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International Dog Day celebrates our tail-wagging companions regardless of shape, size, age, or breed. From rescues to pampered pooches, each dog has its own quirks and charms for their owners to remember them by.
This collection of stories celebrates the delightful variety of well-loved dogs in the country, with anecdotes on what endears each owner to their four-legged friend.
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Oslo and Princess Paris and Dr. Z Teo
My Z Giant Poodles are big in size but babies at heart. They love cuddles, are gentle mannered and enjoy being carried like a big baby. Check out my stare off with Oslo and of course my Princess Paris with our power hug.
George and Tiger and Bea Ledesma
Both my dogs are from the shelter. But Tiger, my youngest born, is a native Philippine dog. He has incredibly long nails, built to scale the tallest and narrowest of trees. But so far, he has only attempted to climb the sofa or bed. When faced with a tree and words of encouragement, his only instinct is to lift a leg… and pee on it.
Nimbus and Kathy Villar
Nimbus has the kind of smile that’s just too cute to resist. Somehow, he’s mastered the art of posing for photos—he’ll freeze as soon as he sees me with a camera. And as soon as I click, he’s eagerly waiting for his treat.
His cute little whines when things don’t go his way are also heart-melting! It’s funny how they’ve even brought him a bit of fame.
Lara’s Ark Shelter and Kai Yulo
There’s something special about the love of a rescue. Unfortunately, Aspins often get a bad rep in the Philippines—seen as dirty, skittish, or only good for being “bantay.” But once you earn their trust, these dogs will go to the ends of the earth for you.
A little fun fact: Aspins aren’t just mixed breeds—they’re actually Southeast Asian Village Dogs! Research by Embark Vet traces their lineage back 15,000 years to Central Asia when man and dog first became best friends. Today, these free-roaming “Village Dogs” make up 75% of the world’s dog population and are incredibly diverse, which is why Aspins come in all shapes and sizes.
I hope that by sharing these findings, we can change the narrative around Aspins and encourage Filipinos to appreciate all the things that make our dogs so special. Support your local rescues—adopt, foster, and spread the word!
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Charlie the Gardener and Marie Obena
My dog is actually a cat. Did you know that dogs can hear around 4 times better than humans and that they have about 15+ muscles in their ears to rotate, tilt, raise, and lower? And yet, Charlie uses all those muscles to ignore me whenever I call her. One would think dogs would come running the minute you call them, but not this reincarnated cat. She is definitely not a people pleaser, and will ignore anyone she meets but will respond to “meow.”.
Her side-eye could make anyone weep and her judging glare and ability to make her own decisions will make you question your life choices and self-confidence. She chooses when she wants attention, which makes it all the more rewarding for me when she decides she wants a kiss or a pat on the head. My dog also eats better than me. Charlie went through a phase where she wouldn’t eat kibble and I had to experiment on everything just to make her eat and get her out of her self-imposed hunger strike. Now, Charlie eats well-balanced meals with novel proteins and the best ingredients. Heaven forbid you gave her too much broth or not enough, or if you gave her the wrong cut or slice of meat or didn’t appropriately mix and mash her veggies to hide it from plain sight! She would absolutely walk away from her bowl if it’s not up to par! It proves to be worth the trouble though, because she is healthier and happier nowadays and that is our top priority.
She also loves car rides. Given the chance to pick a toy, a treat, or to go out, Charlie will drop everything to get into the car. She’s the first one in there as soon as she hears the doors unlock. Wide-eyed and ready for any adventure, I’m pretty certain Charlie counts the days until her weekly Sunday walkies. Her enthusiasm breathes new life into everything and every place we go to. All of a sudden, a mundane trip to the bank is the most exciting thing in the world. She’s just happy to be out and about and is a constant reminder to everyone to find the joy in every little thing you do, have fun and when you can, do what excites you.
Mary and Danielle Daza
This is Mary. Ever since she was a puppy she would skip. At first, we thought she was hurt or there was something wrong with her leg, but then we noticed she did it on both hind legs and only when she was about to eat or when the whole family was together, or after she’d taken a bath. She would smile, stick her tongue out, and skip like a cartoon character. We even called her “Skips” sometimes as a nickname. Sadly, she passed away last year but we still love her so much and remember her every day.
Ley and Philipp Renner, Dr. Shiba CEO
My Golden Retriever, Ley, has this funny habit. Wherever we go, she always wants to hold my hand with her paw. At home, while traveling, even just waiting around—she’ll reach out and put her paw on my hand. It’s become our little thing. This connection with Ley actually inspired a lot of what we do at Dr. Shiba. We’re always trying to create products that help other pets and their humans bond in their own special ways.
Lolo Simba and Malou Perez, Pawssion Project Founder
At Pawssion Project, we care for so many dogs, but Lolo Simba always stands out. He’s one of our seniors at 11 years old, but you’d never guess it from his energy! During our recent photoshoot with Shaira Luna and Dr. Shiba, Lolo Simba was running around like a puppy—tail wagging non-stop. It was heartwarming to see him and our other rescues really happy and loved. We hope our adoption campaign shows people that every dog, no matter their age, has so much love and joy to give.
Coco the GAS (Gravity Art Space) dog and Melai Matias and Indy Paredes
Coco is a charming, super smart, and sweet dog. She isn’t used to hanging out with her fellow canine, but she’s very comfortable with other humans. She also loves playing balloon and going swimming.
We consider Coco an Art dog because she behaves well every time we go to art galleries—in fact she has so many photos with art. She also knows to be careful around art and has never broken anything.
Her IG account is @Coco_thegasdog and her art account is @P00P_appreciation.
Photo by Mikko Hizon
READ: How Gravity Art Space is breaking the gallery mold
Tej Tan and Dolores
Dolly is short for Dolores, named after Dolores O’Riordan because of the Cranberries’ song “Zombie.” Her full name is Dolores “Dolly” Dent, in reference to Harvey Dent, AKA Two Face, from Batman’s rogues gallery.
Dolly is not “kawawa, pangit, or nakakatakot.” She’s cute, sweet, gentle, and very loving. She loves to roll around grass. Dolly also has an adoptive Aspin sister named Lizzy and they celebrate their birthdays feasting on Jollibee Chickenjoy. Fun fact: she also has a portrait at Vets In Practice Mandaluyong.
Dolly attends PAWS events as much as she can to represent the “less adoptables” who have found new homes and encourages people to adopt dogs with special needs like her.
She was a stray dog in Aklan—usually begging around for food. One time she was asking around for her usual treats and someone dumped boiling oil on her. An Italian national, Frank Leone, who worked as a chef, found Dolly after that and brought her to Manila for treatment— she was so thin then, literal skin and bones.
Dolly was treated in Vets in Practice Mandaluyong for 4 months. She then stayed with her foster parent, Mitzi Cruz for one year before I found her on the PAWS website. I applied to adopt and by Dec. 1, I was with her already—we also made the date her new birthday.
Photo by Frisky Pawtraits
Juana Yupangco
Daisy is our six-year-old Lhasa Apso who was given to us by my mom. Lhasa Apsos are the guard dogs of the Dalai Lama and guard the temples—thus her loud bark when people come to the door. Despite her warning bark, once the person comes in, she immediately asks for a belly rub—which is the opposite of what a guard dog should do.
Hoshi our shitzu, got her name from Seventeen-member Hoshi, as we all had PCD (post-concert depression). Hoshi also means “star” in Japanese. We met her because a friend of mine was giving away pups and she was the last one. Back then, she held her paw up at us—we of course, read this as Hoshi’s trademark “Horanghae.” She definitely took on his energetic personality!
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Sasha and Angela Go-Agustin
I first saw Sasha posted in an ad for sale when I was scrolling through Facebook marketplace at 2 a.m. She had a wacky face, a very kind and friendly personality, and a haircut that looked like Beyonce’s. She was six months old and being rehomed by her owners because they could no longer look after her—they also told me I had to pick her up at 8 a.m. the next day or else they’d give her to someone else. They were even offering me to swap her with an old iPhone if I had one available. It was love at first sight for me and I knew she was meant to be mine. She was originally named Kitchie but I renamed her Sasha (after Beyonce’s alter ego Sasha Fierce).
In a way, she was a rescue and I’m glad I saw her in time. True to her namesake, she is a strong and loyal protector but at the same time, a softie who wants to be loved and cuddled. Because she grew up around my cats she is also just as agile and likes to hang out on top of tables and furniture. She turned eight years old this year—she was born on July 10, 2016. I didn’t even realize it at first, but July 10 was also the day I gave birth to my baby in 2023. They share the same feisty and quirky personality and are alike in many ways.
Wabi and Rg Gabunada and Tricia Gosingtian
Wabi is a seven-year-old French Bulldog and our first baby. Wabi rarely barks and prefers staying indoors, making him the perfect companion during the pandemic. He keeps watch over our kids outside their room. Despite having undergone two surgeries, he always keeps a smile on his face. Wabi spends most of his days sleeping and snoring. He always lets us know he’s around by the occasional fart.
Pepper of Stephanie Zubiri
Pepper loves fruits and vegetables. She goes crazy for apples, carrots, cucumbers, and broccoli! But, she won’t even sniff at bacon or beef. Her favorite thing? Being squeezed.
Storm and Kifu Augousti
She’s traveled to over 10 countries.
Ollie and Izzy Concepcion
Fun fact: Ollie goes with me to the office almost every day. Before I leave, he is already in the car. If I don’t bring him with me he makes “tampo” and ignores me the whole day after.
Martini and Lala Singian
Martini is one of those dogs with human eyes. When she was a puppy, her guardians called her an “iceberg dog”—a type of dog since she had brown eyes and a brown nose, which was not typical of her Maltese breed since most have black-colored features.
After a harrowing accident, she had to remove and reattach her paw, which she bravely endured surgery and long-term treatment for. Named after our family’s favorite boozy drink, she is also a strong athlete and a long jumper, who can jump more than three feet high with ease.
Hakaw and Kim Hsieh
Hakaw loves people because she loves getting belly rubs. She’s the only pet I’ve had who isn’t afraid to go to the vet because she knows she’ll meet more people there who can give her belly rubs.
This isn’t always good though. One time when I left the house, nobody saw her try to follow me. We only found out a few hours later that she had disappeared. We searched for her in the area but couldn’t find her. Good thing the guard at the village gate saw the plate number of the car that took her. We looked up the car plate number and eventually found the owner of the car. We contacted them and got Hakaw safely back home. She probably thought the stranger taking her was another belly rubber so she happily went home with her. Now we know that Hakaw would happily leave with anyone if it meant more rubs and kisses.
READ: After Oscar: Navigating the loss of a pet in my adult years
Hodgepodge and Hannah de Veyra
Hodgepodge and I share the same birthday. He and his six siblings were born a few hours past midnight on the 4th of June. He was the largest of the litter. Hodgepodge is one eccentric dog. He mindfully stares at my mom for hours and hours every day. He doesn’t like being left in the house despite having someone looking after him. He is our living and breathing Ewok who loves playing with my niece Adriana.
Noah and Isabel Santos
He knows the words “aircon,” “investigate,” and the sentence “Sino ang umihi?”
Aki and Ish Sison-Amores
I believe the saying, a dog (or a pet) comes into your life at the most perfect time in one’s life. Aki has been the perfect example. It’s so funny how she treats my husband and me very differently.
Every morning, she slowly inches her way on top of me till she reaches my face (mind you, she weighs 29 lbs) to give me tiny, gentle kisses and she stops as soon as I wake up and start petting her.
After she’s done with me, she reaches her paws to my husband while her hind legs are still on me, making a bridge, then roughly climbs on to him and gives him the sloppiest, roughest kisses all over his face and ears until my husband bursts into laughter! This has been the best way we’ve been starting our day!
Pancho and Elo Quiambao
Our little Panchito is the face of selfless love. He lovingly came to our family at a time when I was busy with some projects. I was scared that he would eventually love me less than when he first saw me. But to my surprise, each night I’d come home, he would run to me at full speed with much love. Their devotion is not always mathematical. In fact, it is often the opposite.
Rocco and Bryan and Maxine Kong
Rocco, our five-year-old tri-color Pembroke Welsh Corgi, was named after Morocco, the country where my husband and I got engaged. He’s been a constant source of joy in our lives ever since. Full of energy and always eager for a game or run, Rocco also has a softer side—he loves to cuddle when the day winds down.
On a raw food diet since he was a pup, Rocco especially enjoys raw chicken and ground beef, with daily supplements of Spirulina, dried greens, and a banana for dessert. But he’s particular about his routine and won’t start eating until he hears the commands: “Down. Wait. Okay!” One of our favorite things to do together is take road trips to a hidden beach spot in Ilocos Sur called Apo Nena. We go there three times a year, where Rocco runs off-leash, swims, plays with local dogs, and even mingles with free-range chickens. It’s his happy place, and seeing him there always reminds us of the simple joys in life.
Douglas and Dixie and Ayka Go
We had the wonderful opportunity of adopting Douglas back in 2015. My parents and brother saw him frail and skinny in a hamster cage at a pet shop. He was so thin it looked like his eyes were popping out of his head and had bald patches. The owner of the pet shop was willing to give Douglas away because he was being a “burden” to the many pets that he was already taking care of. The original owner of Douglas according to the pet shop owner was an old lady who had to move to a condominium where pets were not allowed. She had no choice but to let go of him.
Initially, we weren’t supposed to be Douglas’ family. The pet owner said a boy had already gotten Douglas but the next day had to return him with his mother stating Douglas was an ugly dog. I guess it was meant to be because if it weren’t for that situation Douglas wouldn’t be with us today. It was such a long journey of healing for him that the vet even told us he would just live for a month only when we first had him checked. He even only weighed 0.5 kg Visit Siteat that time. 30 days passed by and he was still with us. But we weren’t out of the woods yet to the point that even on his sixth month with us his platelet dropped to six—it was just one illness after the other. But it’s 2024 now! He’s been with us for nine years now. Amazing what genuine TLC can do.
Dixie was my boyfriend Sid’s Christmas gift to me last 2020.
Cole and Marco Yulo
Cole has always been scared of water. He hates bath time and runs away when he sees the ocean or a swimming pool. But recently, we got him to go in a pool. He was scared at first and was just sitting by the steps of the pool. After seeing a friend’s smaller dog swim, he gained confidence and started to do short laps around the pool.
Usher and Sophia Berbano Concordia
I was nine years old when I got my first dog Usher as a gift. He was a black labrador and remains one of the smartest, funniest, and most empathetic dogs I have ever had!
I remember in middle school right after we just got him and he was still in the process of being house-trained, we left him in our room and he ate absolutely everything in sight, including my homework! As Usher got older, he became a lot more laid-back. He was the absolute dream dog. He knew how to open doors on his own with his snout, if someone said “excuse me”, he’d get up from where he was and move away, he also always knew when someone was sick and would snuggle up to whoever was unwell.
Last year, Usher crossed the rainbow bridge after a long and wonderful life. I’m so grateful to have been his human! There is truly nothing like the love you have for your first dog.
Porsha and Precious Gonzalez and Bryan Chua
A cute little pomeranian with a feisty and sweet personality at the same time. Loves snacking, swimming, and watching cartoons. Also love the outdoors (with less people of course).
Cupcake and Sanj V. Licaros
Cupcake, our corgi had a big appetite. A chunk of Stilton vanished during one of our parties at home and after the guests left, we noticed a pungent smell coming from her mouth and mystery solved.
Au Lait, a toy poodle saved Cupcake from ripping her nose apart when it got stuck on a wire. Not only does Au Lait have a heart of gold but the heart of a hero as well.
Rocket and Ryder and Tricia Centenera
Rocket and Ryder, my two beach-loving mini Poms, have been with me through the last decade and have seen it all! Definitely not as rambunctious as they use to be, they’re more like two grumpy old men now. But the love they give my kids and I every waking minute, despite dealing with the constant hair pulling and hugs from a 3 and 5 year-old that just might squeeze the life out of them one day… They are always loyal and willing to give snuggly cuddles. Where would any of us be without out fur babies!
Monique Madsen
Malthe is a professional shoot assistant! He comes to work with me and poses for the camera for test shots. He is very behaved on set and knows his anglejoya