Rommel & Badgi: A Tale of True Friendship Between a Filipino Boy and his Dog.

Dear Friends,

I know I have not been actively participating on keeping with your blogs. For this, I am truly sorry.

To be honest, I only check my email to see what Anne usually sends us for POTPs and friends that have pass through Rainbow Bridge.

However, sometimes, there are just stories that are worth telling, and this is one of them.

Rommel & Badgi's story is a bittersweet one. Rommel's father eloped with a housemaid while his mother left them for her drunkard boyfriend. His company is his pet dog named "Badgi". 

According to him, Badgi protects him from Rugby boys (boys who take his money just to pay for an addictive inhalant like Rugby).

Sometimes, we tend to disregard the good things we have in life... Food, shelter--enough money to pay the vet... This kind of story reminds us how blessed we are.

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Things to Remember Before Booking Dog Friendly Hotels (Guest Post) & Update

UPDATE: Sorry, guys. We've been preoccupied with Buchi's skin problem. A lot's been going on... and I can't seem to find the time to post about it. 

We're hoping to find a good dog food for Buchi. Anyone heard of Pro Eagle? I'm choosing between Pro Eagle and Holistic.

There are many different dog friendly locations that are available based on where you want to go with your family and the furry friend. The good news is that there are many more options available than you may believe. Just take a list at the dog friendly hotels from My Pawson to see examples from just one region. 

Saying Goodbye by Andrew Morrell, CC BY-ND 2.0 

The bad news is that travelling with a dog is not as easy as you may be tempted to believe at first glance. There are many things that have to be considered and it is quite easy to make mistakes. With this in mind, here are some things that few people consider. Consider them before you book your stay at any dog friendly hotel from around the world. 

Taking Climate into Account

The climate of the area that you travel to has to be taken into account. For instance, in Orlando humidity is heavy. In this case the pets that have some health conditions or are overweight need to be kept on watch and always remain as hydrated as possible. You need to make sure that the hotel offers AC but you have to know about climate since you want to take the dog for walks. Also, there are sometimes areas that see a lot of people and that is when you need to be sure that you know everything about the potential cool off periods that the dog may require.

Travelling with a Dog by Garry Knight, CC BY-SA 2.0

Deposits and Size Limits

Just because a hotel is labeled as being dog friendly does not mean it is friendly with all the dogs. Also, many hotels will ask you to pay a special deposit fee that is non-refundable or refundable, based on circumstances and policies. This is usually necessary in order to cover damages that may be done by your dog during the stay. There are various deposit structures that are presented and the same thing can be said about size limitation regulations. There are many hotels out there that will allow smaller dogs but that will not want to have large breeds stay inside the rooms.

Travel in a Basket by tanakawho, CC-BY-2.0

It is always a really good idea to travel with a dog crate since there are so many hotels out there that will not allow the dog to stay out of the crate while the housekeeping staff cleans the room. Before you book any dog friendly hotel, make sure that the policy is checked and place a call to see if there are some policies that changed. You really do not want to end up looking for hotels that will accommodate you at the last minute. 

Hotel Amenities

There are some dog friendly hotels out there that go above and beyond and will make sure that both the pet and the pet owner gain access to really good services while being on vacation. We thus have some that will offer extra amenities you can take advantage of. Why not do that? Checking hotel amenities may help you to find a dog friendly hotel that is affordable and a lot better than other options.

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Adventures of Bloggyville's Pirate King Frankie

There once was a pirate king named Frankie.

He paid some dubloons to get a map of the treasury.

He summoned all his crew and set forth to the city.

They all dressed as wenches and pretended to be pretty

He went to The Cove to set out his elaborate plan

To steal the guard's key to unlock treasures of man.

As they sang and pretended to be merry,

One guard found of the pirate king's identity.

So he screamed "Pirate!" but nobody listened

All his men were too drunk, too wasted to care

The pirate king Frankie approached this sole guard

And booped his head to keep his vocal chords barred.

With the key at hand and a crew behind,

Pirate King Frankie left the tavern, no worries in mind

He went to the bank and unlocked the safe

Stealing a precious cargo of hotdogs and beef. 

We know we aren't always there to send you our paws and prayers, but we truly hope you're all better now, Frankie--for life, for good. Cheers to our Bloggyville Community. Cheers to Frankie's Day!

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Almost Wordless Wednesday: Whose Blood is It?

Is it Cheezy's blood?

Puppy, is it your blood?

Is it my blood?

Hey, you! Yes, you-- the one using the Doritos foil as a cadaver bag. Is it your blood?

Apparently, it is.

Note to self: Don't show the niece this post again. She says it's disgusting... And yet, the dogs fought over it like a bag of treasure.

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Mischief Monday: How to Torture a Kong Tennis Ball

Today, I and the pack shall teach you the ancient ways of torture used on a modern item.

Warning: Graphically morbid descriptions!

Exhibit A is a Kong AirDog Squeakair Tennis Ball. As you all know... it squeaks.

To maximize pain and suffering to this so-called sturdy, dog-safe squeaking tennis ball. You first have to break its spirit.

Exhibit B is an AirDog which has been bruised and battered both physically and emotionally. See its yellow green skin being torn from it!

Now that it has squeaked its final plea to leave this earth and cross the rainbow bridge for dog toys,  gently peel and listen to its excruciating squeal of death!

Farewell, sturdy Kong squeaker. Perhaps next time, you'll think again before promising the dogs durability.

Don't get me wrong! The ball is still intact... for 3-4 days at the most.

This blog hop is brought to your by SnoopysDogBlog!

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A Funny Dog Story: The Continuation of the Underwear Bandit

Remember when I talked about the two mischievous dogs who stole the guests' underwear... Well, a hero arose from all the mayhem.

Her name...CHOOEY, Warrior Princess. 

Two white ogre puppies stole the underwear. Shih Tzu Princess Chooey to the rescue!!!

Not only is the Shih Tzu princess loved by her people (peepz) but she is also relied upon for her courage and bravery in the face of underwear chaos.

Translation: She literally took the underwear from the two cream-colored hyperactive dogs and returned it to the owner. And yes, I am one proud mama.

One of the guest who had just hung her underwear on the clothesline had to chase the sneaky dog bandits (err... puppy ogres) for hours. 

Fortunately, Princess Chooey was on the watch. She took the underwear from their canine clutches and strutted down the castle grounds carrying the prized underwear towards her people (our female human guest).

"Here's your treasure. They won't bother you again." 

Translation: She gave the underwear back to the owner. LITERALLY!

By the way, I almost forgot to post about the giveaway Ms. Peggy Frezon sent me through my sister in the US. 

The Secret of Happy Ever After by Lucy Dillon

Thanks, Peggy. My sister told me that after you emailed me about the book, she got it in the mail the day after. I read some parts of The Secret of Happy Ever After and am awed by how well written it is. Can't wait to finish it.

Just click on the button to drop by Peggy's blog.

And that's the end of my Mischief Monday post.

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Do Dogs Have Complex Emotions?

So... Tell me, how do you feel about that?

And when I say this, I don't mean senses as we all know dogs have them. But my question is, at what certain degree do they feel emotions? I know dogs can feel happy/excited when we come home. They can also feel sad/anxious when we are away. They may get angry if their toys are taken from them. What else?

DO DOGS HAVE COMPLEX EMOTIONS? 

I recall the story of Capitan, the loyal dog who visited his owner's grave everyday for 6 years. There's also the story of Trixie, the Doberman who stayed with her dead owner for 30 days.  And then there's also the timeless tale of Hachiko.

We know dogs are loyal and they even can tune to our emotions. Have you ever asked what level of cognition your dog has attained? Stanley Coren has an interesting diagram on how far dogs feel. Whether you agree with it or not is fine. I would rather think that dogs have developed past the "3-year old in human age mark" (based on Stanley Coren's diagram).

Does this video simply suggest a dog hiding his dead offspring from predators? or Is it a sign of dogs having their own burial rituals like humans do?

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A Funny Dog Story: The Underwear Bandits

Breaking news! A number of underwear garments have gone missing ever since a group of settlers have invaded the MyDogsLove.Me pack habitat.

Translation: Our families and close relatives spent their vacation here because my sister and her husband we're about to get the house blessed. Some underwear garments have gone missing.

It was pandemonium! A chaos of of questions boggled the minds of these settlers. What have they done to have angered the gods?

Translation: They had no idea who the culprit was.

Wanted: Two Exposed Dogs Guilty of Stealing Underwear!

After fervently praying for some answers, a ray of light guided them to the truth they sought.

Translation: They caught two mischievous dogs lying comfortably on the clothes that came from the clothes line.

Tune in for more updates on the suspects that are on the run!

Translation: There's more of this story to come.

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Wordy Wednesday: Dog Saves Lives but Loses Her Face

I was replacing the newspapers in Peanuts' indoor potty spot when I came across this February article. It's about a dog named Kabang (the locality's term for "spotty"), a female dog who saves the lives of two little girls.

The girls had been crossing the street when Kabang leaped towards them before a motorcycle could hit the cousins. They stumbled but both of them were unharmed.

This article made national headlines. It was definitely worth reading.

Unfortunately, some of Kabang's facial bones were crushed that she lost her snout when she got stuck on the motorcycle's front wheel. The instant she was pulled off, she ran away from home. 

The family had taught that she was gone for good but two weeks later, Kabang came back with a very different look. Nonetheless, the family was happy she went home to them. She is currently eating with the help of her paws.

Kabang had found her forever home in the Bunggal family. They treated her as one of them even though they didn't have much to offer.  When she was a puppy, she was fed with milk and porridge.  For a family in poverty, providing for their dogs is a big deal. Yet they did, and for that I applaud them.

Video Uploaded by DCRJ

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Wordless Wednesday

Sleeping on Lap...mmmmmm

Sleeping on Chair and Dolly... mmmmm

Sleeping on Leg... mmmm

Sleeping on Warm Tummy... mmm

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My First Dog Ever: Apple's Story Part 2

I had Apple for more than 8 years. And within those 8 years, the most memorable moment I had of her was during a rainy day where she'd been moaning and whining. My mom had her tied to a coconut tree with adequate shelter. She had given birth to a litter of puppies a week before.

Since an old belief about mother dogs states that they're prone to biting anyone due to their protectiveness, she had her tied again. Apple's bed is a large slab of stone with clothing placed on top. She'd been whimpering for 5 minutes already and the rain was getting stronger. I looked and tried to decipher her sense of alarm. Little did I know that one of her puppies was stuck under the rock and she was trying to get him out.

I saw the water flowing into the hole under the rock. She was desperately digging it. I approached her, against the objection of our helper, and peered through the hole slowly filling with muddy water. I found the little blind thing crying out. I took him out and placed him on top of the rock with his litter. Apple stopped whining and secured the tiny one in place. It felt really good to help that day. To cover the hole, I took a rock nearby and covered the darn thing so it won't trap anymore puppies in the future. 

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My First Ever Dog: Apple's Story Part 1

It's not that we treat dogs harshly but I'm sure some people think otherwise. Dogs born in the Philippines are generally mongrels or mixes. Although it's not so rare to find someone owning a dog with breed, most of them are usually bought for dog shows or are owned by rich families who can afford them. Since I belong in a middle class household, my dogs are usually of "street" nature.

The first time I had a dog was when I was just 7. My mom had gotten her from the neighbors. She was short and black and extremely cute (in a puppy kind of way). At that time, I had not known dog breeds existed yet. And generally, my mom chained her because of their less domestic nature. Ninety percent (90%) of dogs here can survive independently without having masters to feed them.

I named that dog Apple. As a child, I felt cruel that my mom felt the need to chain a dog. But since she does not allow pets inside the house, she was scared someone would pour hot water on Apple's back if she got caught outside eating from someone else's garbage. 

I took Apple for walks but eventually stopped because she always overpowered me. I did, however, love spending time with her, patting and loving her. Sometimes, I would even stop by the grocery and buy her some Pedigree food from my allowance. Had I known a simple tug technique can make a large difference, I would've used it.  The internet wasn't readily available yet so I had to rely on books to learn about them.

Apple was very brave. One time, she got into a fight with a Rottweiler more than twice her size. After a battle that I thought would never end, the Rott squealed and ran scampering while Apple stood steadfast protecting her territory.

Most small dogs are too dominant for their own size. Apple was one of them. Her size was that of a Corgi. But the similarity between them ends there. 

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Clever Doggy Playing Fetch with Himself

I'm going to be busy tomorrow packing up my stuff to visit Buchi so I'll be leaving you with this very cute video.

I watched it twice and wouldn't mind watching it again. When a dog becomes bored, they either take it out on your furniture or do something amusing such as this.

He's simply adorable.

Happy non-working holiday!

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Dog Not Leaving Dead Friend's Side

I've mentioned looking at a picture of a dog not abandoning his friend on the streets in my post Dog Saves Dog. It took me some while to recall where I had placed the picture which is why I haven't posted it soon enough.

Here's the photo now. The caption on this was that the dog kept on barking at people passing by. I forgot if it were whether for them to notice his dead friend and help him or to warn them to stay away and not hurt the poor thing.

This reminds me of the story of Hawkeye. His owner was a Navy Seal officer who was killed in Afghanistan. Hawkeye was famous for not leaving his master's side even during Tumilson's funeral service.

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Dog Saves Dog

I'm pretty sure some of you have already seen this in Youtube. I saw a Facebook picture about two dogs, the other not leaving his dead friend. And whoever came close to them was greeted by a bark. For non-pet lovers, this is quite a surprising act. But for dog owners who've taken care of their pals for some time, it's loyalty well-earned. I was hoping to find its video in Youtube. To my dismay (which will be explained later), I found this one instead.

Here's one of a stray dog saving his friend from getting killed. The other stray dog had been hit in a highway in Chile. His friend gently pulls him to the corner with his paws and not with his teeth.

Unfortunately, according to the caption of this video, the stray dog that was hit died eventually in the vet's.

Some extremists have asked what made dogs different from cows and pigs which are also being brutally killed for their meat. Here's my answer. For one, there have been dogs who've saved lives of people and pets. Second, once you take care of one and treat him like a part of your family- and not some domesticated animal like a chicken or cow, they act the part and keep you happy (sometimes, even drive you crazy).

The video above just shows how much of heart a dog could have.

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What's Your Story, Wishbone?

Ever since I watched the TV series Wishbone, back when I was a kid, I've wanted to have a Jack Russel Terrier for myself. Aside from being adorable and small, it also helped wishing mine would be as smart as Wishbone. He talks, he thinks, he daydreams. He imagines himself as the protagonist of all the classic literature and folklore stories and parallels it to his friends' and his doggy dilemmas.

Wishbone lives with his owner Joe Talbot and is almost always doing funny doggy stuff like hiding his treasures in the neighbor's lawn or devising a plan to get food. Larry Bentley had been the voice of Wishbone. And the real name of the doggy portraying Wishbone is "Soccer". Soccer continued to play Wishbone until 1998. His death in June 26, 2001 (a month after his birthday) was when the show ended.

This particular picture is from Wishbone's daydream of Sir Walter Scott's Ivanhoe. He even uses some Old English in his script. I just love it.

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Hachiko: Loyalty at its Best

Based on a true story and portrayed by one of the famous actors, Mr. Richard Gere, the story of Hachiko is known worldwide. As to my insights on the movie, don't ask. I watched a couple of seconds in it and started to cry for no reason except knowing the gist.

"Damnit, the trailer made me cry again!"

Hachiko , an Akita dog, is famous for portraying true loyalty to his master. Most of you have probably seen the story starring Gere. In actuality, Hachiko was acquired by a professor named Dr. Eisaburo (Hidesaburō) Ueno. The both of them lived in Ueno's home in the district of Tokyo called Shibuya.

Everyday, Hachiko would accompany the professor to the train station for his morning commute and meet him in the afternoon when he comes home to walk together. In May 21, 1925, with a year-and-a-half-old Hachiko waiting at the train station, the professor never came. Dr. Ueno had suffered a stroke in the university and died that day. Since Hachiko was not aware of this, he went to the station every morning and afternoon hoping for his master to come home. He did this unceasingly for 10 years until Hachiko himself passed away on the same spot where they always met.


In memory of Hachiko, a bronze statue in his likeness was erected at the Shibuya Train station symbolizing the ultimate loyalty a dog can offer its master.

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Tang the Wonder Collie

Since I love reading about dogs, I'd encounter stories of wonderful canines who've made a name in history. One of them had been named Tang. Yes, exactly like the orange juice we so love to drink in the afternoon heat.

Tang came from an abusive owner and was luckily adopted by a family in Denison, Texas. Given his tragic past, he mistrusted humans and children alike so this family gave him love and nurturing knowing that Tang was not a hopeless cause. Eventually, the cautious collie turned into a brave ball of fluffiness who aided children in crossing the streets by stopping vehicles as he leapt in front of oncoming traffic to make them pass through safely.


In 1954, he went on a protest in front of a milk truck because it had a little girl who climbed in with no one being aware of it. Luckily, the driver finally went out to see what the commotion was. He saw the 2 year old with his cargo and had gladly removed her from it. Tang, the smart little doggie that he is, ceased his barking and finally went towards the sidewalk.

Surprisingly, this had not been the collie's shining moment. Tang was awarded for pushing two children out of the way of an automobile that year, as well. He was the first honored dog.

Note: Just a precaution. When taking care of collies, Immodium, Loperamide and Ivermectin should never be given to them because of their breed's severe reaction to it.

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Tegon: The Glowing Dog

I was browsing through Yahoo News when I found this article about a GLOWING DOG. The name of the dog is Tegon (beagle) and she's 2 years of age (born in 2009). Tegon did not come cheap, it took them 4 years and approximately US$3 Million to create her. She was created using the somatic cell nuclear transfer technology which was used to create the world's first cloned dog in 2005 named Snuppy.

No need to switch to night-mode to find the dog.

The research team headed by Lee Byeong-Chun at Seoul National University (SNU)says that Tegon's ability to glow depends on adding an antibiotic to her dog food.

Tegon's paw is glowing flourescent green under ultraviolet light after given Doxycycline.

There are 268 illnesses dogs and humans have in common. The purpose of her creation was to help cure human diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

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