On pedigree

Upseting to see how ignorant we can be about animals and how much we devalue dogs simply because of breed— standards of beauty set for these animals that even they are completely unaware about. 

There is no less love that an askal can give and no more love that a purebred dog is willing to give you. Sure, a dog’s pedigree may be responsible for certain traits but it does not define that animal, nor does it limit its capacity in any way. Every single dog has his or her own character and temperament which is, most of the time and more often than we know, attributable to the dog owner. Believing a silly notion that a dog, just because of breed, is better than their mixed breed counterpart is a sweeping generalisation. Believing that a dog is such because he is a certain breed is tantamount to believing something like Filipinos, just because they’re Filipinos, all are discriminatory idiots who assign value depending on pedigree. I’d like to think otherwise.

The Animal Welfare Situation

By Anna Isabel C. Rodriguez

The author with just some of her pet dogs on a normal weekend.

“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way animals are treated,” Mahatma Gandhi said.

The young doktora smiles as she proudly shows this quote. We are in the City Hall, inside the busy Health office. Being interviewed is Dr. Karen Vicencio, City Vet, Parañaque’s one-woman Animal Welfare Division.

According to Section 7 of Republic Act 9482 or the Anti-Rabies Act of 2007, local government units (LGUs) are not only required by law to employ a veterinarian, they are also required to establish and maintain a city pound and a city veterinary office. The latter provisions have yet to see light as Parañaque struggles to implement RA 9482. In the meantime, Dra. Vicencio, seemingly misplaced in the City Health Office, looks to the future for possible programs and improvements.

Animal Welfare in the Back Seat

Republic Act 8485  of the Animal Welfare Act of 2008 calls for humane and proper treatment of animals, penalizes animal torture and neglect, and empowers the Bureau of Animal Industry to regulate animal handling through proper issuance of permits.

Random IPhotos that prove I'm addicted to my doggies.

A collection of photos that document my love for these furry friends (fiends).

Dog on the road!

On a road trip to meet with family in this holiday season and I opted for something nice but comfy. And oh, say hi to Choo the dog who came along with us.

Mimi is cute!

So my sister just emailed these GIF's of our dog Mimi. Adorable!

And the big dogs say Hi as well.

Meet Choo.

Choo is the newest member of the family!

Dog Portraits

 Today, I decided to take photographs of the dogs.

Dugtong DOGtong na Pag-asa: Isang Dokumentaryo

I have written previously on the Laguna Pitbulls (here and here) and it is no secret that this is an advocacy near and dear my heart. I believe that animals need our help and our love.

Meet Goldie.

Goldie is a beautiful pitbull with wide golden brown eyes.

Mang Rudy's best friends

A while back, I found online the most heartwarming story about a man who lived in the streets and took dogs in. 

Dogs just wanna have fun!

It was the weekend and the dogs wanted to come out and play!

Save the Laguna Pitbulls! (a Teaser Video)

A while back, I wrote about the Laguna Pitbulls and our experience in the rehabilitation site. My team and I are in the process of creating a documentary on this issue. Here is a teaser video:

Save the Laguna Pit-bulls!

The other day,  I visited the Laguna Pit-bull site.

I was amazed– at the sheer number of the dogs, at what a horrid ordeal they've gone through in the hands of men, and how positively delightful it is when these beautiful dogs look up at you with their bright, hopeful eyes and you know that there is still that capacity to love.

Stop giving me that look

You've seen how much I love dogs. I love dogs so much, I look forward to passing through E. Rodriguez and checking out Mang Rudy and his dogs (I just saw them earlier and the sight still makes my heart melt.)

There is nothing quite like having dogs. Like different people, each dog has his (in our case, her) own characteristics, mannerisms, and temperament. 

Nala the dog, for example, likes attention so much she automatically rolls on her back, ready to accommodate belly rubs, every time you try to pick her up or give her the slightest bit of notice. Misty craves for attention and she'll take it from anyone who will give it to her. Mimi the smallest chihuahua, however, is aloof and uncaring. But then, she gives you that look– and then you realise: you love her already.

All dogs have that look. 

Tell me you love them already, I won't be surprised.

Conversations I have with my dogs

I just read about a Taiwanese photographer who takes portraits of dogs. 

In an effort to spread awareness about animal care and responsible dog ownership, Tou Chih-kang photographs dogs from the animal shelter moments before they are put to sleep.

Perhaps the saddest part is that these dogs are usually victims of neglect, most of them abandoned by owners when the novelty of owning a dog wears off. Without adoptive families, these dogs stand no chance.

I ache when I read stories like this, and seeing the photographs do not help, either. 

My chihuahua Benzene, on days I feel he feels neglected, looks at me with his clear eyes as if asking me what wrong he had done to receive the torture of inattention. I melt. Same as when Misty, the cheeky chihuahua, wags her tail at me and finally comes to rest in my arms before she falls asleep, or when the labrador Fiona comes to greet me as I get home. I melt, every single time.

Misty the eager chihuahua

I cannot tell you how many tearful afternoons I’ve spent going through CARA’s Facebook and seeing all those poor, helpless dogs.

When I was a little girl, I wanted a dog and my father would not let me have one. I wanted a dog so much, I started dragging a stuffed animal around on a string and fed him doggie biscuits from cut out calling cards. I wanted a dog so much I paraded this stuffed dog on a string in front of my father hoping to heaven that he reconsider his earlier decision of not letting me have one.

He finally gave in after years of begging and hundreds of cut out calling cards in the shape of Scooby Snacks.

A few years, countless chewed up rubber slippers, tons of lysol, and sacks and sacks of dog food later, the family owns 8 dogs: 5 chihuahuas, 2 beagles and a lab. 

Today we left the island

In the first real break in this year's summer vacation, we left for Boracay. A few days on the island and that wonderful hotel bed has left me in a daze.

Will be posting more about this adventure later as I am now on another hotel bed in Aklan, bound for home tomorrow, and I need my sleep.

I leave you with a photo of this cute dog frolicking in the water among other things.

Meet the Chihuahuas

Misty is very sweet. Contrary to when she first came home to us, she now resembles a fat piggy more than she does a chihuahua.

Blair is the middle sized puppy. The most ingenious of the bunch. She sometimes looks like a rabbit with her ears pulled back like that.

Nala, the biggest puppy, likes attention and the taste of feet. She likes giving and receiving affection-- maybe even more than licking feet!

Mimi is small and aloof. Just the right size to keep in a purse. Poor doggy gets thrown around by the others when they get excited.

Benzene is the alpha male. He only loves me and he certainly doesn't like photos.

edit//

I was told that the photo of Misty does not do her justice. Here's another one.

"Draw me like one of your french girls.." (Photo by Camille)

Meet Mang Rudy

Two days in my internship and feeling a little more tired than I'm used to. Before going to bed tonight, on one of my earlier bedtimes, I found myself scanning through Facebook. It wasn't long before I found photos of this man named Mang Rudy.

Living in a kariton and often found along E. Rodriguez corner Banawe, this man cares for 16 dogs and 2 cats.  Whether it be scavenging for food from fastfood chain dumps, or working as a parking attendant and collecting recyclables,  Mang Rudy finds a way to feed these animals he took responsibility for.

According to the photos, Mang Rudy finds an affinity to these lost dogs. He sees himself as a stray. With no plans in the future, he just takes it one day at a time and struggles to keep all 18 members of his family happy and well fed. He is pictured above with his favorite dog-- a blind dachshund he rescued.  As was pointed out in the photos,  all of the animals looked extremely happy and healthy.

Mang Rudy sleeps in the same spot the dogs do. Yes, that is his pillow one of the dogs are on.

I love dogs, and sometimes I feel sick when I see dog owners neglecting their pets. This man sets an example to all of us. It doesn't take much to love, but it takes a lot of commitment and responsibility to take care of these guys. What he's doing is no easy feat. (We have 8 dogs at home so I know!)

I am amazed at in awe at how much good can be in a person. 

(I feel compelled to run to Quezon City and offer to help this man, but I can't so I settle on writing this in hopes that someone better equipped to do something takes notice. Now excuse me while I ball my eyes out, again.)

All photos from Facebook user Jason Querma. See the whole album here. Visit The Rudy Project website.

*I just found this heartwarming story online, have not actually met or seen Mang Rudy myself.

Mimi says Hi!

Lately, I've been swamped with so much work. Let me take this time off to ogle at this impossibly cute photo of Mimi the dog.

Happy Christmas to all.

After a day of festivities and merriment, I'm back in bed with my lovelies.