PETIZONE

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 BSH (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. Adjuged 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.
Lester 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.

EPOY – MY 8TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION

2011-06-05T20:29:00.009+08:00

It's June 4, 1011. It's a Saturday. And it's my 8th birthday.
My birthday cake
It’s really sad because I felt sick in the morning of my birthday. I vomitted 3 times so I felt very weak.
Some of my guests during the video viewing
Together with Tisoy, we were placed in the bedroom so we can rest because some people were already arriving even before lunch.
Pictorial with the food
I didn’t have lunch. I was given medicine to stop my vomitting. So I felt weaker even more. Good thing that Tisoy was with me so I could relax in the bedroom.
Eating time
At around 3 pm, Ninang got me for the birthday cake pictorial. I saw that there were many kids already. Then we went out to the terrace for the food.
Video viewing time
After a short prayer, my guests sang for me. Then they started eating. Me? I went back to the bedroom. No food for me yet.
My cake with Ninang
The menu was led by spaghetti followed by pork barbecue and fried chicken leg. There was also ice cream and other desserts. Of course, appetizers too.
Dr. Ignacio checking on me
Tisoy was out of the bedroom to savor the fun. Aside from the food, there was the palaro portion with cash as prizes.
Palaro time
It was really a fun day for the guests. It looked as if everybody was so happy…. except me, huhuhu.

For dinner, I was given rice broth with egg yolk. That’s soft diet for me.

Good thing that I began to feel better the following day.

BULILIT, THE DOG WITH MANY NAMES

2011-05-07T05:20:00.005+08:00

Is there a caregiver for sick pets?

This idea came to my mind when an officemate of my wife gave us a pure-bred pekingese. Very cute at two months old, the energetic puppy was an instant hit in our home. But before we could even think of a name for it, our newly-acquired pet exhibited a seizure. Gasping for air, the puppy’s two big round eyes were wet with tears and its face was seeking succor with the continuous spasm of its abdomen.

We really thought it was the end until, in a stroke of luck, our maid had the mind to place the fawn-colored puppy in front of a running electric fan. In a matter of seconds, the seizure subsided. With that heroism, we officially declared our maid as the adoptive mother of Bulilit.

The next day, I had the fancy of taking our lamb-looking pet for a car ride. Placed in a small basin on the car’s floor, my diminutive companion seemed to be getting the feel of the car’s movement but before we could leave our subdivision’s gate, Bulilit exhibited another seizure.

My wife called up a friend for advice. The veteran dog breeder, however, made a grim pronouncement that the seizures would be more severe as time goes on and that Bulilit is lucky if it would live for a month.

Placed inside a milk carton, my wife and I watched Bulilit sleep fitfully with the comfort of the electric fan. And that second night proved to be the turning point in the puppy’s fragile life when my wife suggested to make Bulilit our nocturnal boarder. Amid my strong refusal to the idea, I couldn’t say no because I also want the puppy’s remaining days to be comfortable at the very least. That was the night that Bulilit started to sleep inside our airconditioned bedroom. And that was also the night that I felt genuine compassion for our miniature pet (hence the change in pronoun).
Epoy at 3 months old, playing with a money tree leaf
For the convenience of Bulilit, I bought a cage on the following day. It was actually a portable pen for fighting cocks, the one with slender green bars woven like a big cyclone mesh. After encasing it with a soft nylon screen on all sides, the cage would serve as Bulilit’s crib in the days to come. Unlike a real dog kennel, our special cage is airy, spacious and light in weight. However, the last factor proved a disadvantage after a few weeks because Bulilit would carry his kennel anywhere in the house.

So as not to destabilize the emotional well-being of our 5-year old askal (*Jedi – our beloved askal was featured in the June 2008 issue of Animal Scene Magazine) my wife also had her join us in our bedroom at night. We were conscious of the divided attention and we also feared for the askal’s jealousy.

As protection for droppings, old newspaper served as flooring of the special cage. And small as he was, Bulilit was so smart as to learn good toilet manners in just two days. The vibrant puppy would bark or would become ambivalent whenever nature calls. But the old newspapers remained for a time as part of the acclimatization period.

Before the first week was over, I was awakened at midnight to the sound of shuffling papers. Still drowsy, I thought someone was reading the newspaper. It didn’t occur to me that I was about to witness an inconceivable scene. Jedi was near the cage, staring intently at the two pieces of torn newspaper while Bulilit was in the act of tearing a third one. Successfully producing another cigar-like piece of paper, Bulilit carefully inserted it under his cage as if offering it to Jedi. Little did we know that there was already a bonding between the two.

Due to the regular seizures, which we thought was epilepsy, Bulilit was officially renamed Epi. But it didn’t take long for Epi to become Epoy. And Epoy’s adoptive mother suddenly realized that the seizures only manifested at around noon time when the summer heat was most terrible. And so it was the heat that was causing the seizures. Our amateur prognosis was professionally confirmed by our vet. As a bonus, the vet said that the puppy will outgrow the seizures in no time at all.

Epoy was so endeared to us such that he had elicited so many pet names. His adoptive mother calls him Yoyoy, sometimes Yoyong or Yongyong, at other times Yoyok or Epyok or even Poyok or Poyong. My wife calls him Poypoy or Popoy. The kids still call him Bulilit but sometimes Pyong-pyong or Prum-prum. It seems that I’m the only one who calls him Epoy because even our vet calls him Empoy.
Epoy with Jedi, at center is Ninang
Aside from the seizures, another fear factor was that our askal may hurt the pekingese by accident (Jedi hadn’t shown any offensive stance though). We took great care in putting a demarcation line to separate the two dogs.

But one time we were surprised to see Jedi and Epoy both sitting by the doorstep like bosom buddies enjoying the fresh air while watching the street for passersby. We really didn’t know how that scenario came to be until Epoy made another daring escape in front of our disbelieving eyes. The intelligent puppy pushed the lightweight kennel near the step to the kitchen and after seeing a gap on the floor, Epoy slithered his body down on the kitchen floor then ran back up the living room to join his hesitant playmate. That was the time we attached soap containers to Epoy’s portable kennel in order to restrict the movement somehow.

Understanding that Epoy is a lapdog, we always bear in mind that unlike Jedi, who is an askal, Epoy couldn’t use a collar. And his only place, aside from the parquet of the bedroom, was the clean concrete or anybody’s lap unless otherwise he was answering the call of nature. And he may be the only dog who gets a washing after urinating or defecating. Talk of motherly love.

And it came to pass that Epoy had shed off whatever it is that was bothering him. We now clearly understand that sheer excitement or stress coupled with unbearable heat could cause the seizure. In his regular car rides, Epoy would take the front seat beside me with the aircon vents directed at him. And if my wife was with us, Epoy would be on her lap. Of course, he had ceased using his kennel after his first birthday.

Before Epoy’s 5th birthday last June, sad news greeted us on the driveway. There was a trace of fresh blood in his urine. The high creatinine in the lab test results pointed to kidney problems. And making matters worse, there was our dog breeder friend again with his grim prognosis that Epoy would not last a month.
Epoy on his 5th birthday celebration
Fortunately, the doomsayer was wrong again. Epoy’s condition turned for the better with the prescription diet. The vet admonished that table food is too salty for dogs. And as a complement to the salt-less diet, we are giving Epoy a daily dose of banaba and sambong tea to facilitate better circulation of fluid in the kidney. After just a week of intensive nursing, Epoy was back to his ebullient self.

A real smart dog, Epoy knows if I was off to the office because he would just give me a cold stare. But if I was just on an errand, he would run after me on my way to the garage. We surmised that Epoy could discern what type of clothes I am wearing. And, yes, he is addicted to car rides.

Even with my inborn lethargy in mornings, I don’t mind giving Epoy a regular back scratching when he wakes me up. His soft barks in the early hours serve as the adrenaline for me and my wife. The little dog with a big role in our life, that’s Bulilit.

PET JOKES 2

2011-04-28T09:01:00.008+08:00

Mga Q/A ng Kahayupan

Q: What do you get if you cross a Pit Bull and a Shit Tzu?
A: Bull Shit.

Q: What is the national anthem of animals?
A: Panatang Makabayo.

Q: What do you call a horse with acne?
A: Tigidig.
Tisoy, Epoy and Twinkle in the living room
Q: Kung meron tayong marines, swat at commando, ano meron ang mga hayop?
A: Commandogs.

Sign on the gate: Mag-ingat sa pusa… nangungurot.
Sign on our gate: Mag-ingat sa aso… umuutot.

Q: Ano raw ang pinakamabilis ng hayop sa Pilipinas?
A: Philippine Rabbit…. yung bus, ha?

Q: Anong isda ang madaldal?
A: Talakitalk.
Q: Anong isda ang laging sapul ng bato?
A: Talakitoink.
Krystle Cando and Krissy
Q: Anong isda ang laging late sa appointment?
A: Maya-maya.

There are 2 fish talking. The first one said, “How did you get in here? The second one replied, “The same way you did.” The first one asked, “So how do you get out?” There was no answer. That’s the way sardines talk inside the can.

Q: Anong isda ang aphrodisiac?
A: Ano pa eh di yung pampaano.
Veronica Tom with Angela the pug
Q: Kung sa horsepital dadalhin ang may sakit na kabayo
At sa Dogtor ipapagamot ang may sakit na aso,
Ano ang ipapahid kapag may sakit ang baboy?
A: Oinkment.

Q: Ano sa Tagalog ang Beauty?
A: Alindog.
Q: Ano sa Tagalog kapag hindi makita ang Beauty?
A: Aling dog.

Q: Ano ang paboritong summer drink ng mga kambing?
A: Gulaman at sagoat.
In the hot spring pool
Q: If a small dog in Tagalog is Kapiraso,
And a small piglet is Pigliit,
What do you call a small goat?
A: Kapiranggoat.

Q: Kung nakatungo ang biik dahil nahihiya siyang baboy ang ina niya,
Bakit nakatungo ang tuta?
A: Nahihiya rin siya kasi ang ina niya nakikipagtalik sa kalye.

Q: How do you call in Tagalog a small elephant?
A: Elepandak.
Q: Where do elephants do for their iron shoes?
A: Elepanday.
Q: What do you call an elephant who look like you?
A: Elepangit.
Strolling in the Mall of Asia
Q: What do you call a carabao if she is the 2nd wife?
A: Kalaguya.

Q: What is the Tagalog for grasshopper?
A: Tipaklong.
Q: What is the Tagalog for small grasshopper?
A: Tipakshort.
Q: What do you call the person who wrote this?
A: May tipyak sa ulo.Twinkle pecks Epoy

MALLING AT EASTWOOD

2011-04-18T18:18:00.012+08:00

Eastwood is located in Libis, Quezon City, Philippines. It is a nice place for pets simply because it’s pet-friendly.
Ninang and Epoy relaxing on the 3rd floor of the mall
Tisoy and Unica Navarro
Epoy and Tisoy really enjoy going to Eastwood because of the cool airconditioned mall. Aside from being very clean, the mall looks elegant with their décor.
Tisoy and Epoy enjoying the mall

But the best thing about Eastwood is the presence of many pets particularly dogs. It’s so nice for our dogs to socialize once in a while.
Epoy with his fans
Epoy enjoys the pictorials requested by some of his newfound fans. So he is like a celebrity because pekingese is a somewhat rare breed now unlike shih tzu and chihuahua.
Epoy holding a big Easter egg
Tisoy, on the other hand, ignores people and dogs as well. But in truth, he may just be scared of other dogs, hahaha.
Taking a drink
We just had to bring drinking water for them but no food because we prefer to feed them at home. Tisoy and Epoy don’t eat in the mall anyway since their excitement deadens their appetite.
Relaxing under the table
Snacking at Momo resto
But for humans, we eat at Momo, a resto inside the mall. While eating, Epoy and Tisoy could take a rest and relax a bit.
Tisoy and the mime
Eastwood, definitely, is a place for pet lovers!

HOT SPRING AGAIN

2011-04-11T10:45:00.006+08:00

By Epoy

It’s my turn to tell the story. We came back to the hot spring pool last Saturday, April 9, 2011. The weather was not as sunny like the last week but the water, as expected, was tepid.
Ninong with the dogs
The kids enjoyed the warm water despite the occasional gusty wind. There were lots of food. By the way, Tisoy did not eat breakfast. Maybe due to over excitement.
Ninang with the dogs
It was a blessing that Tisoy and I were allowed to roam by the poolside. I was trying to look at the water but everytime I do that, Ninang would yell to stop me. I might fall down on the water, she said.
Kids with the dogs
Tisoy had wanted to try to slide but he was reprimanded with his attempt. We were thinking of wallowing in the kid’s pool since no one was there.
Epoy on the raft
One of the kids brought along a toy raft. Lo and behold, Ninang put me on top of the raft. I felt like I was on sailboat. It was pretty cool, I tell you. Nice raft. I’m sure Tisoy was so envious, hahaha.
lunch time
As usual, I had dog food for lunch and Tisoy was given pork sinigang. It was appetizing to eat since we felt a little cold.

After lunch, we were dried with the towel and off we went to one of the rooms. Since it was an airconed room, it was nice to sleep. However, Tisoy kept on barking once in a while to no avail. Ninang wanted us to sleep.
Tisoy ready to go home
Epoy ready to go home
At the day’s end, after paying 4,000 pesos to the resort’s caretaker, we left Pansol at exactly 5:30 pm. We reached the expressway after 1 hour of heavy traffic in the small roads of Calamba, Rizal. So nice to be on the raft

That’s all folks. Ninong wouldn’t want to come back anymore because of that monstrous traffic.

HOT SPRING POOL

2011-04-04T17:55:00.006+08:00

By Tisoy

We left our house at exactly 5:30 in the morning of Saturday. But we had to pass by the market to picku up the ordered barbecue and also prawns.

Entering the SLEX (South Luzon Expressway), the traffic was horrendous. Grabe talaga. After 30 minutes of snail-paced movement, we saw the culprit – parked in the fast lane of the expressway were 2 trucks.

Our driver was already hungry so we spent another 30 minutes in Jollibee just to buy breakfast because there were so many customers. After eating in the car we proceeded to Laguna.

The toll gate was grabe again because it couldn’t accommodate the vehicles. The long line to the toll gate stretched back to 2 kilometers. That’s right, the line to the cashier was 2 kilometers long.
the expansive living room of the resort
Finally we reached Pansol, Laguna after more than 2 hours of travel. I was already hungry but my excitement was my priority.

We arrived at the private swimming pool at exactly 8:30. Wow, nice place, nice pool, nice room with aircon and clean beds. I hastily made weewee on the kitchen floor while Epoy did his thing on the mat.
that's our bedroom door
The blue water of the pool was inviting but I was not allowed to take a dip. You see, the pool is only for humans.
real nice swimming pool with warm water
Nevertheless, Epoy and I enjoyed the bonding with the humans. I forgot to say that it was also our lola's birthday.

DOGGIE RUN at MOA

2011-03-29T16:29:00.011+08:00

Sponsored by Pet Express, the Doggie Run commenced at the Mall of Asia grounds on a clear Saturday morning of March 26, 2011.

We arrived at around 5:45 am and the entries were already in the assembly area. For 300 pesos, the registration included a bib for the dog and a nice yellow t-shirt for the owner plus a carrying bag.
our ringside seat
How we loved to have joined. But Epoy, our cute pekingese, couldn’t run with his small feet. And Tisoy, our daring spitz, would only invite injury. You see, Tisoy has malformed forefeet and hind feet as well.
savoring the early morning sea breeze
We first proceeded to the seaside to park our car and also to check if lola was already there. Nope, they were not around yet so we went back to the road so we could watch the doggie runners.
a pug in admiration

a tired shih tzu
And there they goooo! Yellow objects were moving from afar and towards our direction. We positioned ourselves in the island but later on decided to sit on the curb for a more comfortable position.
small dogs
Big dogs, small dogs, shaggy dogs, so many dogs. Some entries were panting and salivating while some others were carried by their owners, not in surrender but just a gesture of sportsmanship.
big dogs
more big dogs
There were 2 routes, a longer one for the real runners and a shorter route for the pseudo runners. We tried our best to capture most of the entries with our camera.
tired dog
There were more than 500 runners. And when the runners were dwindling, that’s when we remembered our date. Who’s our date? Ehra - our online friend from Bulacan.
big dog and big owner
We gave Ehra our description – a white dog and a small brown dog beside a wheelchair of our lola. That’s easy to spot. But with Ehra, the only identifier was the brown coat of a mixed poodle. Note: Ehra said that she saw us even without the wheelchair.
Tisoy being chased by a fan

After the race, we went to the seaside and met lola in her wheelchair. There we had breakfast and a short stroll, waiting for Ehra. But we didn't see her at all. Maybe she was tired?
Indeed, that's Ehra, the friendly dog from Bulacan

Our camera spotted a small brown dog with entry number 203 walking by the playground of the seaside area. Hmm, maybe she was Ehra. She walked too fast so she didn't hear our call.

With so much dogs to see, that was a fairly nice morning for us.

READY, GET PET, GO!!!

2011-03-21T16:27:00.011+08:00

Note: As related by Epoy, the pekingese.

People are surprised whenever they learn that Tisoy and I are car riders. Their usual question is regarding the call of nature as if we don’t have toilet training.

Much more surprising, maybe, if they get to know that we have travelled far and wide. We regularly go to the Mall of Asia on weekend mornings and I’ve been to the hot springs of Los Baños, to Tagaytay and even to faraway Baguio.

Our first trip to the Mountain Province last year was a milestone of sorts because it was a 7-hour trip. But the itinerary was well planned so we didn’t encounter any problem especially about our feeding and nature calls.

Early this year, we again went to Baguio with our Ninang, Ninong, and Mommy. Only Twinkle was left in the house because she couldn’t stand the ride. Besides, pigeons don’t really travel by car, you know.

Together with our cousin’s family who owns the van that we used, we left for Baguio before dawn. Along the way, I had a good sleep on Ninang’s lap while Tisoy, who was placed on the van’s floor, was wide awake all the time.
Feeding the fishes at the ISDAAN resto

Midway in the trip, we stopped by Tarlac in time for breakfast. The vast parking lot of Isdaan Restaurant provided for our physical needs.

Since I am on a prescription diet, only Tisoy was allowed to sample the food served in that fancy restaurant. But I enjoyed the sights though especially the fishes in the man-made pond.

Back in the van, I was on Mommy’s lap this time and Tisoy was beside Ninang. That’s so Tisoy would feel safer when we reach the zigzag road.

Another precaution taken before the climb was the stopover in La Union. While the van was gassing up, Tisoy and I relieved ourselves in the small garden of the gas station.

As we ascended the start of the zigzag in Kennon Road, something exploded and everyone felt suffocated. Good thing that the van had a sun roof that could be opened to refresh the polluted air inside the van.

The explosion was repeated for the second time and for the third time. If there is a King of Hearts, Tisoy is truly the King of Farts.
Seating arrangement in the van
At the Kilometer 15 post, the van suddenly puttered then petered out. Good thing that Uncle Doc, who was driving, was able to properly park the van by the roadside.

Baguio air is cool in the morning but it was nearing noontime so it was getting warmer. And for a pekingese like me, my thick coat couldn’t stand room temperature. I need an airconditioner or else…

With haste, Ninang carried me and motioned to my mommy to carry Tisoy. We had no choice but to leave the van to the car of Ninong and Doc and Tita Meanne.

Together with the kids, we boarded the first bus that came along. We were fortunate that the bus conductor initially thought that we were babies wrapped in blankets.

It was a natural reaction for the passengers to look at us. Good thing that Tisoy didn’t bark at the passengers. Another good thing was that Tisoy had controlled his tear gas bomb. As for me, of course, I am used to being adored by strangers.

Upon reaching the bus terminal, we immediately hailed a cab. Unlike in Manila, Baguio taxi drivers are accommodating and polite, giving me a feeling that they liked dogs.

In the vacation house, we were free to roam the expanse of the living room. Since it was our second time there, I already knew the refreshing feeling of the cool wooden floor. However, the cold nights made me shiver because Baguio is coldest in January.

Last year we enjoyed the parks but this year we couldn’t stroll anymore. There is an ordinance prohibiting pets in Baguio parks. With restaurants, we are used to having our meal in the parking area.

And since the van was not repaired on time, we had to charter a vehicle. The 6,500 pesos we paid for the rented van was not really expensive considering the smooth ride home.

When travelling, pets should have clothes for cold weather, mat and blanket for sleeping, enough food and other paraphernalia. And after passing the test for motion sickness then be ready, get pet, and go!

TALES FROM HEAD TO TAILS

2011-03-15T09:28:00.005+08:00

Bad news: Blood pressure reading - 190 over 130. Medication required, restricted diet, diversion advised.

Stress is the number one enemy of my ailment. And since I was prescribed to indulge in entertainment so I regularly watch, not the tv and not a movie either but a live show.

Showing everyday in our home is Tales From Heads To Tails, a collection of real life skits. The continuing series features Epoy, our short-legged pekingese, Tisoy, our white spitz/pomeranian and for the cameo role is Twinkle, our mischievous rock pigeon.

First showing is 4:30 am. The setting is our bedroom. Tisoy, who sleeps on my husband’s side of the bed, whines to wake us up. Understandably, my husband reciprocates with a curt reprimand. Stymied but not defeated, Tisoy goes to my side of the bed where Epoy is sleeping. Tisoy nudges Epoy. In a few moments, Epoy stands, looks around then barks. I don’t have the guts to argue with Epoy so I rise to let Tisoy out. (Read related article Do Not Eat Salt, It’s A Sin, January 2009 issue of Animal Scene).

Meanwhile, Epoy moves to the other side to catch the attention of my husband. Our fawn-colored pet barks then struts with matching acrobatic moves, a clear indication that he wants a back scratch. With compassion winning over sleepiness, my husband stretches his arm to scratch Epoy.

Breakfast time. The setting is our living room. The dogs exhibit their manners because they just wait until the humans were finished. But before that awaited feeding time, here comes Twinkle like a kamikaze plane landing on the dining table. She sizes up our mood and if we don’t drive her away, she gets bolder by pecking on the crumbs on the table. After finishing the crumbs, Twinkle soars, glides then lands on the back of my chair. That’s our pigeon’s way of asking for more crumbs.

But in times when she was driven away from the dining table, Twinkle perches on the nearest electric fan and waits like a lurking vulture. And if you think she is that submissive, think again when she exacts her revenge at night.

Daytime. The setting is our terrace. The dogs have a rawhide bone each. Tisoy is gnawing on his while Epoy just looks on. Obviously, Epoy has difficulty in chewing the sturdy rawhide bone. After successfully disassembling the rawhide bone in two, Tisoy pushes the smaller piece to Epoy.

When the rawhide bone loses it’s flavor, Tisoy goes for the whole piece that belonged to Epoy while Epoy looks for a place to nap. But the scene is not over yet until the pigeon comes along. She glides and goes straight for the small piece of rawhide bone left by Epoy. Expect to find it beside Twinkle’s nest.

The edible rawhide bone is really a treat to our pets. But anything that’s excessive is not good so we set a limit of one piece (each for Epoy and Tisoy) each day. And when Tisoy would insist, he would get a reprimand in return. And in times like that, Tisoy would wait for a chance to any of our slipper. And he would only give it back in lieu of the coveted rawhide bone.

Primetime. Coming home from work and going upstairs, I hear the welcoming coo of Twinkle who regularly stays in her nest located beside our bedroom door. But if I had shooed away from the breakfast table that morning, it’s sure as daylight that she would chase me and peck on my feet.

Mealtime. Tisoy sheds off his manners whenever our dinner is his favorite. He nudges my leg with his snout. And if ignored, he taps my leg with his paw several times or until I give in. Almost always, Tisoy’s dramatic prowess earns him morsels.

Bedtime. The setting is our bedroom where the dogs retire. In times when my husband is so tired, he falls asleep, causing the newspaper he was reading to fall on the floor. Tisoy slowly looks around to assess the situation. And if he realizes that we humans were already asleep, he quietly picks up the reading material and quietly tears the pages into small but elongated pieces. And after getting the longest piece, he moves to my side and drops it like an offering in front of Epoy.

In the car. In going to the market, the dogs are left inside the car together with my husband. When the sun is up and the weather gets warmer, Epoy gives my husband a sharp stare, a hint to turn on the aircon. And if Epoy is ignored, Epoy gasps as if he couldn’t breath. Expectedly, our award-winning actor always gets his wish.

Inside the moving car. Always in the front passenger seat, Epoy falls asleep in savoring the cool air of the car aircon while Tisoy is seated at the back, looking at the window. Sometimes the scent of the car’s air freshener is deadened by tear gas-like emission from Tisoy’s behind. Talk of a farting dog. And it’s unbelievable that Epoy wakes up and sneezes several times.

Bath time. Upon hearing the magic word, Epoy runs with glee while Tisoy slyly moves to hide under the table or under the sofa. There are times that Twinkle joins the bathing session. Like our dogs, Twinkle has her own bathing basin and towel. And unlike the dogs, she doesn’t use soap.

Watching Tales From The Heads To Tails is exhilarating, relaxing and therapeutic. That may be the main reason why my blood pressure is maintained at the normal level.

BEWARE of SALT

2009-04-02T20:57:00.007+08:00

This article was first published in Animal Scene, January 2009
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
By Ninong Alex

Life is not a bed of roses for a pekingese like me. Born from a family of dog show champions, I was expected to be another winner. My father is Green Jade’s Dream Maker and my mother is Beijing Of Classic Touch. But as fate would have it, I had a congenital sickness characterized by shortness of breath so Raffy Yap, my breeder, gave me away as a gift.

I was named Epoy by my adopted family who showered me with love and attention. Even their askal (a mixed native breed) who, at first, seemed a bit jealous was later on very protective of me. In a few weeks time, I had developed great bonding with my Ate Jedi (featured in Animal Scene, June 2008).
Epoy and Ate Jedi
The first thing I noticed in my new home was the food. I was used to eating so fast because, you see, my two siblings and I eat in a single plate. In my new home, I have the food all for myself. My adopted mom, however, taught me the art of eating leisurely.

And speaking of food, Ate Jedi was being served table food which looked and smelled so delicious. And I was proved correct on this theory when my mom started giving me table food when I was months old.

Not to brag, I think my home is the best I could get. I sleep in the master’s bedroom to savor the cool air of the airconditioner. I get a car ride regularly. Aside from everyday grooming, I go to the salon every weekend. And the best thing is this - I eat what my masters eat.
With a new shirt
Actually, my mom is choosy when it comes to feeding us. We get the best part of the chicken, fish or meat. You see, no bones of any kind, no scales and no fatty part for us dogs. And in times when I’m not in the mood to eat, my mom would hand-feed me. We were also pampered with sweets like ice cream and chocolates. But the vet called my mom’s attention because chocolates make dogs hyper and edgy. Sweets can cause diabetes.

I understand that God made vets to spoil the good life of dogs like me. That’s why I bark at him whenever he comes around. But in fairness to me, I don’t really bite. But Ate Jedi would be fitted with a muzzle so she wouldn’t harm our mortal enemy.

In May of 2007, when I was to turn 4 years old, Ate Jedi got sick. Her tummy was getting bigger and she was getting weaker. Our mortal enemy, who was in our house almost everyday, said that Ate Jedi was already 10 years old so surgery is not an option.

In a week’s time, our mortal enemy put Ate Jedi to sleep. Ironically, I couldn’t sleep for two nights because I couldn’t come to terms why Ate Jedi was not around anymore.

After a few months, another boarder came along. They named the puppy Tisoy for its white coat. Unlike in my case, there was no jealousy because I had learned how to share. However, this Tisoy is kind of abusive when it comes to toys. But that’s another story.

After Tisoy’s first Christmas with us, my Ninang noticed something in my urine. My entire family was very alarmed when our mortal enemy came by and confirmed that it was indeed blood. After getting a blood analysis, the prognosis was not good – my creatinine is so high above normal. You know, that creatinine thing was also the culprit to Ate Jedi’s sufferings.

Immediately, I was weaned from table food and as per the inhuman decree of our mortal enemy, I should be fed only prescription diet. I was dismayed at first but, come to think of it, the taste of dog food is not bad at all. Besides, prescription diet will save my life.
5th birthday June 2008
With Tisoy and birthday guests
With the antibiotic to stop the UTI (urinary tract infection as a by-product of stone build-up) plus the daily dosage of sambong tea to hasten the cleaning of my kidney, I passed the latest exam with flying colors. But table food is now taboo because, as Dr. Ignacio put it, people’s food has too much salt. In fact, my Ninang had kidney stones, not just once but she had undergone lithotripsy twice already!

So you see, we should beware of salt because it’s really a sin.

FIGURE OF SPITZ

2009-03-02T16:21:00.009+08:00

This article was first published in Animal Scene, December 2008
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By Ninong Alex

It was a rainy night when the one-month old puppy arrived. With its milky white coat, it’s only logical to name him Tisoy. And perhaps to end our mourning for the passing away of Jedi (featured in Animal Scene Magazine June 2008 issue), our new pet immediately showed its affection by constantly licking my wife’s fingers.
Tisoy in his original home
Brought in a milk carton, the small bundle of joy was obviously bundled with ticks and fleas. We didn’t have the heart to wait until morning to cleanse Tisoy, i.e. to rid him of parasitic pests because allowing the parasites to stay overnight may contaminate Epoy, our thick-haired pekingese. Armed with a tweezer, my wife and our maid worked alternately on the puppy until way past midnight. The cup of greenish dishwashing soap looked like kiwi fruit because it was dotted with what appeared to be dark spots but which were actually ticks of various shapes and sizes.

On his first morning with us, we noticed that there was something unique in Tisoy’s face - a very slight hue of brown on his forehead that formed the shape of a heart. And in the middle of the heart shape was a dark dot as big as a ten-centavo coin. The combination of the heart and the dot gave Tisoy a semblance of a Hindu royalty.

Tisoy’s continual scratching persisted for a few days until the sun shone when he had a taste of his first bath. Aside from being afraid of water, we found out that the dark dot on Tisoy’s forehead was not really a symbol of blue blood but actually a nest of fleas! We also discovered that his eyelids were lined up with micro-minute ticks! And so we were back to the tweezer chore with a magnifying glass this time.

The mischievous puppy exhibited a liking for slippers, rags and hemlines. And due to Tisoy’s over-dynamism we had to tie him on a leash. Made of cloth, the leash appealed to Tisoy’s taste buds so we temporarily changed it to a slim steel chain. In fairness to our little pet, Tisoy had learned toilet manners in a matter of two days.
First Christmas of Tisoy with Epoy and Twinkle
Small as he was, no one would expect that Tisoy has a deep liking for the camera. He would pose upon seeing the camera and when he doesn’t see the anticipated flash, he would hound the person holding the camera. His antics would clearly be seen in videos taken when he was still a puppy.

After the usual vaccinations like deworming and anti-rabies, Tisoy grew up to be an overly playful dog. And since he was bigger than Epoy, it appeared that Tisoy was bullying the small pekingese. For this reason, Tisoy remains in a leash and he would be set free only when someone is around to look after him.

And as a way of introducing our new pet to our circle of friends and relatives, we held a pre-new year party in Tisoy’s honor. After the successful party, when we were all exhausted and ready to retire, Tisoy vomitted without warning. And even before we could clean up the mess, the energetic puppy barked with a matching gesture of wanting to go out of the house. Our maid brought Tisoy to the garden to satisfy the call of nature.

“May bulate po,” our maid declared with fear because she had just heard the story, told by one of our guests, about a dog that died of heartworm. Despite having undergone deworming twice - when Tisoy was 3 months old and another a month after - it seemed that Tisoy was harboring a sturdy breed of parasitic worms.

And before Tisoy could settle on his assigned corner of the house, he again vomitted. After a succession of vomitting and defecating, I held the puppy in my hand. That’s when I learned that Tisoy has a very slim lower torso and a somewhat swollen ribcage. I thought to myself that the sickness may be inborn because Tisoy is a mix of spitz and pomeranian, actually a progeny of inbreeding - the product of a sister and a brother.First birthday celebration
My wife got worried because it was obvious that our energetic puppy was already on lowbatt. After calling up the vet for an emergency appointment in the dead of the night, we immediately set out for the clinic.

Although not normal but not really alarming, parasitism is a disease that may interfere with the digestive system and at times may cause malnutrition or excessive loss of weight. So I pointed out to the vet the unnatural body contours of Tisoy. At first, Dr. Ignacio was smiling and then his face showed wonderment. Indeed, Tisoy’s big ribcage is unproportionate to his behind. But after a thorough examination, the vet declared that there’s nothing wrong and it was just similar to pigeon-breasted kids. My wife threw me a glance because she knew that I was also pigeon-breasted when I was young.

After administering the medications for the worm and vomitting, Tisoy began recharging his batteries by taking a nap in the car. Back at home, it was noticeable that Tisoy had lost his usual pep and agility. And on the next day, it was already new year’s eve, he didn’t mind the sound of firecrackers in the neighborhood. Definitely, something’s wrong with Tisoy.

The mystery was uncovered when our maid reminded us that our house was immaculately clean, meaning there was nothing for the puppy to chew on, not even newspaper. Even the curtain bottoms were tied with rubber bands. And just to test the waters, I threw one of my slippers near Tisoy. But the once playful dog didn’t budge so I called an emergency meeting. But before we could start analyzing the problem, Tisoy was already chewing on my slipper. However, he stopped when he saw that we were watching. Our maid pronounced that Tisoy was not a puppy anymore because he’s already aware of ethics.In Camp John Hay, Baguio
On New Year’s Day, our superdog was back in his old playful self. Unlike Epoy who hates New Year celebrations, Tisoy didn’t show any intimidation of the flaring fireworks and the deafening firecrackers.

On Tisoy’s first birthday, he had finally said goodbye to his leash. His favorite spot in the morning is the terrace where he could spy on the people in the street. Pity the newsboy and the messengers for they are pestered with Tisoy’s relentless barking. Tisoy’s unpredictable ferocity, according to the Buddy Palad, the original owner, may be due to his Spitz bloodline because Pomeranians are usually tame.

And in times that we see Tisoy walking like a sexy woman, we just shake our head and banish the though that Tisoy may be a gay dog. For sure, it’s just the figure of Spitz.

A PIGEON STORY

2009-01-23T20:53:00.009+08:00

This article was first published in Animal Scene, April 2008
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By Ninong Alex

It was the day before Christmas. As I was about to check on Tisoy, our six-month old spitz, and Epoy, a pure pekingese, both wallowing in the terrace, I espied a gray object moving on the driveway. From the corner of my eye, I took congnizance of our unexpected guest – a pigeon - unexpected maybe but not unwelcome.

I beckoned to my wife who was coincidentally coming out of the kitchen. Hurriedly, she took a front seat view. And as if to delight the master and the mistress of the house, the unexpected guest came pecking on the screened iron grill gate of the terrace. I ignored my wife’s look of succor for so many reasons. First, it will mess the house with its droppings. Second, it may ruin the decoration particularly the Christmas tree. Third, we honestly don’t know anything about pigeons. With a smirk, my wife went for the terrace gate as if to tell me that I was jumping to conclusions. Yes and no. Yes because all those 3 reasons are true. No because I was afraid that the pigeon may stay and be endeared to us and another heartache when it leaves. It had been 7 months since Jedi, our beloved askal, passed away but we still couldn’t reconcile with the loss. So, another undue attachment is unwelcome.
Twinkle at feeding time
Before my wife could open the terrace’s steel gate, the pigeon had already moved away. That’s when we noticed that our maid was now sweeping the fallen leaves on the front yard and that the pigeon was following her wherever she went. The pigeon was evidently a fledgling (I declared this after consulting the internet) because it was walking to and fro, seeming that it couldn’t fly yet. And I assumed that fledglings are normally tame since there was nary a protest when our maid scooped it with her hand.

Upon close examination, I saw the pigeon’s full crop of plumage, gray with rainbow colors in the neck. It looked so young and frail and probably hungry because it gobbled up the grains of rice that our maid scattered on the ground. And before any bonding starts, I decided to give it a free ride on the December breeze. It flexed its wings but daintily landed on my feet. And after an applause by my wife and our maid, I shook my head and headed for the kitchen to mind the food for the Noche Buena.

My vocal cords got an early Christmas morning exercise with a scream upon seeing the messy car’s roof. And the pigeon, which was roosted on the garage cabinet, glided down and quickly walked to my feet as if to console me or maybe to admit its fault. And thinking to myself that the bird seemed to have a mind of its own, I gazed at the driveway and the front yard in it’s entirety. The only way in (our territory) is by flying over the gate. And so as not to spoil my Christmas with speculative thinking , I just asked our maid to clean the car. I was positive that our guest would be gone before we knew it.

Twinkle. Our maid had christened the pigeon. I drew out a sneer to indicate that it would be embarrassing if that pigeon turned out to be a male. And by the way, why was it still here? It was already two days after Christmas. With the mystery getting deeper, I disturbed some friends to inquire if homing pigeons just home in on any home. I got 3 negative answers and 1 undecided. But unanimous was their opinion that if the pigeon had indeed stayed overnight with us then it might stay. However, the professional opinion was that pigeons live by pairs and that a pigeon may not survive the loneliness of living alone.

On the next day, I succumbed to the request of my wife and our maid. The neighborhood carpenter was summoned to build a home for Twinkle. But the carpenter misunderstood the instructions. He had constructed not a roosting bay but a cage. We cannot afford to have Twinkle in a cage. How could she if she decides to leave? So Twinkle was back in the garage with her early morning droppings on our car.
Twinkle's egg and feathers
On the year’s last Saturday morning while cleaning the driveway with water, Twinkle again glided down from her perch to join me. And it was anticipating the pouring water from my pail. It was actually taking a bath! Having caught my fancy, I asked my wife to get the camera and take pictures and videos of the bathing pigeon. And having bathed, she was given permission to enter not just the terrace but also the house. We were all amazed because Twinkle never used her wings as she walked straight to the dining room then to the kitchen before checking the expanse of the living room and finally going upstairs by hopping. I would like to believe my wife’s and our maid’s idea that Twinkle is the reincarnation of Jedi, our faithful dog who was with us for 10 years.

On New Year’s day, we brought Epoy and Tisoy for a stroll in Tagaytay’s cool weather. We came home after dusk only to find that Twinkle was gone. After looking around, our maid started to cry. And before I could say a word, we heard that familiar cooing sound. Like a child hiding, Twinkle was in the garage cabinet behind the curtain. That’s the time it dawned on me that Tisoy and Epoy had a foster sister now. Also, that gave me the impetus to uncover the mystery.

Since Twinkle couldn’t fly higher than 5 feet, there’s no other way she could have entered our yard except if someone had dropped her by the fence. And who would do that? And why was that pigeon so tame and acting like a dog who wanted to be with people all the time?

And it came to pass that Twinkle had earned a season pass in our house. Her droppings, however, were confined to the backrest of the sofa and the chair. Roosting in the garage at night, Twinkle’s first station in the morning was the terrace, usually under the divan which happens to be Epoy’s favorite hideaway. And if she got tired hiding, she would knock on the screen of our main door by flying vertically not unlike spiderman walking up the building. When she was not let in, she would run (not fly) to the backyard to knock either on the screen of the window or the screen door. And once inside the house, she would play with Tisoy’s drinking plate for a moment before going up to stay on the second floor landing which was Jedi’s favorite resting place. Her diet consisted of concentrate grains with a dash of uncooked rice plus a grated leaf of lettuce. She also loved biscuits and pandesal crumbs.Twinkle carried by Ninong
As January ended, Twinkle had established her routine and even our dogs have been enamored by her closeness. Little by little, she had learned good aviation practices by flying to the ledge of our bedroom window and to the roof a week after. But she only flexed her wings when there was an audience.

The mystery further deepened when our maid was proved right in guessing the pigeon’s gender. Two days before Valentine, Twinkle had laid her first egg! Another round of research was in order. And my research proved right when Twinkle laid another egg after 44 hours. It takes 17 to 18 days of incubation for the egg to hatch and a male is required. In the first place, there was no male pigeon to speak of although my research tells that it was not that unusual for virgin pigeons to lay eggs.

Before the week was over, a neighbor called up to inquire about our pigeon. They had several pigeons but misfortune befell the coop and only 3 were left so they set it free. But it didn’t take long when the 2 pigeons died and the one left flew away. So common sense tells us that Twinkle was the survivor. But the neighbor denied Twinkle’s identity so we were back to square one.

And so Twinkle had converted the resting place into a nesting place. During the incubation period, the young mother would take 15-minute breaks, about 6 times a day. What’s funny was whenever there were people around, Twinkle would stand on the top of the stairs and coo loudly as if to summon us so she would be taken by hand to the terrace or outside of the house to empty her gizzard and to feed. If there were no attendants, Twinkle would just use the sofa’s backrest for a toilet and go back to her nest without eating.

Five days after the end of the incubation period, Twinkle had finally come to terms that her eggs wouldn’t hatch. But despite the failure, it is apparent that Twinkle is happy to rejoin her foster dog brothers and human family most of the daytime hours.

PET JOKES

2009-01-15T21:59:00.007+08:00

Original concoctions of Ninong... orig daw?

Q: Saan dinadala ang kabayo pag may sakit?
A: Sa horsepital
Q: Eh sino naman ang gumagamot sa aso pag may sakit?
A: Eh di ang DOGTOR
Breakfast time with Mommy, Twinkle, Tisoy, Epoy
Q: Kung ang aso ay may papeles ng kanyang pedigree, ano naman ang papeles ng ibon?
A: Eh di BIRD CERTIFICATE.

Ang tao pag naggu-goodbye, ang sinasabi ay INGATS.
Ang daga pag naggu-goodbye, ang sinasabi ay NGATNGATS.

Q: Anong breed ng aso ang pinakamaliit?
A: Breed na pan-dachshund.

Q: Anong breed ng aso ang mas maliit sa pan-dachshund?
A: Eh di KAPIRASO.
Epoy and Ninang
LUMANG JOKE DAW
Nagkukuwentuhan ang 2 aso:
Epoy: Alam mo, Tisoy, yan palang kalapati nating si Twinkle, pag hinatak mo ang kaliwang paa, kumakanta ng Bayang Magiliw.
Tisoy: Ha? Eh pag yung kanang paa ang hinatak mo?
Epoy: Magre-recite naman siya ng Panatang Makabayan.
Tisoy: Hehehe, lumang joke na yan, Kuya Epoy, pero itutuloy ko pa rin. Pag hinatak mo pareho ang dalawang paa, magmumura si Twinkle, ano?
Epoy: Hindi.
Tisoy: Eh anong mangyayari pag hinatak ang 2 paa niya?
Epoy: Aba, malay ko. Bakit di mo subukan.

At sinubukan nga ni Tisoy, hinatak niya ang 2 paa ni Twinkle. Plok-plok, iniputan siya ni Twinkle. Buti na lang hindi ibong adarna si Twinkle.
Tisoy in the car
MGA MAS LUMANG JOKES
Q: Ano ang tawag sa maraming anak ng isang aso?
A: Ano pa eh di SANGKATUTA.

Q: Ano ang tawag sa anak ng baboy?
A: Ano pa eh di Piglet.
Q: Ano naman ang tawag sa maliit na Piglet?
A: Eh di PIGLIIT.

The RETURN of JEDI

2009-01-10T10:41:00.016+08:00

This article was first published in Animal Scene, June 2008
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By Ninang Corie

For a neatnik like me, owning a pet is out of the question. And being childless is no reason at all because my husband and I had sealed a covenant to stay together, just the two of us, forever. But the first amendment to our covenant was ratified when I came out of the hospital after a delicate surgery. Chained near our front door was a puppy gnawing on my old slipper. With the prevalence of petty thievery in our neighborhood as the pretext, I submitted my membership to the silent majority with an understanding that the white-haired rascal would stay out of the house. Despite the black shade on both ears and half of its face that gave it a mischievous guise, the little creature canine surrendered its borrowed toy to my tugging hand. What you see is what you get in pets because, unlike humans, animals have no pretenses.

The puppy competed with the shadow of my husband. And whenever we arrive home, its brown-spotted tail would wag like an electric fan blade with matching yips and yaps to express its excitement. It shared in our food and even increased the consumption of our purified water. My husband would take time in bathing, grooming, and even nitpicking the puppy’s ears for sniping ticks. It is common knowledge that pets provide quality companionship, the reason why pets are popular with senior citizens and childless couples. A lot have been written on the therapeutic effects of caressing pets - from the cure of a simple headache to the astonishing recovery of stroke victims. In fact, some hospitals employ the so-called “pet visit” to cheer up the patients. To a pet lover, touching is the best stress reliever outside of medications.

When the puppy got sick, I didn’t have the heart to disagree with my husband in confining it to the nearest animal clinic. We were about to leave the clinic that night when we heard the puppy whining like a lost orphan. With genuine compassion, my hand reached for the steel matting of the cage. And when the puppy started licking my finger, I yielded to the fact that it had rightfully earned a place in my heart. To animals, especially pets, touching means love. Maybe that’s reason enough why some people treat their pets like an extended family member. It’s good to note that some people love pets but all pets love some people. Jedi enjoys the grooming I give her
When the puppy came back from its sabbatical, it solicited my attention blatantly by constantly following me during my gardening hour. There were times it would ignore dinner unless I supervised her feeding. And although a far cry from Saver, the local wonder dog oftenly featured in television, our puppy easily learned to obey simple commands like sit, stay and stop. Plant lovers talk to their wards but pet lovers have the advantage of eliciting a reaction most of the times. Also, pets can behave like humans when given a fair treatment like our puppy who displayed proper decorum even during meal times where it just stayed under the table with a sheepish façade.

Soon, the yips and yaps turned into menacing barks that drove away pestering solicitors and messengers alike. Often mistaken for a he because of her ruffian looks, Jedi would sometimes present to us her prized trophy of a dead rat. We would like to believe that her threatening presence foiled any thievery attempt. Pets, especially dogs, are very protective of their loved ones. They exude genuine concern in times of distress. The brawny St. Bernard dogs earned their popularity by rescuing mountain climbers in the northern part of the globe and there are heroic tales where pets have forewarned their owners of a fire breakout.

Before Jedi’s first birthday, we acquired a home that we could call our very own. The iron-grilled front porch served as a spacious kennel for Jedi whose pet name is Jeding. But in a month’s time, she got sick again. We hied to the nearest pet clinic in our town of Cainta. The vague prognosis professed the amateurism of the young vet. The next vet was better with his suspicion of bladder stones (after confining Jedi for 3 days). But the fear of an operation got the better of me so we proceeded to Makati for a second opinion. Jedi was again confined. There is truth in the saying that the dog is man’s best friend because a pet and its owner normally develop some kind of bonding. Playing coy while waiting for a bath
During Jedi’s series of confinements, her images haunted my nights. It was pathetic to see her under sedation. Her tongue suffered a big cut due to the misplaced muzzle by careless caretakers. But behind the physical pains, affection was always evident in her glassy eyes. There is that tendency in pets to reciprocate the affection showered on them regardless of the situation they are in. What compounded my worries was the idea that Jedi may have been the IOU of my redemption from the brink of death during my surgery. Superstition aside, I got a feeling that Jedi, like most dogs, would gladly offer her life just to save mine.

After several days of missing Jedi, the amiable lady vet of Animal House along Jupiter street, broke the sad news. It was finally time for Jedi to return home because she was suffering from a heart ailment and there’s no cure. Jedi was very weak so we had to carry her. But as we entered our house, Jedi’s wagging tail temporarily obliterated the hopelessness in my heart. As I lay her down near the doorway, I gave up all efforts in restraining my tears. Unknown to me, my husband had made a last ditch effort by contacting another vet in town who, just over the phone, immediately proclaimed that the dreaded distemper caused Jedi’s loss of strength and photophobia (blindness to light). Enjoying the new year joyride on Jan. 1, 2007
I used to wonder why there are people who treat their pets like their own kids. Now I know because I have been keeping a sort of diary for Jedi containing her medical records, pictures, old collars, shed hair and baby fangs. Jedi was born on the Easter Sunday of 1997 to an askal (unknown mixed breed) mother courtesy of an anonymous father. When my husband got her from my sister-in-law, the commercial of the Star Wars trilogy reissue was playing on the car’s radio. It was a coincidence that my husband was thinking of a name for the puppy that time.

Hopefully Jedi will be with us for a longer time. And I guess she would because she is enjoying our final covenant – an unconditional permit to sleep with us in our airconditioned bedroom.
Jedi's birthday in 2007

WELCOME 2009

2009-01-08T09:50:00.003+08:00

Narrated by Epoy, Tisoy and Twinkle

Epoy: The holiday season is really hectic for us especially with the deafening sound of firecrackers which my ears couldn’t handle. I just stayed in the bedroom since the day before Christmas up to the coming of the new year. Whew, I was nearly traumatized by the acoustical torture.

Tisoy: As for me, hindi po ako takot sa putok. During the new year’s eve nga po ay nasa terrace lang ako at pinapanood ko sa paglusis sina Ninang, Ninong at Mommy ko. Of course, nagugulat din ako sa putok pero hindi talaga ako natatakot. Mabuti nga at umulan kaya hindi gaano ang ingay.

Twinkle: Pasko, konti lang ang bisita. Pero noong December 30, aba, maraming tao dahil may palaro raw sina Ninong sa mga bata. Eh naiistorbo naman ako dahil nasa tapat ng toilet sa second floor ang pugad ko. At ang ibang bisita, naku, ang te-arts, ha? Doon pa sa upper toilet gustong mag-cr. Sige, nainis na ko kaya hinabol ko sila, hihihi. Unang biktima ko yung niece ni Ninang. Susunod na biktima ko yung cousin ni Ninong na talagang nagtitili sa takot sa pagtuka ko, hahaha.

Epoy: As per our tradition, we visited Mamu for our new year joyride. Mamu is Ninang’s mother. After lunch, we proceeded to Tagaytay. Oh, my, plenty of vehicles and the road to Picnic Grove was really jampacked so we detoured back to the rotunda. How about Caleruega? That’s a monastery by the highway going to Nasugbu, Batangas. Caleruega is like a park with a church on the hilltop.
With Ninang by the Caleruega roadside parking

Tisoy: Pagpasok sa Caleruega, aba, nag-cr kaagad sina Mommy kaya ako… nag-cr na rin sa damuhan, hehehe. Maginaw po, naku, nanginginig ang buntot ko pag humahangin. Buti si Kuya Epoy laging karga ni Ninang pero ako nakatali at hatak ni Mommy ko. Pumunta pa nga kami sa hanging bridge. Ayun, medyo natakot ako dun. Tapos nagsimba kami. Bilib sila dahil behaved ako sa church.
Karga ako ni Mommy sa tapat ng Caleruega church

Twinkle: Hindi ako kasama sa Tagaytay, huhuhu, bantay bahay ako laban sa akyat bahay.

Epoy: On our way home, there were fireworks coming from Pagcor, Tagaytay. Neat, nice to see. I wasn’t afraid because we were just inside the car and I was carried by Ninang. There was a little traffic so we stopped by Max’s for dinner. The wind was punishing and worse, it was sprinkling, brrr.

BULILIT - THE DOG WITH MANY NAMES

2009-01-07T08:19:00.001+08:00

This article was first published in Animal Scene, Sept 2008
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By Ninong Alex

Is there a caregiver for sick pets?

This idea came to my mind when an officemate of my wife gave us a pure-bred pekingese. Very cute at two months old, the energetic puppy was an instant hit in our home. But before we could even think of a name for it, our newly-acquired pet exhibited a seizure. Gasping for air, the puppy’s two big round eyes were wet with tears and its face was seeking succor with the continuous spasm of its abdomen.

We really thought it was the end until, in a stroke of luck, our maid had the mind to place the fawn-colored puppy in front of a running electric fan. In a matter of seconds, the seizure subsided. With that heroism, we officially declared our maid as the adoptive mother of Bulilit.

The next day, I had the fancy of taking our lamb-looking pet for a car ride. Placed in a small basin on the car’s floor, my diminutive companion seemed to be getting the feel of the car’s movement but before we could leave our subdivision’s gate, Bulilit exhibited another seizure.

Epoy at two months old.
My wife called up a friend for advice. The veteran dog breeder, however, made a grim pronouncement that the seizures would be more severe as time goes on and that Bulilit is lucky if it would live for a month.

Placed inside a milk carton, my wife and I watched Bulilit sleep fitfully with the comfort of the electric fan. And that second night proved to be the turning point in the puppy’s fragile life when my wife suggested to make Bulilit our nocturnal boarder. Amid my strong refusal to the idea, I couldn’t say no because I also want the puppy’s remaining days to be comfortable at the very least. That was the night that Bulilit started to sleep inside our airconditioned bedroom. And that was also the night that I felt genuine compassion for our miniature pet (hence the change in pronoun).

For the convenience of Bulilit, I bought a cage on the following day. It was actually a portable pen for fighting cocks, the one with slender green bars woven like a big cyclone mesh. After encasing it with a soft nylon screen on all sides, the cage would serve as Bulilit’s crib in the days to come. Unlike a real dog kennel, our special cage is airy, spacious and light in weight. However, the last factor proved a disadvantage after a few weeks because Bulilit would carry his kennel anywhere in the house.

Epoy with Ate Jedi and Ninang Corie
So as not to destabilize the emotional well-being of our 5-year old askal (*Jedi – our beloved askal was featured in the June 2008 issue of Animal Scene Magazine) my wife also had her join us in our bedroom at night. We were conscious of the divided attention and we also feared for the askal’s jealousy.

As protection for droppings, old newspaper served as flooring of the special cage. And small as he was, Bulilit was so smart as to learn good toilet manners in just two days. The vibrant puppy would bark or would become ambivalent whenever nature calls. But the old newspapers remained for a time as part of the acclimatization period.

Before the first week was over, I was awakened at midnight to the sound of shuffling papers. Still drowsy, I thought someone was reading the newspaper. It didn’t occur to me that I was about to witness an inconceivable scene. Jedi was near the cage, staring intently at the two pieces of torn newspaper while Bulilit was in the act of tearing a third one. Successfully producing another cigar-like piece of paper, Bulilit carefully inserted it under his cage as if offering it to Jedi. Little did we know that there was already a bonding between the two.

Due to the regular seizures, which we thought was epilepsy, Bulilit was officially renamed Epi. But it didn’t take long for Epi to become Epoy. And Epoy’s adoptive mother suddenly realized that the seizures only manifested at around noon time when the summer heat was most terrible. And so it was the heat that was causing the seizures. Our amateur prognosis was professionally confirmed by our vet. As a bonus, the vet said that the puppy will outgrow the seizures in no time at all.

Epoy was so endeared to us such that he had elicited so many pet names. His adoptive mother calls him Yoyoy, sometimes Yoyong or Yongyong, at other times Yoyok or Epyok or even Poyok or Poyong. My wife calls him Poypoy or Popoy. The kids still call him Bulilit but sometimes Pyong-pyong or Prum-prum. It seems that I’m the only one who calls him Epoy because even our vet calls him Empoy.

Aside from the seizures, another fear factor was that our askal may hurt the pekingese by accident (Jedi hadn’t shown any offensive stance though). We took great care in putting a demarcation line to separate the two dogs.

But one time we were surprised to see Jedi and Epoy both sitting by the doorstep like bosom buddies enjoying the fresh air while watching the street for passersby. We really didn’t know how that scenario came to be until Epoy made another daring escape in front of our disbelieving eyes. The intelligent puppy pushed the lightweight kennel near the step to the kitchen and after seeing a gap on the floor, Epoy slithered his body down on the kitchen floor then ran back up the living room to join his hesitant playmate. That was the time we attached soap containers to Epoy’s portable kennel in order to restrict the movement somehow.

Epoy at 2 months old with his adoptive mom
Understanding that Epoy is a lapdog, we always bear in mind that unlike Jedi, who is an askal, Epoy couldn’t use a collar. And his only place, aside from the parquet of the bedroom, was the clean concrete or anybody’s lap unless otherwise he was answering the call of nature. And he may be the only dog who gets a washing after urinating or defecating. Talk of motherly love.

And it came to pass that Epoy had shed off whatever it is that was bothering him. We now clearly understand that sheer excitement or stress coupled with unbearable heat could cause the seizure. In his regular car rides, Epoy would take the front seat beside me with the aircon vents directed at him. And if my wife was with us, Epoy would be on her lap. Of course, he had ceased using his kennel after his first birthday.

Before Epoy’s 5th birthday last June, sad news greeted us on the driveway. There was a trace of fresh blood in his urine. The high creatinine in the lab test results pointed to kidney problems. And making matters worse, there was our dog breeder friend again with his grim prognosis that Epoy would not last a month.

Epoy on his 5th birthday on June 4, 2008
Fortunately, the doomsayer was wrong again. Epoy’s condition turned for the better with the prescription diet. The vet admonished that table food is too salty for dogs. And as a complement to the salt-less diet, we are giving Epoy a daily dose of banaba and sambong tea to facilitate better circulation of fluid in the kidney. After just a week of intensive nursing, Epoy was back to his ebullient self.

A real smart dog, Epoy knows if I was off to the office because he would just give me a cold stare. But if I was just on an errand, he would run after me on my way to the garage. We surmised that Epoy could discern what type of clothes I am wearing. And, yes, he is addicted to car rides.

Even with my inborn lethargy in mornings, I don’t mind giving Epoy a regular back scratching when he wakes me up. His soft barks in the early hours serve as the adrenaline for me and my wife. The little dog with a big role in our life, that’s Bulilit.

GREETINGS to pet lovers

2009-01-06T08:32:00.001+08:00

Epoy, the Pekingese and Jedi, the Askal

Created on this lovely day of January 6, 2009, this blog is dedicated to OUR PETS and to all other pets and, of course, pet lovers as well. Kindly post your relevant comments and keep on coming back to read new postings.

AJS
Editor

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