Meet Doglas, a short-haired aspin (native) puppy we adopted from Pandi, Bulacan, and now Bigong's baby brother (and the Azure cats' nemesis). lol

I never imagined getting another dog this early- just seven months right after we rescued Bigong, but we thought the timing was just right and Bigong was already feeling lonely in the house of cats. I was only worried that a new puppy would scare the cats away and that he wouldn't get along with Bigong.

In November, Ate Neneng (one of our principal sponsors and daughter of the late Col. Emmanuel V. De Ocampo) mentioned that one of her farm dogs gave birth. I jokingly said I wanted one, specifically a boy, and she was like, "Meron! Usually hindi ako nagpapamigay ng lalaki pero pag ikaw bibigyan kita!" On December 10th, we drove to Manila from Bulacan with a puppy on Bani's lap.

One of Doglas' first pictures in Bulacan, before going home.
He was like a tiny baby that needed a lot of TLC.

Doglas at 1.5 months
It was my first time to take care of a puppy this young so it was something new to me but I loved every minute of it.



We made sure to bring Doglas to the vet first before introducing him to Bigong. Marikina Veterinary Hospital was already closed on the day we got him so we waited until the next morning. There, we found out he had a lot of fleas and ticks. They were everywhere!!

We separated him from the cats and especially Bigong for a few weeks, meaning, he was in our room the entire time. I'd rather have our room tick-infested than the whole house with Bigong and the cats in it. (We disinfected our room, of course!)

It wasn't an easy task because Doglas loves to roam around explore, and smell new things.

Bigong (with his anti-flea/tick collar) and Doglas' first encounter
After a week or so, we decided to introduce them to one another, and Bigong didn't growl at him the way I expected him to. He sniffed him a few times, and went on his usual everyday routine as if he didn't meet Doglas for the first time.



Since he was in our room the whole time, he would go on his day by sleeping a lot and getting into random things he shouldn't be playing with. He also succeeded in potty-training just in a few days!


He's hyperactive, alert and affectionate...


...and sweet and snuggly.

(c) Evan Burris Trout
A few days before Christmas, I got him a cute Santa outfit and did a quick photoshoot. On that same week, he learned to go up and down the stairs, and ever since he did, he's been doing it non-stop all day everyday.

We even started training him to sit and behave and as a return, we praise him and give him treats whenever he obeys– just like Bigong who's easy to train.

He does this face when he's in trouble
He's a very vocal puppy. When he's in trouble, I would usually tell him to stop and listen but he would answer back by barking so loud that I couldn't even hear my voice when I talk to him. It sounds silly and it gets annoying at times, but I end up just laughing at myself.


And now that he is almost tick-free and bathes every four days with Bigong, they play and hang out day and night.


And they became inseparable.

Bigong watching over Bani when he got sick
Now that the new addition in the family is here, Bigong started sleeping in our room together with Doglas and Leighton.

I love my pets so much. They are my world. My everything. My only wish is for them to be happy and healthy as always.