Tail Tales

If I don’t do this story Sophie will be very angry with me. She hasn’t been very happy with me ever since I put her on a diet about a month ago. Her doctor had said–out of earshot, of course; she can get very sensitive about these things–that she was overweight and it wasn’t good for her health.

Eighty pounds of bounding energy, Sophie is our one-and-a-half year old labrador retriever. Technically she’s not my dog; she’s my niece’s dog who has residence in my house. But she has undoubtedly established herself as part of the household, marking off her territories (where she sleeps, where she spends her mornings and afternoons, where she stays when it rains) and her schedules (when she eats, when she goes out for her walk around the neighborhood and her romp in the nearby park).

I am a first-time pet caregiver (since I am not the owner); I don’t think the barn owl and the bullfrogs I had when I was a kid count as "pets". Despite my initial resistance and long-standing fear of dogs I must admit I was very quickly taken by Sophie’s charms. Coming to us at ten weeks she was an adorable bundle of golden fur, all cuddly and soft. In no time she grew into a big, rambunctious kid, endlessly inventive about ways to play. She’s an expert goalie, giving up very few goals in our afternoon football matches. Let’s see if Beckham or Ronaldo can get one past Sophie!

With her soulful eyes and keen intelligence, Sophie really knows how to get her way. Discipline has to be very strictly enforced, especially when it comes to her diet, because she will do anything–anything–to get that extra piece of bread (her favorite food) or fruit (her next favorite; she is non-carnivorous, unlike her caregiver). That, of course, is nothing new to long-time pet owners; dogs are, after all, really smart and sensitive creatures, much more so than many humans, say pet owners. And, some will even argue, better looking too.

It will be hard to argue that point when you take a look at the celebrity canine (and their owners) portraits currently on exhibit at the Celebrity Pooch Gallery at the Rockwell Power Plant mall, some of which are shown on the following page. Groomed and coiffed to the nines, these doggie darlings are obviously spoiled by their owners.

The exhibit is part of the Responsible Pet Ownership Campaign of Rustan’s Supermarkets, which includes a Pet Care Center which boasts of a resident pet consultant who will even match dog type to potential owner. There is also a Puppy Outreach Program which will bring doggie cheer to orphanages and homes for the elderly, a practice widely used in other countries not just to bring cheer but to actually facilitate healing and recovery among patients in hospitals, particularly in children’s wards.

The campaign also seeks to increase the tribe of canine-loving converts, via perks for first-time owners. But sometimes all it takes is a laughing, wagging tail and one look into those huge eyes. As basketball star Alvin patrimonio says of his Salsa and Taco (delicious names), "Being a responsible pet owner is just like being a responsible father–giving unconditional love and getting it also in return."

Woof.