Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Bone shape

I finally found a bone shaped cookie cutter so while I was in Iloilo last weekend, I tried a dog biscuit recipe I found in the internet. I wanted to try Ben's recipe but it called for milk which my dogs do not tolerate well.

I made these biscuits using 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour, 1/2 cup peanut butter, 1/2 cup oatmeal, 1/4 cup water, 3/4 cup beef broth and 2 tsp canola oil. The original recipe called for whole wheat flour and safflower oil, but I made use of what's available at the local store.



I mixed the wet ingredients first then added the dry ingredients after, until I ended with a beautiful brown lump( moist but not sticky) that I flattened into a 1/4 sheet using my rolling pin. What's nice about making biscuits is that you don't need to be so precise with your measurements. If the dough is too wet, you just add a little more flour; and if its too dry, you add a little water.



Oopss, I forgot how long I baked them! I knew the biscuits were done when they turned golden brown like that above, and the insides after breaking a biscuit in two, are dry. These biscuits should not be kept in air tight containers or inside the refrigerator because of their tendency to form molds due to moisture.

Now here comes the most feared part: The Judgment.


Associate Justice

Goobled biscuit in one second, poop looked okay the next day.


Chief Justice


Gobbled biscuit in two seconds, poop looked okay the next day.


Verdict: Peanut butter dog biscuit is a delicious and safe treat for dogs
and may be eaten by humans too.



Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Christmas Meme

Aki's Manang tagged us for this seasonal meme. Since most of my Manila dogs will be spending christmas for the first time, I will provide the answers.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Gift bags. I usually don't have the patience to wrap things.
2. Real tree or Artificial? As long as we're not talking of food, I go for anything cheap. Artificial of course.
3. When do you put up the tree? Oh thanks for reminding me hehe.
4. Wreath on your door? Maybe.
5. Do you like eggnog? I don't think we have that here.
6. Favourite Christmas gift received as a child? Toys and candies.
7. Easiest person to buy for? The Animal Doctor ( because he can't complain! LOL)
8. Least easiest? - The Human Baby ( a lot of analysis involved)
9. Do you have a nativity scene? No.
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Email, to save trees.
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?A planner. But what made it worst is, the giver asked for the ribbon back because he just "borrowed" it from another gift under his tree.
12. Favourite Christmas Movie? -I like all christmas cartoon movies.
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?- This year, I did it a month ahead.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?-Umm, yes?
15. Open presents on Christmas eve or morning?Morning.
16. Lights on the tree?- Yes,
17. Favourite Christmas song? We have nice Tagalog Christmas songs.
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?-We've always stayed home.
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's?- I know Rudolph.
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? I prefer stuffies.
21. Favourite thing to eat at Christmas? Ham ( I'd feel sorry for the pig afterwards)
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? -in the Philippines: traffic
23. Favourite Tree ornament, theme or colour?- Stuffies ( dogs and cats mostly)
24. Favourite for Christmas dinner? Roast chicken with cranberry sauce
25. Brussels Sprouts - love or hate them? Ewww?
26. Favourite accompaniment to the Christmas Pud?
28. Your very Favourite Christmas Thing? I don't have to work on this day!
29. A Christmas wish! I wish people will treat animals more kindly.
30. Tag a Seasonal Six! I think everyone has been doing this , but if you're slooow like us, come and join!



Saturday, December 6, 2008

Shooting the dogs

Honestly, I have not bought something special for myself in a long while-- until a chat with Aki's Manang awakened my long repressed (and forgotten) dream: photography. As soon as I got my christmas bonus at work, the Animal Doctor accompanied me to Henry's at Quiapo to purchase a Nikon D40.

The dogs will be my companion as I venture into the world of digital photography. I still don't know how this thing works ( nervous laugh here) as evident from the photo above. But I think I have a creative eye, and provided the dogs could contain themselves for a second- this camera will be put to good use.

Update: Benji managed to pack a few pounds, I am confident we will hit her target weight before she goes home to her adopted Mom. The other dog you see is Trudis' brother. He too was adopted but for some reason that I cannot discuss publicly, he will be us for the time being. Can you see how Trudis is way bigger than the rest of her two siblings? Trudis was the runt in her litter. She reminds me of Clifford, the big red dog. LOL

Clifford The Big Red Dog is an enduring American chidren's book series first published in 1973.Clifford was the runt of the litter, and was chosen by a city child named Emily Elizabeth Howard as her birthday present. No one expected Clifford to grow, but Emily Elizabeth's love for her tiny red puppy changed Clifford dramatically. Before long, he was over 25 feet (7.6 m) tall, forcing the Howard family to leave the city and move to the open spaces of Birdwell Island ( photo and text from Wikipedia).

Friday, December 5, 2008

Who are they???

Puppy 1


Puppy 2


Puppy 3






Once Upon A C-A-T

Today, I, Trudis, will tell you the story of Pussy O' Woosie. First of all she is not a dog, but the Secretary said that we are sisters by "default" . Hmmm, I do not know what that means, (All four leggeds in the house must look after each other like family-Secretary) but I said, Pussy, you can be my sissy as long as you don't steal my bone, okay?

Pussy came to Greenwoods Pet Clinic long before any of us dogs did. It was during the first few days of the clinic's operation when an office staff found her. She was just a tiny kitten then with an eye infection. The Animal Doctor thought she needed treatment; the Secretary thought she needed a home.

Back then, the Animal Doctor and the Secretary were living in a small room inside the clinic. There wasn't much space. Pussy had to live inside a prison house because the hoomans were afraid she'd escape to play with the other cats outside, then pick up a disease or worse, get herself killed.

This is where Pussy made poopies inside her prison house. (I find the litter box a great aid in potty training cats if you don't have a garden or a backyard.- the Secretary)

Being cooped up like that made Pussy a little crazy especially during her scheduled play time outside her prison. She tore around the clinic and destroyed everything in her path, especially the bags of pet food that the hoomans sell in the clinic. It got worst when Pussy reached puberty and she really, really, really wanted to go out and date with boy cats. The Secretary was afraid of this because Pussy would then make kittens and the hoomans would end up taking care of more animals than they could afford.

The Animal Doctor knew of a way to stop Pussy from making any kittens, and that is by removing her girl bits. OMD! I am scared because I am a girl too, and that means....

? ? ?

Okay, I will not talk about it now, I will finish Pussy's story. She survived the operation but it took a week before she was able to get back on her four paws and resumed with her destruCATion. Around that time, the hoomans found a real house near the clinic and relocated Pussy with them. It was a perfect time to buy a real house because we doggies had arrived!

In our real house, Pussy is queen of the manor. She has no play time because anytime is her play time. She lounges in the roof, in the front yard, on top of the cabinet, or on top of the stove. I think she loves our house because she never leaves even if cats outside call her name. Oh, I think she loves to play with us more.


Our Dogs in Iloilo City