Passing of a Pet

A video posted by One Day, Kaye (@kaichypoo) on Aug 10, 2013 at 7:57pm PDT

You always stood out: from being the whitest in a litter of browns, to your peculiar personality of oral fixations and expressive faces. 

I will feel your loss the most in the everyday things. I'll crane my neck after parking the car, just to glimpse your form on the driveway; I'll think you're nearby when I hear the soft tapping of your nails on the ground. I'll miss you welcoming me home with a leaf, a bowl, or occasionally a t-shirt grabbed from the sampay. I'll hear you in every high-pitched whine, thinking you want to be let inside; and I'll never forget when you peed and trampled my plants for stealing my attention from you. I regret not ever having captured the affection you showed Bruce, with your vigorous and thorough licking despite his seemingly disdainful face.

I hope you know how much I love you, and how loved you made me feel with every soft nudge of your muzzle or every time you laid your paws on my hand. 

What a character. What a life. What a way to love.

Knowing that my own "one day" will inevitably come, you are my reminder to love without restraint every day. I wish you could #StayKani, but I'll see you on the rainbow bridge. 

Forgive Like Animals

There is often a negative connotation when people are likened to animals. In Filipino, it is an insult when you're told, "Hayup ka!" I wonder if this thinking is rooted in the primal nature of animals, because I can't find any other reason why they would deserve that undertone. 

My dogs, for example, as my biggest and most constant exposure to animals, have more wonderful traits that some humans lack: simplicity, loyalty, kindness, empathy, sensitivity.

Negatives, brothers from another mother. #Bruce #Kani #sharpei #labrador

A photo posted by Katherine (@kaichypoo) on Jun 4, 2015 at 2:58am PDT

These total opposites - black & white, aloof & goofy - have a love for each other that looks beyond fights over food and attention, and a love for me that holds no grudges and can fix all wrongs with a happy wag of a tail or a lick on the hand. 

A photo posted by Katherine (@kaichypoo) on Feb 13, 2014 at 1:54am PST

This morning, Bruce, my black Sharpei, didn't finish his food. Kani, my labrador, saw his dish and started chowing down on it. Bruce got mad, and bit Kani in the ear to try to keep  him away; but Kani had started to stand over the dish, growling territorially. Their little riff last about 2 minutes, even as we tried to pull them apart, but finally Bruce backed down. Upon inspection, I saw drops of blood on the floor and saw that Bruce had bitten Kani quite hard, leaving 5 punctures in his ear. We brought Bruce out of the house momentarily, while I dressed Kani's wounds. 

Within minutes, Bruce had knocked on the door to be let back in (yes, he knocks.) We were wary at first, not knowing if the fight would continue; but I was touched to see them both walk toward each other. Bruce sniffed Kani, and Kani started to lick his face repeatedly. They continued to do this, walking slightly around each other, for about a minute, until it seemed they had made their peace.

How wonderful it must be to forgive like them, bearing no grudges, ready to reconcile and forget the past within 5 minutes. So while I see where the negative connotations come from (they did fight and bite first,) I want to recognise that there is more good in animals than some realise.

Not sure who's taking who for a walk. Enjoy your Sunday! #Kani #Bruce #dogs

A video posted by Katherine (@kaichypoo) on Aug 10, 2013 at 7:57pm PDT