All dogs (should) go to good homes

I wish. For an animal lover like me it is hard to believe that there are people who live their lives without any pets in their homes. But it happens.

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I guess this is the reason I am glad that there are animal welfare groups — like the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), Compassion and Responsibility for Animals (CARA) Phil. and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), among others — that take in dogs, cats or other animals and give them homes.

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He was malnourished when he was found along Katipunan Avenue. The massive dog hardly had any fur left on him and flies were feasting on his stinking body. He had sagging skin and discharge coming out of his eyes. Obviously, someone had left him there to die. What other reason could there be for someone to leave a sick  English Mastiff on the sidewalk of Katipunan?

Hagrid, as the rescue team from PAWS called him, was weak from hunger and he could barely stand up. The PAWS officer who stopped to ask passersby about the dog was informed that a jeepney driver “owned” him.

The same driver denied ownership of Hagrid, saying that the dog was given to him by an unknown man when PAWS started asking him questions.

The shelter took in the gentle giant, and PAWS adoption head, Liza Umayan, a Harry Potter fan, aptly named him Hagrid.

For months, Hagrid stayed in the dog quarantine area, always wagging his tail and greeting visitors with a crinkled nose. The sticky discharge from his mangy skin would fill his kennel space with a smell that could drive a skunk away.

To test a new volunteer’s mettle in cleaning kennels was to assign him or her to scrub Hagrid’s kennel and to give him a bath.

Many baths later, after completing tests and vaccinations, the shelter vet said that it was safe for Hagrid to be mixed with the other dogs.

In late March, Hagrid timidly stepped into an enclosure where 10 average-sized native dogs quickly huddled away from him.

It was a day of new things for these shelter dogs — a portable kiddie pool had just been brought in so that they could cool off in the hot weather, and now, this giant hulk was made to join them.

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Jojo Isorena, the Filipino dog whisperer, will conduct the “PAWS Canine Good Citizenship Workshop.” Isorena has been volunteering for PAWS since 2008 and received the Order of the Platinum Paw from the organization this year for contributing his free services as behavior specialist for the PAWS shelter dogs. As a result of the Behavior Training Sessions, even the difficult shelter dogs have improved their behavior and the seemingly ordinary dogs have exhibited newfound talents such as sitting, speaking and pointing on command. 

Dog adoptions at the shelter, which increased by 26 percent, could be credited in part to the training that Isorena started at the PAWS shelter in 2008 with PAWS director Elsie Araneta as team leader.

If you want to have a better-behaved doggie, attend PAWS and the Better Dog Canine Behavior Center’s “Canine Good Citizenship” (CGC) program. The skills necessary to pass the PAWS CGC certification test will be introduced, the program discussed, and a certification test demonstrated.  Interested in any of the programs below? Call Helen at 514-7420 (office hours only) or e-mail jmisorena@me.com. 
Payment must be made in advance to confirm reservations.

The programs are:

• Introduction to Rally Obedience. Designed for pet dogs and their owners, Rally Obedience or Rally-O is a new dog sport that is fast gaining popularity as a stepping stone from canine good citizenship to the world of obedience. Dog and owner move at their own pace through a course of 10 to 20 stations, stopping to perform a specific exercise at each station. Easier than an obedience trial, Rally Obedience encourages constant communication and encouragement of the dog and promotes fun and enjoyment for everyone, at all levels of competition.

It will be held today and on July 4 at 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Fee is P3,300. 

• Clicker Training For Puppies and Dogs. More and more people are discovering the benefits of using clicker training to teach their dogs — from simple home manners to tricks to complex tasks like getting a coke from the refrigerator. It’s a fast, fun and stress-free way to teach puppies and dogs. Owners will be shown the fundamentals of training their own pet dogs using the clicker and positive reinforcement. Under the supervision of certified dog trainers, they will also have an opportunity to begin training their own dogs at this workshop. It will be held today at 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon. Fee is P2,700 with free clicker included.

• Introduction to Dog Agility. Learn about a fun and exciting way to continue building the bond between you and your dog. Agility builds confidence and is a positive way to redirect an active dog’s energy and get the exercise and stimulation that your dog truly needs. It will be held today and on July 5, 1:30 p.m.