The end of an era

The last of our dogs from this blog passed away today. Trudis was 16 years old.

It was bittersweet as the Animal Doctor performed euthanasia on Trudis this morning, June 18, 2024. Since last year, she had been progressively declining, but she fiercely held on to life, even in her last moments.

I wanted for nature to take its course, but If had to be honest, I knew in my heart I was only doing it for my sake.

A couple of nights ago, I asked God for a sign that it was time to let Trudis go. I drifted off to sleep, and there in my dream, saw her in the same playpen where she had lain since January, bedridden, unable to stand and eat on her own. But this time, she was sitting on her hind legs, looking up to me so happily. Its been a while since I saw her like this.

I knew at the Rainbow Bridge, she will be young and strong again.

Business in Dog Breeding?

I found this book entitled, “Negosyong Patok, Hot Business and Jobs" written by Ma. Aurora Sicat and published by Sounds Publishing Corporation (ISBN 978-971-9934-02-8). The book suggests various types of livelihood that are "patok” (translation: sure winner), one of which is dog and cat breeding which the author writes about in pages 22 and 23 of the book.

The author's temerity in writing about dog and cat breeding when she obviously has no expertise on the subject, and the publisher's apparent lack of sensibilities in disseminating the author's impertinent opinion on pet animal rearing brings up bile in my throat. It is disgusting, to say the least.

Despite her obligatory disclaimer for the reader and future breeder to consult a vet and to read about companion animal breeding on Wikipedia ( of all places), the author wittingly or unwittingly perpetuates outdated paradigms about pet ownership that sets the vicious cycle of animal neglect and abuse especially prevalent in a third world country like the Philippines.

Being married to a veterinarian, I've seen enough of these: pet deprived of adequate health care and nutrition; pets subjected to living conditions inappropriate and even detrimental to their nature as animals; pets given up or abandoned because of health or behavioral issues their owners cannot handle, or simply because it got to a point these pets no longer have a place in their owner's lives.

The owners of these pets may not have known what they were getting into. The enormous responsibility hits them only after the novelty wears off, when the pet has grown thrice or four times its size and sheds some of its cuteness. Sometimes, this realization does not even come at all and so it is just a matter of buying the replacement pet.

Unscrupulous puppy millers and backyard breeders feed on these people's one sided notion of pet ownership. The horrors in these places are too painful to tell...The trend now adays, according to the author, is to produce mix breeds because they are cheap and cute ( maybe because of their unique features) and hence, highly marketable. The author does not mention that some cross breeding have resulted to genetic defects and health issues. And as if adding a cherry on top of her ice cream, the author provides a solution to animals that cannot be sold: the breeder can swap them online for other useful things like electronic gadget.

If our bond with animals have positive impact on our over all well being, then it is only ethical that we treat them with respect and we take on full responsibility for their life and welfare. They are not play things that can be set aside when we no longer want or need them, or swap them for more useful things.

If the measure of a lucrative business is profitability, then it is immoral to even suggest that one can make a lucrative business out of pet breeding. In that case, the breeder's primary concern would be the overhead cost and marketability of his business. There is a lot of evidence to show that this kind of equation often leads to the welfare of animals being set aside.

Pet ownership must be a privilege, and not an absolute right. The most important considerations must be our capability to make a room for the animal in our finances, our family and home, our lifestyle, and even our future plans. Otherwise, if we cannot make these commitments or make provisions for these, then we do not deserve to own a pet because certainly no pet animal deserves to suffer in serving our needs.

I respectfully request Sounds Publishing Corporation to voluntarily cease from circulating the book, Negosyong Patok, for as long as the chapter on Dog and Cat Breeding remains a part thereof.

I respectfully request National Bookstore, through its founder, Ms. Socorro Ramos, to voluntarily cease from selling Negosyong Patok unless and until Sounds Publishing Corporation takes the chapter on Dog and Cat Breeding off the said book. I have high hopes that National Bookstore will listen to this plea, given the values and principles it stands for,

Please click on the image of the chapter entitled Dog and Cat Breeding from the aforementioned book so you can read it. My apologies to foreign readers but I did my best to discuss the article in its proper context. If you have experienced the love of a pet; if your heart bleeds for those who are neglected and abused, if you fight for their fight, then I appeal for your help. You may either do the following:

1) Write the publisher of Negosyong Patok and respectfully request for the removal of the chapter on Dog and Cat Breeding, stating your reasons:

Sounds Publishing Corporation
2nd Floor, GA Yupangco Building
339 Gil Puyat Ave., Makati City
Philippines
Telephone Numbers:+632 8972178
Telefax: +6328972157
Email: sales@soundpublishingcorporation.com

2) Write National Bookstore and respectfully request them cease from selling Negosyong Patok in all their branches in the Philippines, unless and until the chapter on Dog and Cat Breeding is removed by the publisher.

National Book Store Incorporated
Quad Alpha Centrum, 125 Pioneer Street, Mandaluyong
Metro Manila, Philippines
Telephone Number: +63(2) 6318062, 6318061, 6318063
Email: gakojl@nationalbookstore.com.ph; valebiaep@nationalbookstore.com.ph

3) Adopt my position and incorporate them in your letter.

4) Share this letter and urge your friends to make a stand too.

I apologize to readers of our blog...its been a while since I updated. A lot of things have happened, we have lost some of our pets and even our dog blogging friends around the world. I could not summon the courage to write again,until now. We miss you all.

Scarlet

Our beloved Scarlet passed away last night. There are no words to describe our grief. We thank everyone who has been a part of her life and helped her fulfill her dreams of having a wheelchair.

Taking care of a special needs dog was a great blessing from God.

Jasper Horatio Stafford

You said no tears...I am so sorry Jasper, but I failed. 

Rest in peace, my dear friend. 

Dog shape cookies and Pupdates

Dog themed cookie cutters are so hard to find in the Philippines~ imagine my joy when I spotted them in the mall recently. So today, I took a break from being a  wannabee dog whisperer, and made cookies for the humans. The fun part was applying the icing because I can make these doggies wear fancy clothes and collars. I felt like a little girl playing with barbie!

By the way, my obsession  passion for baking has been taken to whole new level with this:

(I am deliriously happy that I don't really mind if this is the Animal Doctor's post valentine and advance birthday gift  to me LOL. Thank you, AD!)

Bambi and Trudis, together for the first time since their fight. I made them wear a piece of my clothing based on a theory that if the  weaker dog smells like his owner, his aggressor might be influenced not to attack him   (from this very nice article,  Managing A Multiple Dog Household by Melinda Johnson).

Well, its been three weeks since the mad fight among our dogs. With the reforms made in our multiple dog household, I was anxious to test if the warring pairs could be reintegrated as one pack. My dogs lived peacefully along side each other for nearly three years. It breaks my heart to think that they will become enemies for life (A.D is worried of breaking his wallet too, because the dog pad will have to be transformed into a duplex ).

For  the first time since the mayhem, I let them out all together in the run.  I threatened to go ballistic the moment I catch one of them challenging the other. Trudis only managed to snob Bambi,  while Moy and Jappy appeared nonchalant.

Unfortunately, my  bouyed up spirit quickly sank to the pits of hopelessness when Jappy and Moy attacked each other on our second session. I almost got bitten trying to pry two very angry dogs apart!  Jed and Abby warned us about this. It was wishful thinking on my part to expect the dogs to forgive and forget. I have to remember that my babies are animals;  the inner workings of their minds totally unpredictable. Rather than risking further injury or death among our pets, the Animal Doc and I decided to separate the dogs for good. Jappy and Bambi on one side; Moymoy, Trudis and Woody on the other. I will have to make sure that the resulting pack order in each of these groups is strictly maintained. Scarlet stays inside the house and will be allowed supervised playtimes with the rest of the dogs.

I feel compelled to leave you with a bit of good news about the dogs: Trudis has gained weight! She's put on two kilos since I gave her papaya enzymes bought from a health store!

Changes

"The challenge is to be prepared for the upheavals in our midst.

There  are things that some of us set aside for another day~ choosing the right insurance, getting a burial plan, making a last will that contains a provision for our dogs~ simply because we  are caught up living in the moment."

I am happy to announce that our little Scarlet has resumed her morning walks  on board  her trusty  wheelchair~  this time with a new handler. It’s been a month since the sudden demise of her Kuya Lowie, the Animal Doctor’s assistant who took on the extra responsibility of helping care for our special needs dog.

Several  unfortunate events hit us one after the other at the start of this year. They happened without warning, as if a rug was pulled under our feet.   This served as a painful reminder how temporary everything in life is. The relative peace and content that one enjoys  on a day to day can be shattered without notice. The challenge is to be prepared for these upheavals in our midst, and to be able to accept them once they rear their ugly head.  

There  are things that some of us set aside for another day~ choosing the right insurance, getting a burial plan, making a last will that contains a provision for our dogs~ simply because we  are caught up living in the moment. That  our tranquil existence  can be disrupted is a possibility in the far, far away   future.

Then something happens making us realize the only constant in this world is change.

SIT!

STAY!

After identifying the possible causes of our dogs' violent fights,  I managed to regain control of the situation, and immediately came up with a game plan. I've read about dogs ganging up on another member of the pack~ a nightmare I never want to happen.

1.Separated  the  two pairs fighting each other-  The dogs are very comfortable in their spacious doggy pad/house, which is why I'm not happy tranferring two dogs  in a separate kennel. Their playtime outside has also been shortened  because they have to be let out in groups now. I had to do this because I myself wasnt confident of my ability to stop them if they go at each other's throat again. Scary

2. Dogs are fed one at a time outside  and in order of their pack hierarchy.- I saw the problem in feeding our dog altogether: a) it did not reinforce pack order b) it made them competitive/combative with their food ( which was aggravated when I put them on a diet).

3. Basic obedience training, revisited-  I figured I can quell the first signs  of power struggles/aggression among my dogs,  if they would listen to me in the first place. Thing is, I may have spoiled the dogs, and now they are convinced there's nothing they can  do to make me love them less.  I do  not subscribe to the use of force, so   I just use the "nothing in life is free" method to restore my leadership in the pack. I make them "work" for things that I used to give them freely, like meals, treats, and affection. Moy attended obedience training before so I just had to refresh him; the rest of the dogs learned quickly, including Jappy, who is an old dog.

I dont know how many weeks or months it will take before I'd be confident to reintegrate the dogs,   if that is still  possible.  But most of you are probably wondering if the reforms I've made have had any effect so far.  I will post about that next time.

Fighting in the pack: What went wrong

A note from the Secretary:

Dear friends, your insights are a big help as I attempt a "postmortem" on the  "mayhem" ( as Asta puts it)  that happened in our dog pad lately.  I am considering some factors that could have triggered a power struggle between Jappy and Moymoy on one hand, and between Trudis and Bambi on the other.

1. Trudis' sickness (suggested by Maxie and her Mom)- Trudis' absence after being confined for weeks inside our house presented as an opportunity for Bambi to challenge  Trudis'  rank in the pack. Looking back, I distinctly remember reading fear and distress in Trudis's body language, but I dismissed it. Sensing Trudis' weakness, Bambi attempted to fight back the next time she and Trudis had a  spat. Though thinner and weaker, Trudis refused to back down at Bambi's initial show of dominance.   What used to be a spat turned into a full blown, bloody fight between them.

2. Bambi had killed a cat (Pussy) during Trudis' absence- Note that only Jappy ( alpha dog) and Bambi ( rank 4th in the hierarchy) attacked Pussy. Having  killed another animal, Bambi could have experienced new found strength and began aspiring for a higher ranking.

3. Jappy's insecurities- Of the five dogs in the pad, it was Jappy who received the most affection from me.  Jappy and I have gone a long way, even before I lived with the Animal Doctor and before  I took Moymoy, Trudis, Bambi, and Woody in. I would often bring Jappy inside the house  at night to sleep with us or with Scarlet during the night.  But I ignored him for days  after he killed Pussy. It was also around this time when the Human Pup came home after  spending the holidays with my Mom in my hometown, and became the focus of my attention once more.

Alpha dogs are usually not  the type to  bully middle ranking dogs because they are confident of their position in the pack order. Jappy's insecurities could have triggered him to pick a fight with Moymoy, to ensure that the latter forever remains below him in the hierarchy.

4.  Moy's unresolved issues- When Moymoy was younger, he had behavioral issues that were party resolved when we took classes on obedience training  I became complacent when Moy stopped chasing his tail; not realizing that his inner demon could be unleashed when he is cornered against the wall. This is exactly what happened when he and Jappy fought.

5. ME-  Many of you are correct in pointing out that I should be the alpha of the pack. I must admit that my tendency to be overly affectionate with my dogs, to a point of treating them like babies  led to the development of  their undesirable behaviors.

6. Diet Changes- This may sound remote but the idea came to my head after our  readers, Jed and Abby offered us a theory to explain the fatal attack on Pussy. Several weeks prior to the incident, I modified  and reduced the dog's diet in my effort to reduce their weight ( all of them except for Trudis are overweight!) . Could it be that  hunger jumpstart  their prey drive and drove them to attack Pussy? Could hunger also be the reason why they became combative with each other usually during mealtimes? (we feed them simulataneously at meal times)

Keeper Lui told me that Bogart ( when he was still on Earth)  and Sumo  fought each other after being friends for several years! I know its possible for dogs to become suddenly enemies, but I never anticipated this to happen with the five dogs in the pad because  four are neutered/spayed.  Well, this experience has taught me that the pack order is very fragile and many factors could break it up, not just competition for food or mate.

Next timeI will share to you the  changes that I've instituted to address the situation in the dog pad.  Last night we already started the exercises suggested by Jasper and Ruth. It remains to be seen if the five dogs can be reunited again or forever separated in smaller groups.

I do not claim to know a lot about animal behavior but I am glad that I am not groping in total darkness.  I am so thankful for all your advice, support and prayers. I  wish to post happier news next time.

Bloody and violent fighting in our pack

Following Pussy's violent death, the thread binding our pets together, allowing peaceful co-existence in our multiple pet household, unravelled so fast and so out of control. 

Left to Right: Bambi (female, spayed), Jappy (male,  intact), Woody ( female,spayed), Moymoy ( male, neutered), Trudis (female, spayed)

For two years, the dogs had no problem sharing a pad. Except for the occasional spat between Trudis and Bambi, where the latter would immediately assume a submissive pose, I didnt not observe any other kind of power struggle within the pack. 

On Saturday, after returning from weeks of confinement inside our house, Trudis was attacked by Bambi in their pad. Trudis was wounded and bleeding on her leg so we had to whisk her away and keep her on a separate dog house. Come Monday, it was Moymoy and Jappy who  had a fight inside the pad. It was obvious that Jappy had the upperhand, but Moymoy would not give up easily. He maintained his stance (although his eyes were turned away) and was matching Jappy growl for growl.   Fifteen minutes through the stand off, the humans decided to intervene before any blood is shed- Moy's most likely. Even with Moymoy outside of the dog pad, Jappy continued to bark furiously at Moymoy,  like he wanted to kill Moymoy. Moy was so scared and stayed on one corner and would not even move when we tried to coax him to cross the playground and transfer to the garage.

Now the pack is divided in two factions and are separated from each other until I figure out a solution. Jappy, Bambi and Woody are staying in the dog pad and are let out periodically in the playground. Moy and Trudis are roaming freely  in the garage right now. I intend to borrow a spare cage from the Animal Doctor's Clinic and put it in the play ground for Trudis and Moy to sleep tonight because the garage will be occupied by the car by then. I cannot let the dogs inside the house because I fear for the Human Pup's safety. He has been attacked by my two dogs in my Mother's house a year ago. All dogs that I live with see the Human Pup as a threat. 

I am trying to analyze the events that preceded the fights. The pack hierarcy has been disrupted, thats one thing I am certain. But do you think it was right that we intervened? If I had a choice, I would have let the dogs settled their differences on their own, that technique works like magic sometimes. But when it reaches the point where they will kill each other for the alpha status, what will you do?

This experience reminds me that the pack hierarchy is dynamic, just like everything else in this world.

Gone fishing

This afternoon, our  cat* was mauled to death  by our dogs Jappy and Bambi.  She was approximately 4. 

I am still trying to make sense of the violence that erupted in our household. The rational part of  me would like to believe that no amount of care and affection can turn an animal other than what it is. In the concrete playground where they do their zoomies and play with their squeak toys,  it is still the law of the jungle that operates.  

Thing is,  I could come up with a thousand justification, but nothing can ease the  tight knot in my stomach, not seeing our cat in her usual spot tonight. She is gone forever.

* I named our cat, Pussy, not knowing that in certain parts of the world, her name had negative connotations. My apologies.

Goodbye, my Kuya Lowie

It is my Kuya Lowie who gives me a bath when my stink-o-meter goes off...

He is always very gentle and nice with me...

It is my Kuya Lowie who takes me out for my daily  "walks" ...

He plays with me...

He and I have lots of fun together...

Kuya Lowie is one of the Animal Doctor's assistant at the Greenwoods Pet Clinic.

Left to Right: Animal Doc, Doc Jun, Kuya Jun( Animal
Doc's brother), Kuya Lowie, Human Pup, Ate Joylene, Kuya Nonony ( Animal Doc's assistant)

 He is part of our family...

Left to Right: Animal Doc, Doc Jun, Kuya Jun, Kuya Lowie, Human Pup, Ate Joylene, Nana ( Human Pup's nanny), Kuya Nonoy.

Left to Right: Animal Doctor, Human Pup, Nana, Kuya Lowie, Kuya Nonoy, Ate Joylene

Our Secretary/Mom considers it almost like a miracle that caring for a special needs dog like me never feels like a burden in our household.   It is because my human family is so blessed to have people working for them who are compassionate and loving to animals. Kuya Lowie did his job with joy in his heart.

Kuya Lowie passed away suddenly in his sleep at around 2:30 this morning. There was no sign  that we would lose him.  He still played with me before retiring last night.

The humans are still reeling from shock. The Secretary is still vacationing with her family in Iloilo City, the fact of Kuya Lowie's death simply refuses to sink in to her mind.  Our veterinary clinic is closed today; everyone is still trying to come to terms with such a sudden loss. The Animal Doctor is taking care that Kuya Lowie's remains be transported to his family in San Miguel, Iloilo. We have to make sure that he gets a proper burial and  prayers for the repose of his soul.

Much has been said about the grief that humans endure when their beloved pets pass on.  My humans will never know how much my heart bleeds for my Kuya Lowie.

I WILL ALWAYS MISS YOU KUYA LOWIE. IT IS YOU WHO WAITS FOR ME AT THE RAINBOW BRIDGE.~ SCARLET

Merry Christmas!

From the bottom of our hearts, 

we wish everyone of you a  Merry Christmas.

Your friendship has been a great blessing to us all these years!

                              

From the Animal Doctor, Secretary, Human Pup, and our furry crew: Moymoy, Jappy, Trudis, Scarlet, Bambi, Woody and our cat  Poohsie

Power of the paws for Lorenza

Lorenza has a lot of pretty dresses in her closet, but this one is our favorite.

We just learned that our dear friend Lorenza had surgery for the removal of her kidney stones! Please cross your paws and fingers for our friend, join us in praying for her quick recovery. We can just imagine how Mom Veronica must be feeling right now. We know how difficult it is to see our beloved pets suffer and go through an illness.

An update on Trudis: Thank God, she has not yet manifested the symptoms listed by our friend Jasper via his comment to this post. But we are so bothered by her continuing weight loss. Trudis is wasting away no matter how often and how much she eats. She is getting treatment and supportive care for her heart and lungs but we need to treat the underlying illness  that  affected  these organs.  It is so frustrating that such illness remains elusive  because the definitive diagnostic tools and procedures are beyond our reach. We are giving her a few more weeks to see if she will puts on weight, then we can say we are on the right track. 

Thank you all for your support.  We are sending healing vibes to all the doggies and kitties and all animals in need out there. 

~The Secretary

Trudis has corpulmonale

This just got in. I got a call from the Animal Doctor after their appointment at the U.P Vet Teaching Hospital. Its confirmed, our adopted dog Trudis has cor pulmonale. This is just what I got so far from the Merck Manuals Online Medical Library:

Cor pulmonale is right ventricular enlargement secondary to a lung disorder that produces pulmonary artery hypertension. Right ventricular failure follows. Findings include peripheral edema, neck vein distention, hepatomegaly, and a parasternal lift. Diagnosis is clinical and by echocardiography. Treatment is directed at the cause.

Trudis has pulmonary congestion

Just a quick update from the Secretary:

Our adopted asong pinoy*, Trudis has conjestion in her lungs. The Animal Doctor 's colleagues who saw the xray films via Facebook agree that Trudis' heart might  be involved. To confirm this, Trudis and the Animal Doctor went this afternoon to the University of the Philippines( U.P) Diliman Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Trudis will get  an electrocardiogram (ECG) examination and a second opinion from the Animal Doc's former professors and collegues.

Trudis is on antibiotic; her nasal discharge has lessened a bit.  She still hasnt put on weight  despite her five meals a day and pancreatic enzyme replacements. We hope we will solve the mystery behind Trudis' excessive weight loss and fight this diseases, whatever it is.

Again, thanks to the  Animal Doctor for being on top of this case. I am  likewise grateful for the outpour of support and positive vibes we are getting from all of you. Our online friend Jasper who lives all the way from UK has even offered to help us with the trypsin immunureactive test ( for pancreatic insufficiency) because its available in his country. Maybe our super dog friend Sweepy can fly Trudis over there? We will let you know  of our next move.

* another term for a mix breed( mongrel) dog in the Philippines

pUpdate on Trudis

A message from Trudis:

Awww, I am so touched by your thoughtfullness, my dearest furriends. Thank you so much for all the healing vibes you  sent me. I will try to get better for you, and besides I cannot be absent on our yearly christmas feeding of street animals. I love you all!

Message from the Secretary: 

To date, Trudis has the following symptoms, ranked from the degree of severity: weight loss, nasal discharge, dry crusty nose. Her previous elevated SGPT had normalized after treatment with Godex and antibiotics. The Animal Doctor ordered another bloodtest and urinalysis over the weekend, and the results do not seem to point to Canine Diabetes. So what is causing this dog to lose a lot of weight? Her amylase and lipase levels are below normal yet the test- Serum Trypsin-Like Immunoreactivity- which could diagnose  pancreatic insufficiency is nowhere available in our country. I've contacted tertiary diagnostic laboratories and even veterinary laboratories here in Metro Manila, nada. Nevertheless, Trudis has started taking pancreatic enzymes with her meals. If this will abate further weight loss, I wonder if the Animal Doc can go ahead and make a presumptive diagnosis. 

This afternoon, Trudis went to the lab to have her chest xrayed. The Animal Doctor also requested for an examination of her nasal discharge. Will update you with the results.  Thanks for all your concern!

P.S Thanks to the Animal Doc for taking charge of the situation, I am impressed with what you did today!

Oh-oh Trudis is in serious trouble!

Okay, it started two weeks ago, when Mom/the Secretary noticed that my older sissie Trudis was not herself ( Mom's used to seeing her bounce off the floor, you see). My sissie is having some nasal discharge and dry , crusty nose.  The Animal Doctor had some blood test done immediately and found out that Trudis had elevated SGPT, slightly low RBC and platelet count. He thought it was a case of viral hepatitis ( we are routinely vaccinated, so what's up with that?) and gave Trudis Godex and Amoxicillin. Another round of blood test showed that my sissie's liver is getting better.

But there is another problem. Trudis is losing weight- fast! She's a pig, eating 4-5 times a day now,sometimes eating papers and stuff she's not supposed to eat. Yet the bones on top of her skull, ribs and hips are showing. This is driving Mom bonkers especially since the Animal Doctor cannot tell yet what's the problem with Trudis.

                                                     Gums and tongue are still pink though...

 

Appetite and water intake still okay. 

Please pray for our sissie Trudis. There are other tests to be done to determine  her illness but  some of these are unavailable in our area.  We shall be coming back with an update.

We miss our online friends so much. Sadly we are unable to leave comments lately but we are so happy to read your posts, especially knowing that you and your humans are happy and well. We love you our friends!

                                                Love and Kisses, Scarlet

Whats up with me, Scarlet

Please click this link to read about the story of Scarlet's Wheels

I am still here! My Kuya Lowie is taking me out for our daily walk.

(Note: "Kuya" is a Filipino word which we use to call an older person or brother to show respect)

I got a little scolding after Mom found out what I did to my my head rest..

A few weeks back, I scared my Mom because I vomitted several times. The Animal Doctor immediately put me on the drip and had me x-rayed to check for foreign bodies in my tummy ( hmm i think they went overboard with this coz the next day I was okay teehee)

Catching some zzzzzzz's

 Around this time last year, Mom embarked on a seemingly impossible mission to get me a wheelchair. We remember with gratitude the love, kindness and compassion of our friends who in one way or another contributed to make my dreams of a wheelchair come true!

Thank you my friends, I miss all you!

Explosion in our street

There's an explosion of puppies and kitties in our street!

This is right in front of our house

This is from the neighbors, where we adopted Woody and Bambi

This little pup looks like she really wants to come with us, but we have no more room in our doggy pad. See that lady standing by the door? She said she's going to sell the puppies for P50 each.

The Secretary had planned to have our neighbor's two dogs spayed since last year, but never got around to it because our neighbor wasn't cooperative. Now there are 7 potential addition to the never ending list of unwanted dogs in our neighborhood.

Trudis writes about dog beds

A semi pampered mutt like me can expect a longer life span compared to my counterparts in the streets. I hope the Secretary will invest on my comfort as I sail through my golden years. Choosing the right dog bed is part of that investment. The dog's size, built and sleeping position are important things to consider.

After my sissy Scarlet got her very own bed, I have been trying to convince the Secretary a.k.a Mom that the rest of us need dog beds too. A semi pampered mutt like me can expect a longer life span compared to my counterparts in the streets. I hope the Secretary will invest on my comfort as I sail through my golden years. Choosing the right dog bed is part of that investment.

So how does our Secretary choose the right doggy bed--I mean, if and when she scrapes the budget for it?

Size and built of a dog are important factors. Dogs like my sissy Woody, who is umm kinda humungous big boned will most definitely need large dog beds Our health must also be considered, it will help if these dog beds are antibacterial and hypoallergenic. I also need to remind our Secretary that cheaper does not always mean better. Cheap dog beds may contain harmful chemicals that could be bad for humans too.

I saw dog beds in different shapes and designs in the internet. Some are flat like human beds, or shaped like donuts, or arm chairs. Im fond of curling up like a ball so a large donut shape bed will probably suit me. My brother Moymoy, on the other paw, catches zzzzs with his hind legs stretched out like there’s no tomorrow so a flat bed will be appropriate for him.