Dogs Can Be Friendly, and Dogs Can Bite!

The friendship of a dog can be wonderful for children’s emotional and physical health. But children are most at risk for dog bite injury.

According to the Public Health office of the San Lazaro Hospital, a total of 6815 cases of dog bite were reported to their office, in the last quarter of 2001. That’s 75 dog-biting incidents a day – and covers only parts of Metro Manila.

The Bite Free (Iwas Kagat) Program aims to reduce the incidence of dog bite injury – by encouraging responsible dog guardianship and by teaching children safe behaviour around dogs.

While no prevention program is 100% successful, teaching children how to approach or retreat safely from a dog, and which situation to avoid, will give them greater confidence and safety in handling encounters with dogs. It can make life more enjoyable for dogs too!

How to Meet a Dog Safely

1. Never run up to any dog, you might frighten them.
2. Ask your parent or adult with you, if you can pet the dog.
3. Ask the person holding the dog if you can pet the dog.
4. Ask the dog if you can pet him. Stand beside the dog, extend a fist and allow him to sniff your closed hand. Move slowly and speak softly. Quick movements and loud noises can scare a dog.
5. Pet the dog, starting under his chin and then you can move your hand up on top of his head.
6. Always remember, NEVER RUN AWAY FROM A DOG. No matter how gentle they are, they will want to chase you.

(source: pbrc.net)

How to Act Around A Stray Dog

Things to Remember with Dogs (and all Animals)

• Ask Permission before petting someone else’s dog
• Leave mother animals and their young alone.
• Do not try to pet dogs that are tied up, sleeping, eating, behind fences, or in vehicles.
• Do not pull their ears or tails.
• Do not grab their food, bones, or toys.
• Do not try to stop fights. Call an adult for help.
• Always act kindly and gently. Animals have feelings too.
• Leave wild animals alone.
• Report the details of injured, stray and threatening animals to adults who will call the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) or animal control authorities.

Why do Dogs Bite?

The vast majority of dogs are safe, reliable companions but even a friendly dog may bite if threatened, angry, afraid, or hurt. Some dogs can be described as dangerous-bred, or trained to be aggressive, with predatory instincts that may case them to chase and attack a fleeing child.

Dogs Protect Things, Places and PEOPLE

Just as humans do, dogs protect things they care about, whether it be food, their puppies or their favorite toys. They are also protective of spaces – their own and their guardians’. Eating and sleeping areas, yards, porches, and parked cards are all commonly defended by dogs. A child reaching through a fence or arriving unannounced at the door can turn a neighbor’s warm loyal pet in to a growling, aggressive protector.

Other reasons dogs may bite

• Cornering, crowding, or standing over a dog, particularly a small one, may make it feel defensive. Children should stand back and never put their faces close to a dog’s mouth. The face is the most common site of serious dog bite injuries.
• Stray dogs are in danger and maybe dangerous. Any dog that is loose may be lost, frightened or injured – and more likely to bite.
• Sick or injured dogs may be afraid or irritable and should be avoided by children.
• Elderly dogs may have impaired vision or hearing which can cause them to be more easily startled.
• Some dogs are inadequately socialized. Dogs living with and around children need to be able to tolerate degree of rough treatment without resorting to biting. Choose your dog carefully and discourage even play biting by puppies, to avoid problems later.
• Most dog bites injuries occur during play. A dog that is excited or nervous can bite by mistake. Children should be taught not to play fight, tease, yell, or chase dogs or other animals.
• Dogs can feel left out, especially when a new baby or pet joins the household. Give a dog extra love and attention at these times.

Guardian’s Responsibilities: Selection, Socialization, Spay/Neuter, Care & Control

1. Under the law, owners can be held liable for their dog’s action – including dog bites. You can reduce the likelihood of your dog biting someone by observing these points:
2. Do not let your dog run loose. Provide a fenced run and leash your dog when you go for a walk. Avoid having young children walk dogs they cannot control.
3. When you meet children while out for a walk, be sure they approach your dog properly. This ensures their safety as well as protecting your dogs.
4. Socialize and train your dog. Puppies from pet shops may not have received the socialization they need to be well adjusted, particularly if they are from puppy mills.
5. Choose your dog carefully. Pups should be evaluated in light of the parent dog’s behavior.
6. Ensure that your dog is vaccinated annually for rabies and other communicable diseases. If your barangay has an existing regulation for dog registration, have your dog registered. This will help in identification, should your dog get lost or is impounded.
7. Do not leave babies or very young children alone with a dog.

Feel free to share this with your friends who are planning to adopt a dog, or already have dogs The more people know about their responsibility – not just to dogs but to animals in general, the better for everyone in this planet.

because i really want to lose my gut, and running outside ain’t for me.

Packaging reminds me of Nars.

My skin under 3 lighting conditions (naks). Notice the golden specks? You don’t need a bronzer when wearing this!

There’s this ongoing survey amongst bookworms – would you or would you not buy a kindle?

“Nothing compares to an actual book… smell the paper, feel the spine of the book on your fingers…  So kindle is a no-go for me”

while the other camp says,

“As long as I can read my ebooks, I’m fine. The medium is not the message”

Actually there are no camps, that’s just me talking in my head hehe. I agree, and I admit, I like smelling the books I read – lalo na yung mga lumang libro. Sabi nga nung bampirang kumukutikutitap, “my own personal brand of heroine”. Well di naman ako ganon ka-addict, but you get an idea of my weirdness.

But, I also like downloading ebooks off the net, and I don’t like the idea of printing it (save the trees!), so a kindle works for me in that area.

Anyway, eto lang naman ay pagmumuni muni. If anybody is giving me one, I would gladly accept it. By the way, it’s now only $189 on Amazon

Parang di na ako natuto sa mga bagyong nagdaan sa buhay ko (literally & figuratively). Same thing with Pinas, can you believe, in the year 2010 ay nagkakabrownout pa tayo? I had to endure 22.5 hours of no electricity – short really, considering my aunt’s electricity came back around 48 hours after. Que horror.

Actually, mei kagandahan din namang naidulot ang brownout na yan:

1. Walang nakuryente ng mga nagbagsakang poste – we should really try to resolve this ugly problem. Most countries have their cable/electric lines underground, why can’t we? Besides, those posts are just eyesores and mess up a beautiful photograph (agree? agree!).

2. Nakapagexercise ako… ng aking braso. Imagine, 10,000x walis tingting strokes. Wish I took a photo of the scattered tree branches and leaves on our streets – but I was too overwhelmed by the sight, my compulsion to clean kicked in. First time ko din nakita mga kapitbahay ko after a long time, mga hindi nagsipasok sa opisina at nagaayos ng kanilang mga bahay hehe.

3. Was able to use all those scented candles I’ve accumulated from Christmases ago hehe.

Lastly, it felt good to be disconnected from the world for a while. No TV, No Radio, No Internet. Ang sarap ng tahimik ang mundo.

wanna see my nephew & niece, and my sister too. i miss the gloomy skies of london, the double decker buses, the yummy indian street food… and shopping ain’t that bad either

see how GLOOMY and GRAY it is?

Bali, Indonesia

Bora Bora Lagoon Resort & Spa 2

A girl can dream. bow!

While the rest of the Catholics in the Philippines were in Church listening to the priest explain what family’s all about, I was out and about with my family early in the morning, experiencing what family’s all about.

Yes I did make a jab at the Church, so I might go to hell tomorrow. Anyway, before I do, let me tell you what I did that Sunday with my family, and hopefully give you an idea at what you might want to do in Tanauan Batangas.

1. Mabini Shrine – Here lies the brains of the Katipunan. If you do not know him, kindly refresh your memory. The Mabini Shrine in Tanauan Batangas (after star toll way exit, turn to the right towards Talisay-Tagaytay route. Go straight ahead until you see the sign pointing towards Mabini Shrine) houses some of the late Apolinario Mabini’s belongings – including his tomb transferred from the Mausoleo de los Veterenos de la Revolucion in Manila. You can check out more information here.

It was actually a bit creepy; most antique items give me goosebumps. You’ll also see a replica of his house (where he was born) outside of the museum. I’m not a Shrine expert, but I have to say this is one of the better ones here in the Philippines. Make your visit count by making a donation

2. Rambutan - tis the season for Rambutan. At P40 per kilo on the highway of Tanauan, you cannot say NO to the power of the sweet fruit. It’s hard to miss, and you’ll see the Rambutan trees line up the road.  “Kuya wala nang tawad!!! Kuya wala nang tawad!!!”. I think the manong wanted to hit a crate over our heads. Rambutan in Indonesian, Filipino and Malay literally means hairy caused by the ‘hair’ that covers this fruit – c/o wiki. Interesting, I know a few people I’d like to call rambutan.

3. Tanaun Church - aha, you say to yourself, you pretend to be this non-church going biatch but you just visited a church! And perhaps participated in Visita Iglesia last holy week! You are somewhat correct; I like going to Churches because I happen to like looking at Churches. It’s the feeling-architect in me.

Tanauan Church is located at the city proper. The church was constructed in 1881(wow a whole century before I was born), with a typical early European architectural style. It has an extraordinary wide-open middle nave and rounded niches. To get there, from Star toll way(assuming you came from Sto. Tomas Batangas), take Tanauan Exit, and turn left to City Proper. Just follow the road till you hit the dead end – which is the church and a few schools surrounding it. We were also supposed to visit the Jose Laurel Memorial Library but it was closed.

4. Since you’re in the city proper already, make a quick stop at Panideria Pantoja. They make really good bread, better than most I’ve tasted.

5. Since bread and rambutan can’t fill a tummy craving for lunch, we made our way back to the talisay-tagaytay route and had our lunch at Taal View Heights. My dad bought clubshares a few years back, and now we’re taking full advantage of it. It was only that Sunday when I realized there were so many activities at the clubhouse… aside from your usual swimming hehe. You can play basketball, tennis table,volleyball, badminton and they rent out bikes so you can try out your biking legs on the hilly streets of Taal View Heights. Wow, I sound like a bad sales man… Food was good and affordable! And there were a few patrons so around 1pm, we had the pool to ourselves.

After lunch, we rested a bit and went on our way to Tagaytay. If you plan to take the Talisay-Tagaytay route, your car had better be ready for those steep inclines, but my, what fabulous views.

You know, Tagaytay always manages to surprise me with something new every time I visit. Be it a new restaurant, or a new plant  from the market. We just had coffee at the cliff house, and made our merry way home.

This wasn’t the first time we missed mass to spend meaningful, quality time together . I am not a fan of hour-long sermons and then leaving empty. I’d rather we spend Sundays on the road, discovering something new in the world. After all, my parents won’t be here for long, and my siblings will probably have their own families in a few years in a decade. I like that we weren’t in a hurry to go grocery shopping, or rush home to clean the car or whatever chore there is to finish.

I like that we’re relaxed, talking, laughing, bonding, eating – what family should be doing on Sundays.

I am not trying to argue with people who attend Sunday mass. It’s your choice, and it works for you; it just hasn’t worked for me yet. As Drei would put it, “we choose our own way to believe”. Maybe I haven’t found the right church, or maybe I’ve been listening to the wrong sermons. Who knows when I’ll find the right place for me? But for now, spending time with my family won’t hurt my chances of heaven right?

This is one of those Sundays I will NEVER get tired of having.

Briefly, how to get to Tanauan.

From slex, take batangas exit. Move your way straight up to star toll way (you should be turning right), and take Tanauan City Exit. If you turn left you’ll be heading towards tanauan city proper (where you can find panideria pantoja and tanauan church), while turning right will bring you to the street vendors selling rambutan, a close up view of  taal lakeshore (the municipalities of talisay and laurel are on the way, and an alternate route to tagaytay), and buena vista club (taal view heights).

I’m not one to say I’ve loved dogs as a child – I’ve had several bad experiences with dogs (dog chasing me, dog chasing me while I biked, dog barking at me till I nearly curled into a ball on the ground… and the list goes on) and one of them involved needles =( boo.

Last May 20, our dog Pam gave birth to 5 beautiful puppies and in the process of selling them, I couldn’t help but think what the future holds for my puppies. Would their new owners love them as much as we did? Would they still love them after losing their puppy cuteness? Would they ever experience living on the streets as many of their unfortunate comrades have been doing? It breaks my heart to imagine one day, they might be shown the cruelty man is famous for or worse, be the “lucky” pulutan of the night

Which brings me to my first visit to Paws, the animal rehabilitation center in Quezon City.

I’ve been wanting to visit the place for years now, and only had the time to do so a few weeks ago. As you know, I only venture out of the house every so often, so since we would be in the QC area that day, I asked my dad to bring me to PAWS.

Tip: visit the place during the dead hours of the day, or week, unless gusto nyo ma-trap sa traffic ng ateneo, C5, at Marikina.

Of course, I didn’t come to PAWS empty handed. I brought 2 bags of  dry cat food, and 2 bottles of zonrox (the biggest ones).

Tip: PAWS needs your help – in money or in kind. In-kind donations for animal rehabilitation include: Medicines – cat & dog food – food bowls – old towels – collars & leashes – detergent.

Not to sound melodramatic, but I could feel the tears coming when I visited the dog pens. There were 2 – and it was feeding time so you could imagine the dogs jumping, running up and down, waiting for their food. I had 2 major feelings at that moment – happy because they were in a good place, well taken care of, and they were eating dog food!  I felt sad too – everyday these dogs are hoping the next visitor who comes to PAWS would be their brand new parents, so they can start living & loving again.

Don’t forget the cats! There were cats everywhere! On the steps, in the office, and in a separate space of their own. There were 4 kittens up for adoption in the office.

Somehow, knowing PAWS exists gives me comfort there’s a group of good good goooood people rescuing and rehabilitating stray dogs/cats. I know in the event my pets not in my care anymore find themselves abused or left alone to fend for themselves, there’s a group who just might be able to help them(although I told the buyers of the puppies if they can’t take care of the puppies anymore, to just bring them back to us).

“Animal lovers are a special breed of humans, generous of spirit, full of empathy, perhaps a little prone to sentimentality, and with hearts as big as a cloudless sky” – Marley and Me.

I  pray Pinoys would be more responsible with their pets. I’m guilty of that – we didn’t intend to have puppies but we now have 5 adorable puppies chewing my jeans away. I know selling them is against the principles of PAWS(as they espouse adoption), and because of that, we’ve had an agreement here in the house not to have any more puppies. The 2nd step is to get more information on neutering/spaying  our dogs. To be honest, selling my puppies is a very painful, heartbreaking process for me and my family, and we don’t sell for profit.

“Someday, I’ll be able to put up an animal shelter in Las Piñas… “

I’m still hoping I’ll be able to do more for PAWS; whether it’s adopting or making a donation, I’m still not sure. I just know that by writing about PAWS, I’m already showing my support.

PAWS is open from Mondays – Saturdays, 10 am – 5 pm.  Quick, schedule your visit today! You may also visit their website at http://www.paws.org.ph/.