SUNDAY DRIVING

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

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.