Welcome to Danny Tan’s furry world
They say that people who are close and comfortable with animals are kind-hearted. Their pets reciprocate the kindness with absolute loyalty, after all dogs are believed to be man’s best friends, right?
Musical director/arranger and composer Danny Tan can attest to that. He’s at ease making music as he is with his furry friends, no wonder he decided to put up a pet shop called Furry Tails (with outlets at SM North EDSA, SM City Fairview, SM City Sta. Rosa, Laguna and Fairview Terraces).
Funfare recently talked “furry” with Danny, the go-to person for your “furry” needs.
How is business during this pandemic; what pet animals are you selling?
“Business has gone down by 50-60 percent. We are only allowed to operate at 50 percent capacity but the sense of happiness serving the fur babies of our clients still permeates the shop. We don’t sell live animals anymore to give us more time to concentrate on our pet grooming services.”
When and how did you start this business?
“My business started in 1998. I was then a hobbyist. I had dogs as pets at first then got hooked on fresh-water and saltwater fishkeeping. I was a regular client of a saltwater fish shop in Tandang Sora which was sold to me by its owner. I figured it was practical for me to buy it so that I could have easier access to the suppliers of quarantined and good quality saltwater fishes to sustain my own hobby.
“In early 2000, I opened a pet shop at the back of Rustan’s Superstore in Cubao, Quezon City. By then, we added hamsters, birds, other small animals and dogs to the list of live animals in our inventory. In December 2000, I opened my flagship store at SM North EDSA now with branches at SM City Fairview, SM City Sta. Rosa and Fairview Terraces.”
The live animals must be a big attraction in your stores?
“Live animals were very essential to the business at that time because they attracted a lot of people to go inside the store and buy more pet food and accessories. A few years later, we added pet grooming services due to numerous requests from our clients.”
Is it hard taking care of them; you talk to them?
“It was burdensome to care for live animals inside a mall. I talk to the dogs to calm them down while they are being groomed. It is essential to talk to them in a calm and happy voice to avoid stressing them out.”
Since you said you put your pet business on hold during the pandemic, what are you busy with?
“I was busy cleaning and organizing my storage area, checking my inventory and attending to more paperwork.”
Do you have more time writing songs?
“Sad to say, I had less time writing songs since I had to attend to a huge inventory in my storage. However, it gave me time to archive my musical works which I regularly post on my Facebook account and upload to my new YouTube channel.”
How many have you written and how many have been recorded?
“I have written only a few songs since I was not really known to be a prolific composer. That is the one thing I regretted in my career. I was more busy as an arranger and a musical director to help me survive because I supported myself ever since I was in high school. As a Tausug, I was qualified to be an indigent scholar of the government in college. After passing all the necessary requirements, I enrolled at the UP College of Music, Diliman, Quezon City. I had to take odd jobs so that I could save enough money to fund my graduation recital.
“Unfortunately, I did not go back to school again because I became busy with my musical career. I had songs recorded by Regine Velasquez, Zsa Zsa Padilla, Verni Varga, Nonoy Zuñiga, Ivy Violan, Joey Albert, Nora Aunor, Pilita Corrales, Donna Cruz, The CompanY, Julie Anne San Jose, Jolina Magdangal, SugaPop, La Diva, Jona Viray, Lani Misalucha, Ariel Rivera, Ayen Munji Laurel, Kyla, Bert Nievera, Elmo Makil, Maricris Garcia, Eva Castillo, Jaya, Dina Bonnevie, Calvin Millado and Hajji Alejandro.”
Do you sing to your pets to cheer them up (halata naman pag sad sila, di ba?
“I am not really a singer so I just talk to and play with my dogs to cheer them up.”
How long does it take for a mynah to talk and what is its lifespan?
“Mynah birds begin speaking at three to four months and tend to quit learning new words once they reach two years of age. They live up to 12 to 25 years.”
What about lovebirds; when one dies does the surviving partner “commit” suicide daw?
“Lovebirds committing suicide after their partners die is just a myth. Lovebirds can do quite nicely on their own until you can get them a mate again. After a death, many parakeets will mourn their loss. Symptoms of mourning include loss of appetite.”
If you write a song for your pets, how would it sound?
“If I were to write a song for my pets, it would be a very happy one. It is a tribute to them for giving me unconditional love and unfathomable happiness.”
(E-mail reactions at [email protected]. For more updates, photos and videos, visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on Instagram @therealrickylo.)
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