Canadians love dogs and treat them as part of their family.
Imagine all the time and effort going well into caring for these dogs. Never mind the expense of providing them with pet food, drugs and medical treatment when sick. Of course, they, too, need vaccinations to be healthy.
All time of the day, in all kinds of seasons, dog owners have to walk their pets around their neighbourhood, and this winter, I have seen some dogs walking around wearing some blanket covering their bodies.
In my neighbourhood at Guildwood, I’ve seen all kinds of dogs—big, medium-built and small—being tagged along by their owners.
What’s so touching, I’ve seen seniors with their dogs; some were on a cane or a wheelchair, but still, they are motivated and joyful, walking their dogs in the neighbourhood at any time of day.
Upon seeing these seniors with their dogs, I’m convinced that walking with their pets contributes significantly to their health.
Instead of being passive and idle most of the time in their homes, at least when they walk their dogs, they get exercised too.
Just imagine the bond and closeness developed by these canines with their owners through the years.
Recently, a couple, Judy and Ivan, our good friends, came to our home with their ice cream cake, tagging along their little dog.
What a surprise to us, seeing some of their dog’s antics. Judy would tell her dog, “sit, roll down, jump, and her dog would do all these commands, happily moving her back on the floor.
Then, Judy says,” give me fives” the dog raises one of his hands and taps Judy’s hands, and Judy feeds her with some apple slices.
Nena, a good friend in the Philippines, said that she has a son who’s into dog breeding, and these husky dogs only eat boiled chicken breasts and pet food, and these have to be regularly seen by a dog doctor at the clinic. In some cases, if they are so sick, they even have to be confined in these clinics.
She said she has her own Askal or the so-called street dogs—and these dogs are indigenous to the country or are mixed-breed. These street dogs are not hard to care for because they can eat anything, even those leftovers.
Nature is also a great equalizer, she said, because if her askal dogs are sick, she will let them eat grass, and after a few days, they are OK, with no need for clinic confinement.
Desiree, another good friend of mine back home, has a different kind of advocacy, and she put up a non-profit, Save Animals of Love and Light (Save ALL), whose objective is to rescue stray dogs and cats. Her love for dogs and cats is beyond compare; she would even spend her own money to care for, feed and take them to doctors if they are sick.
And when these dogs healed and were in good condition, she was willing to let other people adopt them, thereby telling the public, “Don’t buy dogs; adopt them.”
Sometimes, she asks some friends for help if she runs out of funds to care for her dogs and cats.
Mind you, it takes a big heart to undertake this kind of advocacy, not expecting anything in return except the happiness of seeing these dogs and cats recovering and the people adopting them for good.
During the recent 9th anniversary of SAVE ALL, Des said, “Thank you for all the help to rescue, rehabilitate, rehome, and continue caring for the rescued ones. We still have 128 dogs and cats in our care at this time. While we are looking for adopters, can you still help us care for them?”
To all the dog and cat lovers, may your tribe increase!