One Foxy puppy

Yes, I treat my dogs like they are my kids," says Anna Keefe, 32. "And yes, for now, my husband and I prefer to have dogs rather than kids."

Indeed.

There was one requirement that Anna had for John before she agreed to go out with him – that he love her and her dogs. John had no problems with that. The couple has been together for 10 years and married for six.

"John and I had been in Manila for six months before I discovered the PAWS Animal Rehabilitation Center (PARC), which is run by the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS). And then my life totally changed," shares Anna.

Enter Foxy.

John and Anna will leave for home – Tucson, Arizona on Jan. 3, 2004, and when they do they will bring with them their new baby, Foxy, a Pinoy dog. Yes, Foxy is an askal but don’t let Anna hear you say that. She would rather that you call Foxy a Pinoy.

John had warned Anna about getting too attached to the animals at PARC. But Anna promised him that even if she did volunteer work there, she would not take a pet home. That was not to be the case.

"Foxy had been with PARC for two weeks and we hit it off. She would stick with me when I was there. I talked to John about it. When he came to see Foxy, he understood," says Anna.

Foxy has been with the Keefe’s for two months. She is now a resident at Rockwell, far from where she came from. Because of her size, Anna guesses that Foxy must be about 11 months old. Foxy, a name given by Anna because she says that Foxy does look part dingo, part fox and part German Shepherd, was recently spayed and is recovering wonderfully.

"I have always had female dogs and I am not into breeding so it is necessary that all my dogs are spayed," Anna says.

On the day we visited Anna and Foxy, both ladies are up and about. Foxy welcomes us into the Rockwell condo and she is obviously one happy doggie.

Foxy has about 10 to 12 chew toys but that has not stopped her from chewing on things the Keefes would prefer she didn’t. There are slippers, comforters and even the pillows. There was even a time when John had fallen asleep listening to his Walkman. But only when Anna woke him up and asked what music he was listening to did John realize that Foxy had chewed off the wire of the earphones.

"Accidents will happen. But they are only a few. For the large part, Foxy has been easy to train," Anna smiles.

Not wanting to leave Foxy alone, the Keefe’s have taken her on the only trip out of town with them to Puerto Galera. In truth, John and Anna treat Foxy like their kid and like to spend all the time they can with her. Anna laughs as she recalls the people at Puerto Galera asking her if she picked up Foxy from there and then, the shock on their faces when they find out that Foxy came with the couple.

"When we get back home Foxy will have a sister, my Doberman. I am sure the two will get along well," says Anna.

Yes, finally Foxy will have a true home.

"It was Oscar Lei of PARC who rescued Foxy from nearly becoming a meal," shares Anna.

Oscar got a call about three strays being treated cruelly and soon to become pulutan. Oscar wasted no time and rescued the dogs.

Foxy still has traces of her past, difficult life. She has bald patches and burn marks on her ears yet, although the scars may be there, she seems to be surviving life well. Of that the Keefes have made sure.

"I take Foxy for a walk four or five times a day. Whenever I go out I bring her with me. People still look at us rather strangely, but it does not bother me," laughs Anna. "Foxy walks with me and that is rare here. Most of the time, I see the helpers walking the dogs of the people who live here."

On weekends when John is at home, the couple always tries to eat at places where Foxy will be allowed to join them. Yes, in Rockwell they have been able to find a couple. At night, Foxy sleeps in the same bed as John and Anna – something that the couple does even with their Doberman back home.

"At home, we have a California king-sized bed and we should all fit pretty well in that," laughs Anna.

Anna is excited about going back home, although she has enjoyed her year stay here. In Tucson, Anna works as a dietician and the year she spent away from work to be with her husband has made her long for home and work.

Foxy’s papers are all ready, even the kennel where she will stay in the almost 24-hour flight back home.

"We agreed to take Foxy with us since there is no quarantine in the United States. All I need to show are her papers and that all her shots are in order," says Anna.

The trip for Foxy to her new home will be a long one. But she has survived so much pain at a young age that she should make it to her new home in perfect shape. The couple has agreed with their vet that Foxy will be given something to keep her calm during the trip, but nothing more.

"A house with a big backyard and a pool and, of course, the run of the house are what will be there for Foxy when we get home," says Anna. "A new sister, too."

From the way Anna goes on about Foxy, it is obvious that Foxy has truly found a family.

"She is very loving and affectionate," says a proud Anna. "She’s come a long way."

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For more information about the Philippine Animal Rehabilitation Center, call Oscar Lei at 475-1688. The Butterfly Farm in the PARC compound will be formally inaugurated today at 9 a.m. Check it out. Take the kids, too.