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September 28, 2009

Typhoon Ketsana hits Manila

Today, typhoon Ketsana had already left the country, but not without leaving our countrymen an experience, and perhaps, a painful lesson, we will never forget.

As sourced from www.abs-cbnnews.com, tropical storm Ondoy (typhoon Ketsana) hit a great part of Luzon, leaving 27 provinces and the National Capital Region in the state of calamity.

As of today, death tolls have now reached 73, with more than 300,000 people affected by the onslaught of strong winds, huge rainfalls and flash floods within the metro.

According to PAG-ASA, about 34.1 cm of rain fell on Metro Manila in just six hours, close to the 39.2 cm. average for the entire month of September. The previous record was 33.4 cm. recorded during a 24-hour period in June 1967.
We heard that Pasig, where our Mommy Lilli and the Animal Doctor, together with our buddies, MoyMoy, Scarlet, Jappy and Trudis live, is also affected by the flood. We did try to call Mommy Lilli this morning, but all phone lines were dead. We are just glad, though, that auntie Jenny informed us that Mommy Lilli and co. are doing well. Thank goodness!!

However, in some areas, other people are not so fortunate. Some even had to go to the rooftops of their houses because the water level had already risen so high that they needed to be rescued by pump boats.

We even read that San Miguel Corp. is willing to buy 50 pump boats to help hasten the rescues. If only, I could give them Capt. Jack Sparrow’s boat, it would have helped save more people. Alas, I could only hope and pray for better days... or maybe exchange my kibbles for some pesos for donation.



We are sad to note that a lot of people and animals are still out there, waiting for rescuers to get to them. In some video clips that we saw, we had seen numerous dogs being rescued together with their hoomans. Some, however, were not so fortunate- it breaks our hearts.

Today is a day of major concern. We are one with those who had lost family members and those who had lost their properties and sources of living. We can all continue to hope that the sun continues to shine in the coming days (esp. that manang is supposed to go to Manila tomorrow night).

To the rescuers, volunteers, businessmen and media personalities who had given their time, money and service to help our fellowmen and keep all of us continually informed, our hats go off to all of you! The selflessness of rescuers and continued outpouring of assistance and donations are so overwhelming it inspires us. It gives us hope, that indeed, we can work as one nation.

In my young Labrador life, no day makes me more proud to be a Filipino.

Godspeed everyone and may this new day, though difficult, be a new start for all of us.

Be safe everyone and keep dry!

Drooly kisses,

Aki

September 17, 2009

Thank you and Batista Update

To those who left sweet messages on our earlier post Thank You So So Much!!!! Your words of encouragement and prayers means a lot to us.

We have already started with Bat-Bat's medication and tomorrow, I will be sending over his meds for Ehrilichia treatment so they can start giving it when needed. For the meantime, we will be working on his liver since his SGPT level was at 300+! :( After a week's treatment, we can decide whether to start with Doxycycline or to continue further with liver treatment.

For now, we are are taking things in stride. My conversation with Doc Geoff (Aki's Mommy Lilli's husband) was enlightening. Although, I must admit that it broke my heart when he said that my dear boy 'might' not recover. Nevertheless, we will not give up without a fight. And for as long as my brothers tell me that he is active, happy and appears to be well, we will do everything that we can to help him recover.

Despite the clouds of doubt on what lies ahead of us, I am still happy and thankful- for every day that the Lord gives my little brown barky brother.

To all our DWB friends, to those who left inspiring words and encouraging messages, again, Thank you so much. It sure makes us feel a whole lot better. I know our little boy would be very happy to know that a lot of doggies and hoomans are praying for him.

We love you all so much!!

Manang

September 14, 2009

Power of the Paw Needed

It has been a rough two weeks.

The hoomans are still somehow in denial over the loss of George, who went missing on August 30, while they were in Hongkong. Somehow, we still hope that one day George will turn up. Every time a bird chirps, they would always look up, hoping that it would be our fat, avocado-colored brother. But it never had been. And we don’t know if it will ever be.

Poopie and I wanted to make this post the moment the hoomans came back last September 4. But we never could. Doing so would make things final. We still hoped that he would turn up. Although the reality is, George didn’t stand much of a chance since his wings were clipped. He was a hopping parrot, not a flying one. And with Gring Gring and a gazillion other cats in the neighborhood, I shudder to think at the 2 hours that my other hoomans failed to realize that he was already missing.
Every night I would dream bad dreams. Really really bad dreams about George. Maybe that is why when manang first learned that George was gone, she asked Poopie to comfort her. Who wouldn’t need comforting? Knowing that your brother, even if for two months, had gone missing and you don’t even know if he is alive, well or already at the Rainbow Bridge.

Last Sunday manang saw a black butterfly continually swooping down on a certain spot near my day time kennel and she was almost already convinced that it was George, it was still difficult to accept that he was gone. But each time a bird chirps and we can hear the fluttering of wings, a spark of hope flickers within us.

I never knew until then that there were so many birds around us. Beautiful birds. Lively birds. Living birds.

But that was not the end of it. We had delayed this post intentionally because we didn’t really know how to start, or where to start. Learning what happened and how it happened was not easy. But we choose not to think about it. But now we had to, because apart from George, another brother needs your help. And it breaks our heart into tinier pieces everyday.

My brother Batista is sick.

Batista was with Poopie when manang bought her Pet Taxi as they prepared to travel from Bacolod to here. He was this little tan mini pinscher boy with a big bark but an even bigger heart.
Last Thursday manang’s brother brought him to the vet for a check-up because Bat-Bat was not behaving like his normal self. His blood test results were very low. :(( He failed in all categories except for his WBC.

The vet said he had blood parasites or ehrlichia. Poopie and I searched it over the internet and it didn’t sound too good. Mommy Lilli said that if both RBC and platelets were low, he might already be in stage 3 if he does not respond to his medicines.

By some divine intervention manang will be going to Manila today for work. She would then be able to buy his medicines there since they were out of stock where Batista is.

Please everypup, please please pray for our dear brother Batista. He needs your help. Poopie still needs him. She will be going home again on December and she wants to see him and Kim Tzi there.

My sister loves him so much, and even if I had not spend any time with him, I also love him. He makes my sister happy and knowing that alone makes me happy as well.

Please Dear Lord, make my brother Batista well again.


In all fours and paws,

Aki and Poopie





August 27, 2009

Silence of the Lab

The coming weeks might be a little too quiet again. The hoomans have announced to Poopie and myself that they are leaving us (again) for almost 2 weeks. We were told that they will be going to a place called Hong Kong.






Hmmm.. Do you suppose there are lots of Red XL Kongs there? Message to self: make a three-pager list of stuffies/ treats/ things for the hoomans to buy for Poopie and myself. :)

To all our puppy friends, we love you all so much and we will miss you a lot!!


Poopie update: it’s that time of year again! The diapers are on for the almost 2 weeks now. We hope her heat cycle would end within the supposed 28 days otherwise the hoomans and I will go absolutely bonkers warding Choy Choy off. Mind you, it’s no fun being a big adolescent boy during these times.

When they get back and assuming Poopie’s cycle is over, the hoomans have decided to make a schedule with the V-E-T about something called ‘spaying’. Of course, they needed to be counseled with regards to the matter. I’ve heard that the operation is a little delicate since it involves “invasive surgery”. We do hope that whatever they decide on would be for the best of all of us, most especially Poopie.

August 19, 2009

The Gring Files

It was a Sunday afternoon, I woke up rather late after wasting away the night watching reruns from my laptop. I stretched myself like I normally would. Manang said I might still grow taller if I continue to do so. I don’t believe her really, nevertheless I developed the habit. My body felt good after stretching.

“Poopie?” I yawned, noticing that my sister was not in sight.

I paced our apartment, making sure that I covered every room, cabinet and crevice. Poopie was gone.

Hushed stirring sounds slowly emerged as I headed down to the kitchen.

Peering closely, I saw Poopie intently focused on the TV rack.

As I drew closer, I spotted a blurry orange figure at the corner of my eye.

Feigning injury, it managed to draw my sister dangerously closer.

I am perturbed. Why would my sister even think of going near that wretched thing. My inner gutt tells me NEVER to trust anything with glowing eyes.



Before I could have even moved a muscle, they both broke out into a full-blown fur brawl.


Is this the so-called skhiwrrel Khyra kept talking about?


I surmised, a few more seconds and Poopie would be a goner. So I hurriedly roused the hoomans for them to aptly deal with this new perpetrator.


“Manang, Manang, please hurry!! Poopie needs our help! Another alien has come to attack us!”

Startled and still cranky, the hooman dragged her feet to see what the commotion was all about.

“There it is manang… “ words fumbled out of my mouth. “There is Poopie’s attacker!”

The hooman followed the direction I was pointing at. Her eyes started to chink as she let out a good hearty laugh.

“It’s just Gring Gring!” she said as she drew some kibbles from our kibble bin and led the creature out. “he just came in for some food.” ... and then she dared give it a face scratch!!


With that, the hooman disappeared back into the snoozing room.

Truth is, I was disappointed- both at Poopie and the hoomans. So foolish of them to be so credulous. I may still not know what a “Gring Gring” is but I sure don’t trust it.

Only the frail minded would think it purportedly entered our house for the food.

Even mulling over the day’s events for the entire day would not set my mind at peace. I decided then, it was time to consult with my Aki cam.

The succeeding events left me dumbfounded.



Where was it going?





More aptly, what is it planning to do?



That fiend!


How crude. That was so not classy. Not classy at all.


Please tell me this bloggie is not going to the Gring Gring.

A very disturbed,

Aki

August 14, 2009

URGENT!!: Please Help Us Save the Greyhounds!!!


Dear friends,

Today, allow us to shamelessy solicit for your help/ support.

A few weeks ago, our emails have been flooded with news about various congressmen and a senator pushing for the enactment of two house bills: House Bill 5291
http://www.senate.gov.ph/lis/bill_res.aspx?congress=14&q=HBN-5291 and 5648 which aims to legalize the creation and operation of a greyhound racing facility in Mandaue City and Rizal/Pampanga/Laguna, respectively. What alarms us most is the fact that such an inhumane proposition is getting much support from the local government as posted in these articles (please take time to read).


http://globalnation.inquirer.net/cebudailynews/news/view/20090731-218084/Nothing-cruel-about-dog-racing-in-Mdaue

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/cebudailynews/news/view/20090807-219134/Mandaue-City-Council-open-to-dog-racing

We never had nor met a greyhound personally but more than the breed, dogs or any animal at that, be they mongrels or pedigrees, have a right to life and should not be in any way treated as a commodity or instrument for meaningless entertainment. There is far too much hurt and pain in this world. What we need is more people to spread more love.

We believe that there are more significant and productive activities worthy of the funds being planned to be poured in this bloody and meaningless so-called-sport. However, if such individuals- the proponents and its benefactors find delight in such pitiful activities then they should really consider finding for themselves a life.

Please help us stop the enactment of these housebills. Greyhounds are living beings worthy of a chance to live in loving homes and families who understand their needs. They deserve more than a life muzzled up and behind kennels, if not running in the race tracks. If we were blessed to have been given the chance to live with loving pawrents who treat us as integral members of their family, why can’t they?

For more information please visit the following sites:

http://www.mefindhome.org/

We were informed that House Bill 5291 had already passed Congress and is already now in the Senate for a second reading and is in danger of becoming a law very soon.

As of latest, only 11 senators have committed to vote NO against the passing of this bill: (Thank you very much!)
1. Senator Chiz Escudero
2. Senator Gringo Honasan
3. Senator Pia Cayetano
4. Senator Miguel Zubiri
5. Senator Jamby Madrigal
6. Senator Manny Villar
7. Senator Rodolfo Biazon
8. Senator Aquilino Pimentel Jr.
9. Senator Mar Roxas
10. Senator Alan Peter Cayetano
11. Senator Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III

However, we still need to convince more than half of these senators:

Sen. Ping Lacson -
ospml@yahoo.com
Sen. Lito Lapid - sen.litolapid@senate.gov.ph
Sen. Loren Legarda - loren_b_legarda@yahoo.com
Sen. Kiko Pangilinan -
kilosko2004@yahoo.com, kikopangilinan@gmail.com, kikopangilinan@kiko.ph

Sen. Bong Revilla - senbongrevilla@senate.gov.ph
Sen. Antonio Trillanes - senateoffice@trillanes.com.ph
Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile - senator_enrile@senate.gov.ph
Sen. Jinggoy Estrada - senjinggoyestrada@senate.gov.ph
Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago - senmds@yahoo.com
Sen. Dick Gordon - rjgordon@senate.gov.ph
Sen. Ed Angara - edgardo_angara@hotmail.com
Sen. Joker Arroyo -
office_sen_jokerarroyo@yahoo.com


You can also sign up in this petitionsite:


http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/save-the-philippines-from-greyhound-racing



We would like to encourage that emails to the remaining senators be made so as to let our voices be heard faster. Just this morning, we were told that it is around this time that the Senate will vote on the House Bill. Please help us amass support to show these senators that the world does not need another "burial site" for greyhounds.


Thank you very much and we hope that, united, we can put a stop to this abuse to one of God’s greatest creations.

If loving these animals is too difficult to do, we, at least ask that they be given respect.

August 10, 2009

I am a Bad Dog...

Does it show? *cough cough* Please ignore the torn pieces of foam, chewed furniture and scattered toys in the background…



For some very odd reasons, the hoomans said I had been quite a bad boy last July.

For one, I did this to manong…


Not on purpose of course (apparently the rough playing went a little too rough)… And yes, I did say sorry many many times.

As penance, Poopie and I had to endure the discomfort of being permanently clothed.


Seeing as this is a compilation of July, I would like to point out that such pictures were taken sometime early July and was supposed to be our way to show support for Phantom. Sorry it took us this long to post these…



Clearly, Poopie and I were not happy.

But then again, that is what empathizing is all about. We are just glad that to-date, Phantom is doing well and is once again, shirt-free!



As for George, he had finally moved residence. That is, from manong’s room he now moved to our living area.


And oh, though I am sad to report that he still does not know how to bark *tsk tsk* he now makes Poopie-like whining sounds and has learned to perch on hooman fingers,



and erm… hooman heads…



The end of July also marked the culmination of the hooman’s Biggest Loser Home Edition-1-month-only contest, and here are the results:

Manang- lost 1 kilo
Manong- lost ½ kilo
Manang Tin- lost ½ kilo
Manang R- lost 1 kilo
Manang Clavel- lost 2 kilos
Aki- gained 1 ½ kilo *cough cough*
Poopie- gained 2 kilos (finally!!!)

Umm… perchance, you pups know of any biggest gainer contest somewhere? These application forms are all filled out and ready!



All in all, July was a good month. If only, we had blogged more about it, instead of going through all these paper works. It was too troublesome that I had even volunteered to help sort out the mess in exchange for an extra helping of kibbles.




There are still lots to share, but for now, let me end with this. Next time, we will post about manang’s new discovery- our new doggie heaven: Bow&Wow, our new favorite treats, more tales of destruction and probably a new video!

As an end note, I would like to dedicate this handsome photo of myself to Aunty Shane…this is my version of the “Hershey-sleeping-on-the-belly-look”


Happy Belated Birthday Aunt Shane!!


Hope you will have a splendid vacation! We love you lots!


Drooly kisses,

Aki, the big boy

July 16, 2009

We Officially Introduce...

MR. GEORGE KEBAB MENGNHANI

Pee-ees: We noticed that our camera is getting grainier pictures/ videos, so please bear with us. Maybe in the coming weeks Aki and I will convince the hoomans to break our piggy banks so as to update the flashy box and get our existing one into retirement, until then, expect more grainy videos. We love you and have a happy weekend!!