Under the table at ABE restaurant

While having lunch, Barbie kept on barking at the passing dogs while Pipoy barked at the people. Ninong didn’t feel good on the misbehaving puppies.

We dogs also had lunch in Abe. But I was not in the mood to eat so Liezl had to hand-feed me. Pipoy ate fast and Barbie was slow but she had finished her food.

Posing by the decor of the BSH

When Ninong took a taxi for his meeting, we proceeded to Hobbes and Landes so we can rest a bit in the airconditioned store. It’s pet-friendly but it appeared crowded.

After finishing the dessert, Ninang decided to leave. The place didn’t appear to be pet-friendly anymore, especially the prices of their goods, hahaha.

The fountain area where the air was cool

We stayed near the fountain. It was nice because the water made the air cooler. Barbie and Pipoy were misbehaving most of the times so our caretakers were having a hard time pacifying them.

There were plenty of dogs in Boni Hi Street, most were strolling and gallivanting in the grassy area. But all dogs were in a leash.

Once in a while we would walk then come back to that spot near the fountain. After some time, Ninang felt hungry again so we went to Krispy Kreme. They had donuts which I didn’t like.

There was a white pekingese who looked like Barbie. They were barking at each other. After a while, Pipoy and Barbie fell asleep.

Passing by the grassy area on the way to the parking lot

And before darkness fell, Ninong arrived. He was happy because the meeting was fruitful. And we were also happy and looking forward to our next dog’s day out.

SUNDAY DRIVING

2012-08-26T14:28:00.004+08:00

By Tisoy

Before attending a weekend meeting in Makati, Ninong decided to bring us along so we can stroll in Boni Hi Street located inside BGC (Bonifacio Global City) in Taguig.

To make an allowance for the traffic, we left early so Ninong wouldn’t be late for his 2 pm appointment. Of course, our caretakers had to come with us because Barbie and Pipoy need to be taken care of.

We had lunch at Abe which serves Pampanga delicacies. Their kare-kare was good, according to Ninang, except that the bagoong was not cooked well. The crispy beef was also okay. But the price was not, hahaha.

While having lunch, Barbie kept on barking at the passing dogs while Pipoy barked at the people. Ninong didn’t feel good on the misbehaving puppies.

We dogs also had lunch in Abe. But I was not in the mood to eat so Liezl had to hand-feed me. Pipoy ate fast and Barbie was slow but she had finished her food.

When Ninong took a taxi for his meeting, we proceeded to Hobbes and Landes so we can rest a bit in the airconditioned store. It’s pet-friendly but it appeared crowded.

After finishing the dessert, Ninang decided to leave. The place didn’t appear to be pet-friendly anymore, especially the prices of their goods, hahaha.

We stayed near the fountain. It was nice because the water made the air cooler. Barbie and Pipoy were misbehaving most of the times so our caretakers were having a hard time pacifying them.

There were plenty of dogs in Boni Hi Street, most were strolling and gallivanting in the grassy area. But all dogs were in a leash.

Once in a while we would walk then come back to that spot near the fountain. After some time, Ninang felt hungry again so we went to Krispy Kreme. They had donuts which I didn’t like.

There was a white pekingese who looked like Barbie. They were barking at each other. After a while, Pipoy and Barbie fell asleep.

And before darkness fell, Ninong arrived. He was happy because the meeting was fruitful. And we were also happy and looking forward to our next dog’s day out.

BARBIE DOLL

2012-08-22T20:38:00.004+08:00

It is a coincidence that Barbie was born on June 4, the birthday of our beloved Epoy. And being also a pekingese, we have this feeling that Epoy was back.

We never thought that Barbie would be given to us because why would one give away a cute white pekingese? To dog lovers like us, that’s okay I guess.
Pokwang with her 5-day old pups
We got the surprise of our life when Dra. May, Epoy’s long time vet, informed us that her dog Pokwang gave birth to 2 pups which she named Barbie and Bambi. The surprise was – she will give us one of the pups.

Dropping by Dra. May’s clinic by the Marikina River in Barangka on June 9, we saw Barbie for the first time. A pekingese with cotton white coat. She was quite big compared to Bambi. But she’s a lot cuter.

A week after that, we visited Barbie again. But our excitement was deadened when Dra. May said that we can have Barbie after 2 months, the time when she is weaned from Pokwang.

But the waiting was worth it. On July 25, Barbie was finally ours. As she entered the car, she was gazing around as if trying to recognize things. Remember, this was the first time that Barbie got out of the clinic.
Barbie in her first car ride
As the car moved on, I noticed that the white puppy was staring at me. And when I touched her chin, she tried to grope for my hand then licked it. That was a very good introduction of sorts.
Carried by Ninang, Barbie's first bonding with the rock pigeon Twinkle
And finally when we reached home, Barbie looked glad. Why? Because Tisoy, our 5-year old spitz, looked very much like Pokwang.
First bath
Barbie’s first noticeable idiosyncrasy was her penchant for biting. She would playfully bite anything that comes her way. So it’s a risk to carry her innocently because she could bite your nose.
Inside her cage
For protection from Tisoy, we re-used Epoy’s cage so Barbie can have more space. We also bought a toy for her to chew on. And for toilet training, the old newspaper is a good matting.

When let loose in the terrace or in our concrete garden, Barbie would trot like a little horse. But she would react whenever she hears her name.

In a month or two, hopefully, Barbie would be getting her freedom to join Tisoy and Pipoy, our dynamic pug.

PIPOY THE DYNAMO

2012-07-24T10:44:00.008+08:00

By Ninong

He was yet to turn two months old when Pipoy arrived in our home on the night of July 22, 2012. A puglet so small, looking frail and fragile. We built him a special cage that was actually a bookshelf.
Inside his cage
We easily discovered that Pipoy is a cry baby and doesn’t want to be left alone. So on the first night, Ate Liezl was forced to sleep beside Pipoy in the living room. And it will probably be like that for a week or two.
Looking frail... but don't be deceived
On his first night, we gave him milk. And on his first morning, we gave him milk plus a scoop of dog food. It seemed that Pipoy couldn’t finish his food so we lessened the dosage to half a scoop and increased the frequency from twice to thrice a day of feeding.

On that first morning, I got Pipoy out of the cage and let him loose in the terrace. That’s the time I discovered that Pipoy is a bundle of energy. There is a turbo engine packed inside his little body.
Gnawing the hem of my pants
His first foray was the hem of my pants. He kept on gnawing on my pants with a matching wag of his head. I had no choice but to raise both my feet.

Pipoy’s next prey was the potted plants. He was picking on the leaves like it was food. Then he espied the mat near the terrace gate. And then he saw my feet on the floor again.
Playing with a slipper
A genuine dynamo, the cage couldn’t restrain Pipoy. On his second night, he was making paper airplanes from the newspaper matting of his cage. And then he would bite on the wires of his cage.

And if he thinks there was nothing else to do inside his cage then that’s the time to whine. Vocal reprimands wouldn’t deter this little creature from his racket. What noise he could make with his little vocal cords.
Picking on the leaves
But when he gets tired, his tongue would stick out and he would be gasping for breath. So back to the cage, in the comfort of the electric fan.
Gasping for oxygen
For his Kuya Tisoy, evident is the jealousy. On Pipoy’s first morning, Tisoy went inside the maid’s room and wouldn’t come out until I beckoned him to. So that’s an extra attention required from us.
Tisoy watching over Pipoy from afar
On the good side, Tisoy doesn’t mind Pipoy anymore unlike when Pipoy arrived. We had to put Tisoy on a leash. Perhaps before the week is over Tisoy would be playing with Pipoy.

As for Twinkle, our rock pigeon, she doesn’t mind at all. But Twinkle did some staring on the first morning as if saying, “Who is this critter? Is he the son of Shrek?”
The proud Ninong
Perhaps Pipoy would change for the better as he grows up. It would be difficult for us to handle a dynamo like him. So he’d better behave and act with prudence.

OUR BIRTHDAY - July 16

2012-07-17T08:35:00.010+08:00

Told by Tisoy

July 16, 2012 was a Monday so I guess there wouldn’t be any celebration. For your information, it’s my 5th birthday and also the 5th birthday of Twinkle.
I was telling Twinkle that it was our birthday
The weather was fine and it was a good time to cook. Ninong had prepared the ingredients early in the day. In mid afternoon, I saw activities in the kitchen while the stove was already being warmed up.

What’s the menu? Last Sunday, it was nice of Ninang to prepare fruit salad. And come Monday, it was Ninong’s turn to cook fried chicken legs and spaghetti.
Well, here's the food for the folks
As I said, there was no celebration, just a private one for us. But the food was so abundant so the neighbors would partake of it.

My Ate Liezl brought a plateful of spaghetti and chicken legs to our neighbor Ate Flor. She has 5 grandkids who are all fond of me, hehehe.
Hmmm, the food smells good
The Tom family also received the same menu of spaghetti, chicken and fruit salad. The Tom family, well, they own Angela the pug. One of Angela’s pup will become my little brother soon.

Not to be forgotten is Princess, the pomeranian friend of mine from Mandaluyong. She lives near our place now. So we dropped by and took some pictures of her. But I wonder why she is camera shy now.
See my long time friend Princess owned by Tess Perenoud
There was no cake but a little singing was in the air. And, of course, the pictorial by the dining table.

I was fed 2 legs of fried chicken marinated in lemon. Wow, I’d say that was so delicious. And for Twinkle? She was given bits of freshly-baked monay.
That's Ninang carrying me and Ate Liezl carrying Twinkle
Happy birthday to me and to Twinkle.

LITTLE BIG BIRTHDAY BASH

2012-07-02T17:35:00.013+08:00

Note: First published in Animal Scene magazine July 2010

Our little dog, Epoy the pekingese, was to turn seven. “It’s a cause for celebration,” exclaimed a friend who is a dog lover through and through.

We have lived in our home for quite a time and, until this time, we still have to know our neighbors. So why not throw a party for the neighborhood kids?

The excitement of a party instantly heightened the atmosphere pressure. After getting a pen and paper, my wife, together with our maid, started the brainstorming session by jotting down names.

Epoy carried by Ninang
It didn’t take long for them to come up with a list of 25 kids and 20 adults. But it swelled with the addition of some relatives and dog-lover friends.

As the planning session progressed, the list got longer and longer. We need to rent chairs, design a tarpaulin, and of course, print the invitation. If there would be loot bags for giveaways then we have to shop for candies, toys and children items.

And so as not to bore the guests, there’s got to be games. And games means prizes, better add that to the shopping list. And do not forget the balloons, please.
Lord and Shugar, Ninang and Epoy, Ricella and Shadow
Speaking of balloons, the budget was now fully inflated. From the simple spaghetti and barbecue, the menu expanded with hotdog cocktails, prawns, fried chicken, lumpiang ubod and the all-time favorite lechon.

What is food without dessert? The usual cones and ice cream in different flavors surely fit the bill. We can top that with leche flan and American fruit salad.

Come d-day, everything was in place. Perhaps good planning did the trick. And another good thing going for us was the weather. It was all fair and sunny on that 5th of June.
Ricella, Jep, Ninong, Lord
Magnifying our joy was the arrival of Shadow and Shugar, the shih tzus from Pampanga owned by Jep Manalang and Christopher Lord Yambao. Another very welcome guest was Ricella Zurbito of Las Piñas who owns an Aspin named Paris.

Epoy, the birthday boy, gamely mingled with the shih tzus in the expanse of our living room. But the guest dogs were somewhat intimidated by Tisoy, our spitz who was incessantly barking. We had no choice but to put Tisoy on a leash.

In the absence of a sound system, we had to improvise so the kids would fully enjoy the games. A laptop with speakers solved our problem. Thanks to the mp3 music that’s free from the internet.
Jeric, Jep and Shadow, Amam and Epoy, Ninang and Shugar, Mommy and Tisoy
With the stimulating games and overflowing prizes, the guests - kids and adults as well - truly enjoyed the party. The “hit the pot” was a blockbuster so we had to do a repeat. Fortunately there were a lot of spare candies and coins for that purpose.

And like a real kid celebrating his birthday, Epoy had to blow the candle on his cake after the singing of the birthday anthem. Amid the clicking of cameras, Epoy and his canine friends seem to understand what was happening.
The winners of the parlor games
At the party’s end, Shadow and Shugar were kept in pet carriers for their trip back home to Pampanga. We fully appreciated the effort of Jep and Lord in bringing along their dogs, considering that they just availed of the public transportation.

We never expected that our neighbors would cooperate with the little fun we had in mind for what’s a party without gifts? A bevy of dog items wrapped with trimmings adorned the corner lamp table – shampoo, soap, towel, canned food and dog treats plus toys.
The party hosts with Tisoy and birthday boy Epoy
Despite the time, effort and expenses incurred in throwing the big party for a small dog, it’s very gratifying to realize that at last we now know our neighbors. Or I should say, our neighbors now know us.

CAMP OUT IN TAGAYTAY

2012-04-09T16:56:00.006+08:00

By Tisoy

People are funny. You see, Holy Week is a long religious vacation that they use for outings. But in fairness, those living in the city need a respite too.

We hied to Tagaytay on a Good Friday morning. Nature’s Discovery Camp is a 4-hectare resort with a swimming pool and a mini-forest. Huts are available and tents are welcome.
That's Bogart behind me
We rented the 2 huts near the edge so we got a little privacy of sorts. And what good was that to me? I was let loose. No more leash, hehehe. But the weather was quite warm so Ninong had to take a bath twice.

By the way, Bogart came with us. He is the shih tzu of our cousins who also were with us for the overnight camp out. Of course, we had our tents. This was the first time that I would be sleeping inside a tent.
With my Ate Duday
Another good thing was we did not bring dog food. That means I would be eating table food. For the Good Friday lunch we had fried fish, the small and crunchy bangus. We had broiled tilapia for dinner.

There were countless of tents on the other side of the resort. I heard that there were 70 campers. I was on a leash when Bogart and I strolled in that place.
Getting ready for a stroll
In the late afternoon, they pitched the 3 tents. That’s one for us and 2 for the family of Bogart. I wonder how Ninong, Ninang and I would fit in that small tent.

The night was a bit warm so Ninong slept in one of the hut while I stayed inside the tent with Ninang. I was standing guard by her feet. That’s my way of protecting her.
Me on my mat
After midnight, the weather got cooler and Ninong felt cold so he went inside the tent. I then had a good night’s sleep by the feet of Ninong and Ninang.

Black Saturday morning was spent on strolling in the vast expanse of the mini forest. I got really tired considering my feet have deformities. But I felt fine since I was enjoying every bit of it.
Ninang and me in our tent
After lunch, everyone started to undo the tents. I guess it was time to go. And we had a sidetrip at Crosswinds, a village for the rich. What a very enjoyable camp out.

DIP IN THE POOL

2012-03-29T07:43:00.005+08:00

On the previous night, bags and things were piled up by the door. I saw my yellow dish plate being packed inside my travelling kit. So we have an upcoming trip.

Unlike the usual trips, we did not leave early this time. Ninong cooked spaghetti and after breakfast, we boarded the car after 7 am. Not bad because for a Sunday, the traffic would be light.

In the middle of the trip, we gassed up. Lo and behold, my collar and leash were left in the house. This is a problem because Ninang doesn’t want me to be loose in an alien place. Who knows what might happen.

Ninong drove slowly to give them time to think. Where to buy collar and leash on a Sunday morning? In the South Luzon Expressway, we stopped twice to check on the convenient stores of the gas stations. But no luck.

After exiting the SLEX, Ninang thought of Waltermart along the Calamba highway. Nice idea. But the mall was still closed and to open at 10 am. It was only 8:40 so it would be a long wait.

Fortunately we found SM Hypermart that would open at 9 am. We waited and after purchasing a new collar and leash for me, off we went to the hot spring pool.
With my Ninong and Ninang
Wow, this pool is much better than last year’s haunt. So spacious and with nice views. The rooms are airconditioned and each with toilet and bath. Overall, the rating is 4 stars.

Ninong took off my leash so I could move around the pool. And I did. Expectedly, I got wet and my tummy was dripping. But it was a nice experience.
Gemma confining me to the bench
After an hour of gallivanting by the pool side, Ninang called Gemma to dry me up. I was then confined to the concrete bench to watch the people in the pool.

After lunch I was again let loose. I just lay by the pool side, waiting for the shot of a camera, hehehe. All of a sudden, there was water coming from the, oh, there was a fountain. Yes, a fountain by the poolside. And I got wet again, hahaha.
The lifeguard at your service
After more pictorials, we had merienda. I noticed they were singing happy birthday. It was the birthday of our Lola Charing. So there was a cake and some gifts.
The cake of Mamu for her 78th birthday
On our way home, I couldn’t sleep. Honestly, I was missing my Kuya Epoy. Since I was a puppy, Kuya Epoy was always there beside me. Sad, really sad.

DOG TRIP TO BAGUIO

2012-02-14T05:11:00.006+08:00

*** First published in Animal Scene Magazine issue of January 2011

With its cool atmosphere, it is no wonder that Baguio is the favorite vacation place of Epoy, our pekingese who is an aircon addict. So for the 3rd time, we brought along our dogs for a cooling off vacation to the city of pines.

Aside from eating and drinking implements, we had to make sure that we brought along Epoy’s prescription diet, vitamins and clothes. A day before leaving, we also brought our dogs to the salon for grooming.
Epoy on the seat, Tisoy on the floor of the van
In the rented van, Epoy was beside us on the seat while Tisoy, our mixed spitz, was quite comfortable on the floor with his sleeping mat. We notice that Epoy is a sleeper during trips while Tisoy stays awake all the time as if observing the route.

It’s a good thing our dogs are used to travelling so they can control the call of nature. Halfway in the trip, we stopped by Rod Ongpauco’s Isdaan Restaurant in Tarlac where we ate a delectable breakfast.

After the pictorial with the statues and other displays, we fed our dogs while the kids were feeding the fishes in the big pond. The Isdaan’s spacious parking lot also served as comfort room of Epoy and Tisoy.
Breakfast at the Isdaan resto in Tarlac
After another short stop in La Union, we were on our way up the zigzag portion. This time, we had to put Tisoy on the van’s seat so he could see the scenery, that is to prevent him from feeling nauseous due to the abrupt movements of the van.

Upon arriving in Baguio, a tourist would easily notice the congestion because of the vehicle coding system being enforced. However, congestion means people and people means business.

The cool air is still refreshing like before although the scent of pine tree had become elusive now. The previously green scenery is now dotted with unsightly houses even in the mountainsides. Vendors of all types abound in the main roads.

After unloading our things in the vacation house, off we went to Camp John Hay. Despite the mild shower, we enjoyed the cool air and the clean surroundings. Tisoy and Epoy enjoyed strolling on the grassy areas.
Golfers pose with Tisoy
The kids played a round of mini-golf. Tisoy had been a good mascot by accompanying the players for the whole game of 18 holes. But Epoy, with his small feet, had to stay in the bench under the shade of a tree.

We’re glad that the Brother’s Burger house inside the camp allowed our pets inside to share the french fries. Of course, we brought along dog food and drinking water while we were savoring the broiled burgers.

Sampling the souvenir items in Mine’s View is still the same experience. Or so I thought. There was a St. Bernard dog posing for a pictorial for 20 pesos per shot. A few meters away, there’s a bargain for 25 pesos having 2 St. Bernard dogs as background.

Right beside the Mine’s View deck, there were horses and some Igorots in their native attire, offering poses for photographs at 10 pesos per shot. It’s pathetic to think that the natives themselves are the ones degrading their heritage.
Epoy in a Mine's View store
In all our trips to Baguio, we make it a point to pass by Good Shepherd to buy the authentic strawberry jam and halayang ube. The place also has a good view of the mountains sans the horses and fake Igorots.

Following our tradition of steak dinner, we went to the Sizzling Plate near Legarda because the one in Session Road was always filled up. Our dogs had to stay in the van although we had a take out for their dinner.

At night in the house, the dogs savored the wooden floors while the terrace served as their toilet. Epoy appeared relaxed but Tisoy was showing agitation when he is in the living room.
Warming up by the fireplace with Ninang
On the second night of our stay, when Tisoy showed that he really preferred the bedroom, we surmised that perhaps Tisoy has psychic powers and that he was able to see a ghost of something in the living room.

Although our dogs are used to airconditioning, the Baguio climate is different. So for added protection, aside from the sleeping mat and the clothes, we brought a woolen blanket for Tisoy and Epoy.

Early in the morning, the 2 dogs were restless because of the cold. Ninang had to cuddle both Tisoy and Epoy while I lit the firewood in the fireplace.
A cool stroll in Burnham Park
After breakfast, we held a pictorial in the Mansion. The majesty of the place was ruined by the countless vendors with their baskets of orange and lanzones. Any tourist would be turned off by the pesterings of those vendors.

The same scenario of annoying vendors would be seen in Burnham Park, selling food and souvenir items. Grabbing the opportunity for a short nap in the van, I was awakened by the incessant knocking of an old woman selling pinipig.

Accompanied by our dogs, the kids enjoyed biking. They also went skating and later took a boat ride while Epoy and Tisoy strolled along the grassy paths of the Burnham Park.
Another pictorial by the Mansion
For our last lunch before leaving for home, we were thankful that our pets were allowed inside Dencio’s (in Camp John Hay). Tisoy was very delighted with the crispy fried tilapia while Epoy had his usual prescribed dog food.

Leaving Baguio always gives us the excitement of seeing our home again, of taking a cold shower or simply staying in our airconditioned living room. Mind you, there’s no ghost or anything unusual in our living room.

CHRISTMAS IN OUR HOUSE

2011-12-08T10:18:00.005+08:00

The Philippines is the only country that celebrates the longest holiday season. We spend time for traditional activities like Simbang Gabi, corporate parties and family gatherings, not to mention the expenses incurred for the decorations and trimmings.

The wrapped gift is an integral part of the holiday season. Even Santa Claus had to make a list so as not to forget anyone. For us, the gifts should be bought earlier so they could be part of the Christmas tree decoration.

Not only children are excited about the yuletide season when they meet their Ninongs and Ninangs. They say that adults are like children too during Christmas time because everybody deserves to receive a gift especially when there’s a family reunion.
Tisoy posing by the Christmas lights
In our house, even our pets enjoy the holiday season. We try to share the happiness and the jolly spirit with our pets by playing Christmas songs everyday. Obviously, our dogs are certified music lovers.

In our observance of the yuletide traditions, our pets contribute in the chore of putting up the decorations. Our 2 dogs, Tisoy and Epoy, would check on the Christmas tree, the lights and the other ornaments by continually smelling the items hanging by the tree.

And when decorating the tree was finished, Twinkle, our mischievous house pigeon, would roost on the top to see the view from there. For special effects, we would put Twinkle’s 2 eggs in the Belen, right beside the baby boy in the manger.

For the carolers, we have a stock of coins and bushels of candies. For the hundred or so children and teeners who drop by our gate every night, Tisoy would always be on the lookout. And when a kid would peer thru the grille fence, our ferocious spitz would come charging to scare him.
Tisoy and Epoy beside the gifts by the Christmas tree
When we go out for the Simbang Gabi, our dogs would stay in the terrace. We were tempted many times to bring our dogs to the church especially when we saw a churh-goer with a poodle in tow.

Coming home from the church, our dogs would be welcoming us with their short barks. It was as if they could smell the puto bumbong and bibingka. Tisoy loves puto bumbong but Epoy prefers bibingka.

For the last night of caroling on Christmas eve, we give treats aside from the coins and candies. Toys from Divisoria are a hit to the kids as well as the imported fruits like apples and pears.
Pictorial with Ninang - our pigeon Twinkle, Epoy the pekingese and Tisoy the spitz
We also have a barbecue in the front yard to the delight of the carolers. Like chestnuts roasting on an open fire, the roasted pork and beef ribs tantalize the carolers no end. No need to say that our dogs were first to sample the barbecue.

As always, our standard fare for Noche Buena were Chinese ham, Queso de bola and Spanish sopas plus barbecue if ever there’s a leftover. Our dogs would partake in the soup but never with the ham and cheese.

On Christmas Day when visitors arrive, our dogs would appear intimidated at first. On the other hand, Twinkle would welcome them with open wings unless they go up the second floor for the toilet, that’s where Twinkle’s nest is located.

Our guests would notice the lethary of our dogs. That’s clear evidence that they lacked sleep the previous night. So before lunch time, we would keep Epoy and Tisoy inside the airconditioned bedroom to rest.
Epoy posing with the lechon
The Christmas day menu on our dining table always include morcon, rellenong bangus and steak. We never feed our dogs morcon and relleno because of the raisins. Grapes and raisins may be bad for their kidneys.

After lunch, there was the traditional palaro or parlor games, for the kids and also for the adults. As always, there’s the contest of who could pet Tisoy, our grouchy spitz. And almost always, there would be no winner.

Our dogs were thrilled by the battery-operated toys that we normally give to our godchildren. Epoy was daunted by the remote-controlled cars but Tisoy enjoyed running alongside and pawing it when it stops.

It was fun to give away gifts but it was more fun for our dogs to receive gifts. With their wagging tails, Tisoy and Epoy show their excitement upon opening their gifts. Especially with toy bones and chewable balls, we’re sure our dogs have that Christmas feeling too.
Twinkle's eggs and the Belen
When the visitors leave before dusk, that’s the time that we go for our Christmas joy ride. Our dogs greatly enjoy the sight of Christmas lights. We pass by Policarpio Street in Mandaluyong and then Ayala Avenue to savor the kaleidoscope of lights.

For the final destination, we go to a park. Last year our final stop was Mall of Asia. Despite the crowd, the cool air by the seaside was refreshing not only for humans but also for our pet dogs.

On our stroll, Epoy, our pekingese, was always carried and it was automatic for Tisoy to be on a leash. Fortunately, our dogs behave pretty well in social places. As a responsible pet owner, we are prepared in case our dogs do their thing especially in the mall area.
Getting ready to give away the gifts
After Christmas Day, we would be preparing for the New Year. We usually purchase lusis by the bundle and some boxes of the imported flying fireworks that we light up a few minutes before midnight.

New Year’s eve is the saddest part of the year for Epoy because he is scared of the firecrackers. What we do is keep him inside the bedroom with the television in full volume so as to deaden the sound of firecrackers outside.

However, when we brought our dogs to the fireworks show in Mall of Asia early this year, Epoy did not show any fear. That may be because he was thrilled in seeing the exploding lights.
Lazing amid the booming firecrackers outside
For the New Year Media Noche, it’s like the same fare as Christmas eve’s except that the barbecue was now the main fare. Normally the dogs couldn’t eat because of the lingering explosions and the haze produced by the firecrackers.

Truly, not only children enjoy the holiday seasons but adults too. You can add to that list our pets.

PROUD TO BE AN ASPIN

2011-11-19T09:51:00.007+08:00

*** First published in Animal Scene Magazine issue of November 2010

Aspin is a term to mean Asong Pinoy. Since they are products of undetermined breed, Aspins come in different sizes, colors and shapes. But no matter what the look, they are the dogs native to our country.

As opposed to the Askal, an Aspin is not a stray dog. In fact, it could be likened to a pure-bred canine except that it has no pedigree certificate to speak of.

Speaking of pure native Philippine dog, there’s actually no such thing because of the dominant presence of imported dogs. In earlier times, Aspins were called mestizo, to mean a mixed breed.
Aspins like snipers on the roof
Because of their instinct to protect their assigned territories, Aspins are normally used as guard dogs. That’s the reason why Aspins adorn the doorsteps or are tied near the house gate. With their bark, they inform their master of a visitor or even a passer-by.

Like their imported counterparts, some Aspins are treated as house pets. That means they enjoy the comfort of the home and the companionship. Being house pets, they are also not fed with plain leftovers and some are even given dog food.
Our first dog Jedi, inside looking out
Jedi, our very first pet, was a house dog but sometime she is let loose in the yard during daytime. Her imposing figure in the front gate had created fear in the hearts of neighborhood kids and delivery people.

House dogs are commonly for companionship especially to the elders. Aside from the sense of security that they provide in the home, house dogs are good for stress relievers particularly for overworked people.

Momsie is a one-year old Aspin that serves as a therapist in a Marikina nursing home. She is let loose to roam inside and outside the house. The meek and somewhat elusive dog appeals to most of the patients.
Momsie with an elderly patient
By patting Momsie, it seemed that the Aspin could absorb the aches and body pains, professed one of the patients. Another patient said that she feels at home because Momsie reminds her of their dog.
Paris on her throne with her fav stuff toy
Another housedog is Paris (featured in Animal Scene August 2010) who is the pride and joy of owner Ricella Zurbito. Paris has a license to stay in the master’s bedroom and also to occasionally sleep on her master’s bed.

Contrary to common belief that Aspins have no intelligence, they are actually smart. Aside from discerning a friend from a foe, a guard dog is always on the lookout for unusual things like a fire or a coming storm.

One of the most popular Aspins was Saver who knew so many tricks. The celebrity Aspin, owned and trained by Jun Lazarte, could use the toilet, get a cigarette or scratch his master’s back. Sad thing that Saver died last year at age 13.
Boogie showing off atop a motorcycle
Boogie is another intelligent Aspin. He could ride a stationary motorcycle while wearing his fancy sunglasses. Boogie is not intimidated by admirers. Smart dogs like Boogie need no leash.

Our own Tisoy is a car-riding Aspin. In traffic stops, he would bark at anyone who would come near the car. But Tisoy would be excited to see Dang, his favorite newsgirl plying the Cainta Junction.

Unlike other male dogs that urinate on the car’s tire, Tisoy only smells the tires of our car. With good toilet manners, the only problem with Tisoy is his habit of farting that pollutes the atmosphere of the car.

Contrary to tradition, grooming salons are not only for pure-bred and imported dogs. Although seldom but salons have Aspin customers too. Thick coated Aspins like Tisoy are better brought to a salon for complete grooming every once in a while.
Tisoy being pampered in a salon in Tiendesitas, Pasig City
For the formal recognition of Aspins, PAWS (Philippine Animal Welfare Society) had organized an Aspin Day in Eastwood City on August 8, 2010. The affair served as an open invitation to the Aspin Club.

Aspin lovers can have their dogs registered after filling out the membership form and shelling out 250 pesos for the membership fee. For the database, the photograph taken was that of the pet together with the owner.
Tisoy posing after the registration with the Aspin Club
After the registration, Tisoy was taken for a stroll inside the Eastwood City mall. From the way he walked inside the mall, Tisoy is surely proud to be an Aspin.

PUPPY MILLS IN BOOM

2011-11-08T20:19:00.009+08:00

Note: This article was first published in the March 2011 issue of Animal Scene magazine.

When I heard the so-called Puppy Mills before, I didn’t think it was that serious so I didn’t give it a thought. But now I couldn’t help but think about it.

When I was young, dogs were primarily for guarding the house. But with the changing times, dog lovers have multiplied and dogs are now mainly for pets.

However, the popularity of dogs gave rise to the so-called puppy mills. They are the breeders of aspins or mixed breed dogs and contrary to the legitimate breeders, they sell the puppies only for the money.

In Alabang and other public markets, the underground puppy distribution is alive and kicking. Even in the busy Session Road in Baguio City, puppy sellers abound as well.
Underground selling of puppies - hidden inside the bag
Although some puppies are intended to be passed off as pure breed sans registration, most sellers admit the truth. “Mas mataas kasi ang benta pag may lahi ang tuta,” confessed one seller.

A woman whispering, “Puppy, tuta, puppy” was my first encounter with such a vendor in Baguio City. When I inquired, she hastily opened her cloth shoulder bag to show 3 puppies of about 3 months old.
Pitbull pups for 3,500 pesos
“Na-deworm na po yan,” she said as part of her sales spiel while pulling out one puppy that she sells for 850 pesos. The seller was all smiles upon seeing my camera, an obvious sign, for her, that I was just a plain tourist.

And when I turned my back, the woman tugged at my coat. “May bawas pa. Magkano ang gusto nyo?” As I slowly walked away, the selling price was slashed down to 300 pesos.

A few paces away was a cage with 2 puppies. “Three-five po,” the seller explained why it was quite expensive at 3,500 pesos despite having no registration papers. “Guaranteed namang pitbull yan.” Really?
Mixed spitz pups for 1,500 pesos
When I came back in the afternoon, the same cage was there but the puppies were different. “Iniuwi na po namin yung kanina, spitz naman po ito.” The 1,500 tag price was definitely cheaper. And this time she admitted that they were Aspins.

Not far from the cage was a smiling man holding a puppy, an obvious aspin but he said it was a spitz-mongrel mix and relatively cheap at 750 pesos. He gamely allowed me to take a photo of his ware but was disappointed when I left.
Mongrel pups in Session Road
Based on the stories I’ve heard, the puppy mill is an industry in Baguio City. Most breeders target Session Road for their marketing area. As a friend said, “Session Road wouldn’t be the same without the puppy vendors.”

It’s ironic to think that resident natives there relish dog meat as a delicacy. Dog meat used to be openly sold in the Baguio market but there’s an ordinance now which prohibits that. But there’s no ordinance against selling puppies.

In a slum area in Quezon City, an Askal and its puppy roam the sidewalk. The owner said that they sell the puppies for 500 pesos and sometimes higher. “Yung nabiling dalawa, pang-birthday na rin ng anak ko.”

In another part of Metro Manila, a caretaker of a vacant lot has more than 10 dogs. The owner feeds his wards with leftovers that he gathers from a fastfood chain. “Mamumulubi ako kung bibilhin ko ang pagkain,” he disclosed.

With free feeds, the puppy mill has become a milking cow. “Mabilis dumami. Hindi mo mabibilang ang mga tuta,” said the owner who can afford to indulge in cockfighting because of the extra income.

Extra income is mostly the reason of puppy mills. Particularly the askals, they do not need much attention but they multiply fast. “Parang nagtanim ka ng kamote, bayaan mo lang dyan at dadami namang kusa,” opined an askal owner.

A habitue of a pet forum in the internet, Ricella Zurbito is proud of her aspin. Named after the socialite, Ricella gives Paris a royal treatment. The fashionable dog sleeps in Ricella’s bedroom.
Ricella and her beloved Paris
Tisoy is another lucky dog given a royal treatment. Tisoy also sleeps in our bedroom together with Epoy, our pure pekingese. And like Paris, Tisoy is also a 3-year old Aspin.

Paris was bought by Ricella in Alabang Market 3 years ago. Paris and her sibling were put on the bargain table. Ricella forked out 700 pesos with no hesitation and then gave away the extra puppy to a friend.

Tisoy, on the other hand, was given by a friend who owns dogs for two reasons. First is to have dogs that would guard his house. Second is to have a puppy mill for extra income.

With Spitz and Pomeranian for the dominant breeds, his puppies could go as high as 2,000. His 6 dogs are loose in the backyard and they regularly mate to produce puppies. Tisoy’s parents are actually full siblings.
Tisoy and Epoy, the pekingese, during the pet blessing at Eastwood City
Paris would never follow her mother’s footsteps because she is confined inside the house and never gets out unescorted. Likewise with Tisoy, he is to remain a bachelor all his life to avoid having unwanted puppies.

But not all unwanted puppies are being sold on purpose. Hershey is an Aspin which was accidentally let out of the gate. The bitch got pregnant and gave owner Kristine Cuballes 6 puppies.

Thru friends and other connections, Kristine offered the 6 puppies for adoption. As of this writing, there were 5 deserving takers.
Kristine and her pet Hershey
In the same boat as Hershey’s, Cutie also got pregnant by accident that resulted in 4 puppies. A neighbor’s male dog was able to enter the gate in an opportune time when Cutie was in heat.

There were 2 interested buyers of Cutie’s puppies but owner Tess Perrenoud decided for adoption like what Kristine did. “Iba kasi yung kilala mo ang mag-aalaga kesa ibenta.”
Tess Perrenoud holding 2 of Cutie's puppies
It’s a good thing that there are dog owners like Ricella, Kristine and Tess who are giving us the awareness that adoption is the best solution for unwanted puppies. And if their tribes would increase, puppy mills would be a thing of the past.

HOWL-O-WEEN 2011 AT SM MARIKINA

2011-10-30T19:08:00.018+08:00

Sponsored by PDO (Philippine Dog Owners) of Rizal, Pasig, Marikina chapters, the successful dog costume contest was held in SM Marikina on October 30, 2011.
The author in a pose
The affair started in the morning but we arrived after lunch. On the stage was Francis Cleofas, a dog behaviorist, giving out tips to dog owners. One particular item we took note was “when correcting your dog, do not mention his name.”
Dog behaviorist Francis Cleofas
Noticeable was the presence of Queen Truffles, a perennial contest winner. Her last conquest was the fashion show at the BHS (Boni Hi Street in Bonifacio Global City) pet affair last October 16.
Queen Truffles beside her owner Mark Vincent Carillo of SGV. Notice the eyelashes of the Queen.
Mark Vincent Carillo, proud owner of Truffles, lives in Sampaloc. “Magastos nga kasi sa taxi pa lang eh five hundred na agad,” Mark laments but actually just wants to express his sacrifice for the sheer love of his dog.
Tisoy leads the parade of dogs followed by Epoy who is being carried
There were 12 entries to the dog costume contest. But before the judging, a parade was held around the ground floor of the mall. Owners of non-contestant dogs were so glad because their dogs were allowed to join the parade.
The parade of dogs around the area
The contestants for the costume contest are:
1. Princess, the flamboyant poodle

2. Pierre, the miniature shih tzu

3. Hachi in a bridal gown

4. Vodka, the immaculate white dog

5. Toddler, the teacup chihuahua

6. Jughead in a dunce cap

7. Coco, the black shih tzu

8. Dollar, the attention-getter shih tzu

9. Migs in a unique attire

10. Bridget in full battle regalia

11. Robbie, the grave-digger shih tzu

12. Frances, the egyptian shih tzu

The judges were Mark Vincent Carillo, Honey Tenorio, the SM assistant manager, and Milan Arriola, part of the event organizing group.
The judges... from left: Milan Arriola, Honey Tenorio, Mark Vincent Carillo
To give ample time in tabulating the scores, a photo op with the contestants took the stage. Epoy, our pekingese, seized the opportunity.
Some of the contestantsToddler and Epoy
After a long deliberation and thorough checking of the scores, the auditors came up with the 3 winners….
The contestants waiting for the verdict
1. Adjudged the cutest dog was Toddler
2. The funniest dog was Migs
3. The most creative costume winner was Bridget
Winners all: Toddler, Migs, Bridget
After a short pictorial, the awarding of prizes ended the affair. Hopefully there would be another such affair before the year ends.
The PDO registration at the background
We joined the PDO (Philippine Dog Owners) since we are bona-fide dog owners and certified dog lovers too.

WHO LET THE DOGS OUT AT BONI HI STREET

2011-10-24T10:14:00.016+08:00

Who Let The Dogs Out - 2 pm, October 22, 2011 at BHS (Boni Hi Street) in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig.
Tisoy and Epoy both excited to leave for BHS
The trickling shower made the afternoon a bit cooler although a bit wetter. At least Epoy wouldn’t suffer from the crippling heat.
Epoy in the registration booth
Like the previous week in BHS, pets started coming in an hour after the start of registration. But the early birds were treated to free copies of Animal Scene magazine.

As usual there were giveaways like treats from Value Meal, free nail clipping by Dogs in the City and free consultation courtesy of BSF (Beterinaryo Sa Fort).
Dr. Leo Guzman with his health care talk
Dr. Leo Guzman of BSF gave a talk about health care of dogs and entertained some questions from the audience. He also mentioned that the lifespan of dogs is from 12 to 18 years, i.e. according to his experience. And 10-year old dogs should be treated as geriartric pets.
Lestre Zapanta, the so-called Dog Whisperer
Lester Zapanta, our very own dog whisperer, gave tips in handling unruly dogs. He also explained why sometimes dogs feel threatened with our casual moves like excessive talking and sudden movements.
Cocoy, the biting dog, with his handler Michele
The dog bite
An unfortunate incident happened when I was bitten by Cocoy, a chihuahua, who is a spoiled pet according to owner Maribel Cortez. It’s a good thing that Cocoy has complete vaccine shots.

Charlie is a female pomeranian
Spoiled by the sad incident we decided to go home and forego with the parlor games that commenced right after the talks. There was also a pet fashion show and the affair was to culminate in the pet blessing.

It seems that BHS is getting to be a favorite venue of pet affairs. Hopefully there would be another event before Christmas.
Siberian Huskies all
A little furbaby
Look ma, 4 shoes

PET BLESSING AT BONI HI STREET

2011-10-17T15:23:00.009+08:00

We brought Epoy and Tisoy to the pet blessing at Boni Hi Street in Bonifacio Global City last Sunday, Oct. 16, 2011.
Group shot with Epoy and Tisoy
Since the sun was shining brightly, we looked for a cozy place to have lunch. And the lucky place was TGI Fridays. But we felt unlucky because the service was so bad. The waiter had to come back several times just to confirm our order. And another couple of time to inform us that the item was not available.
Another posing shot
After lunch we proceeded to Hobbes and Landes for dessert. It was a very nice toy store simply because they allow pets inside. So Epoy, our pekingese, is saved from the torturous heat of the noon time sun.
Tisoy and Epoy resting in Hobbes and Landes toy store
The registration for the affair started at 1 pm.
Tisoy sizing up the Akita
There were few registrants but by 2:30 pm, the venue was swelling with a lot of pets.
Kier Legaspi and his doberman
Kier Legaspi, the actor, was there with his trained doberman. There was also the dachshund which was dressed like a beauty queen. Some others attended in simple attire.
Posing with Kier Legaspi
By 3pm. the parade began with Epoy and Tisoy in the lead pack. It was actually a stroll around the Boni Hi Street area.
The parade starts now!
Tisoy is obviously tired already
Tired after the parade, we took a pass to the parlor games and proceeded to Brother’s Burger for a good merienda.
Having a snack at Brother's Burger
But we were monitoring the event because the pet blessing was to follow after some parlor games.
Free balloons
Some booths were giving away samples and gifts. The balloons were a hit not only to the kids but for adults as well.
Blessing by the officiating priest of Epoy and Tisoy
At around 4:30 pm, the pet blessing was held. Fortunately, Epoy and Tisoy were able to get a seat near the front. Pet blessing certificates were distributed afterwards.
Queen of Africa
It was a successful affair. Even if our dogs couldn’t speak, we feel that they enjoyed the day at Boni Hi Street.
Queen of Santacruzan

WORLD ANIMAL DAY AT AYALA TRIANGLE

2011-10-11T16:30:00.016+08:00

October 2, 2011

The 6 o’clock mass was too early but we were able to catch the start. Tisoy and Epoy looked handsome in their clothes.

Waiting for the holy mass to end
After the mass, there goes the blessing of pets. Of course, we were in the forefront. There were not much pets so we felt comfortable since the place was not crowded.

Blessing of pets
Bantay, the mascot, danced with 4 other guys so we had a short pictorial. By the way, Makati Congresswoman Monique Lagdameo spoke on the importance of pets.

Bantay the mascot
Before going the rounds of the booths, we registered with Wellness. It is for humans. We were given stubs. We didn’t know that it can also be used to avail of giveaways for pets.
Registration booth
After registering Tisoy and Epoy with the secretariat, we went to the booths. We were deluged with freebies and gifts.
Free checkup in BSF - Beterinaryo Sa Fort

In line for the giveaways

A kid and her pet

A doting grandma

Tisoy and a female shih tzu

A cat on a shoulder
In the Alpo booth, we were given 4 canisters, i.e. 1 for Epoy, 1 for Tisoy and 2 for humans. BSF (Beterinary Sa Fort) provided a free checkup for Epoy.

In line for another set of giveaways
Before going home, we had our breakfast in Banaple, an eatery inside the Ayala Triangle.
Epoy and Gucci in Ayala Triangle gardens

Birthday of TISOY and TWINKLE

2011-07-17T08:45:00.012+08:00

The celebration was very successful with the countless of guests who came to join the fun.

The food was aplenty so everyone was satiated.

There were two cakes - one for Tisoy and one for Twinkle.

The games were enjoyed by the kids.

Almost all the guests joined in the games. Syempre may prizes naman.

Aba, there were gifts.

Nice cake decor so we keep it.

We have cakes so we also have ice cream.

And there's the handsome sorbetero.
Thanks to all those who attended the party.

Birthday invite from TISOY and TWINKLE

2011-06-27T09:54:00.006+08:00

Check out the invitation below.

For those needing to get a detailed direction to our house, please post a comment here or email ajsocorro@yahoo.com. You are all invited to the party. So please note down the date.

Advanced birthday gift for Tisoy and Twinkle... from Paris Zurbito.

Belated birthday gift for Epoy... from Paris Zurbito.