She’s a Rott n’ roll star

As the cliché goes, "Off with the old and on with the new." Yes, this definitely applies to me. You see, a few months ago, my gorgeous Rottweiler, Maximus, died of (gasp!) renal failure. What a tragedy. I was so traumatized that I didn’t want to have another dog again – not yet or not ever. It would just be too hard to handle and too darn expensive.

So, off with the old…

But as luck would have it, Anya, my dad’s short but beautiful Rottweiler in Bacolod gave birth to adorable puppies a few months later. He gave away the rest but kept one for me. At first I was hesitant to accept it because I wanted a poodle or a smaller dog (like Kathy Moran’s Gorby). But maybe it was just meant to be.

And on with the new…

On my birthday, my dad sent me a female Rott via Airfreight and I named her Sara. She is lovely: with a big head, big ears, big bone structure and shiny hair. Unfortunately, when she was a puppy, my mom accidentally stepped on her left leg. It was a constant struggle for her to stand, sit and walk probably. Another reject dog like my old Max.

Well, I didn’t care. I almost cried when I saw Sara because she looked like a female version of Max. Oh no, a little "Mac-Mac!" My younger sister also got a dog – a mini Schnauzer with, mind you, a rock star name and an uncut tail. (Ha ha, Tash!) Surprisingly, they got along instantly and are inseparable playmates.

Contrary to popular belief, Rottweilers are not vicious and fierce killer guard dogs like what you see in movies. All they need is training. You can’t just lock them up in a cage or neglect them. Rotts love to be around their owners, sleep beside their beds, and greet them in the morning. This breed is like no other. They are cuddly too, you know. Just like Sara. She is a loveable companion with the friendly characteristic of a Labrador.

Dogs usually get the traits of their master. Well, what Sara and I have in common are the following: uneven backs, the urge to munch on food non-stop, naughty but pretty eyes, stubbornness, and a streak of jealousy. Plus, we’re both bitchy when we cowgirls get the blues. Now that’s what I call girl and puppy power!

I don’t know if Sara gets confused with all the people at home. But one thing’s for sure: she has a special attachment to my dad. Before she was brought to Manila, my dad woke up to the sound of frenzied barking one morning. He immediately peeked from the window and saw ripples in the pool. He had a funny feeling that Sara fell. And so, he went down, saw her thrashing in the water, and saved her. Oh, what a poor thing!

For that incident, I know Sara will forever be grateful. Wherever my dad goes, she follows. And every time he comes home, she squirts a few drops of pee out of excitement, jumps around and believe it or not, bunny hops the best way she can even if she’s (sigh) disabled.

I had Sara for four months now. And she’s just the funniest, chubbiest and cutest thing ever. Not only does she pounce on my sister’s dog but she also steals his food. She eats anything from charcoal, leaves and doggie biscuits, and she hiccups occasionally. I feel really special when Sara stays up and waits for me to get home.

Shirley, my vet, said that Sara’s leg could still be remedied by walking her and giving her calcium tablets. Sad thing is, when my little "Mac-Mac" is taken for a walk around the village, she sits after a few blocks to rest because her leg can’t take the pain. When she’s suffering from emotional stress, I try to heal her with Reiki so she could feel more relaxed.

I just love Sara’s insect adventures. It’s such a laugh to see her kill an ant on the wall by pressing it with her nose. Then she waits for the ant to fall before slamming it with her paws. One time, she tried to catch mosquitoes and flies with her mouth. She also jumped as high as she could to reach the buzzing bee, and dipped her snout on water after playing with a centipede with her nose. How unbelievably adorable for a disabled dog!

At last I had enough time to move on with Max. Now, I have a light at home that never goes out. Sara just brings a positive vibe to a negative world. The great thing about having a new dog is it’s like embracing a new family member. And the best part is that there will be new memories to make, treasure and relish forever.

There will be more adventures with the disabled bunny-hopper and insect-killer.