Dognamic duo

What we want to be able to do is to create a venue where owners and dogs can do more things together," said Joey Tiosayco, dog lover and co-owner of four-year-old Philippine Grand Champion Titan, a Golden Retriever.

"Yup," added Mark Antonio, who co-owns Titan with Joey. "I have taken my two Goldens to shows and both of them are grand champions (the other Golden is two-year-old Polo). But after they won, what else was for them to do?"

Mark knows whereof he speaks as he is the founding president of the Philippine Golden Retrievers Club.

Mark and Joey became friends because of their love for dogs – and their desire to make Metro Manila a little more dog friendly.

Mark shares that there is definitely a lot of joy that comes from seeing a dog become grand champion. He used to get all excited showing his dogs and watching them run away with the prizes in their breed. "But there is something deep in my heart and mind that goes beyond seeing Polo and Titan as champions," said Mark. "I know that they are more than that – they are also great companions."

The two have also adopted Coco, an Australian Shepherd who almost lost his life when he was left in an air-conditioned room. Joey says that the air-conditioner had a leak and its freon spilled over. That, combined with muriatic acid left in the room, caused Coco a burnt face. "After that accident Coco was afraid to be touched," said Joey. "But I helped him recover and hopefully I made a difference in his life. He is now very healthy and since he stays with Titan and Polo he thinks that he too is a Golden."

Mark has opted to leave the Golden Retrievers Club because he feels that the club does not have the same vision he has when it comes giving more time for dogs. "And what about people whose dogs are their pets – and not show dogs – where can they take their dogs?" Mark asks.

Because weekends are spent with the Goldens, Mark and Joey have discovered the Dog Scouts, which meets every Sunday at 9 a.m. at the Quezon Memorial Circle. The Dog Scouts welcomes anyone who brings their dogs there. The people behind the group help by giving tips to first-time dog owners as to what is the proper way to not only care for their dogs but also to make sure that their dogs are properly socialized.

Joey said that one of the things that the members of Dog Scouts teach dog owners is the importance of cleaning up after their dogs. "A responsible dog owner should have a bag which has paper bags and old newspapers to pick up poop if their dog happens to do it on the street."

Also, that there should always be a fresh bottle of water for the dog "because they easily become thirsty." Mark adds that these little things are important when it comes to owners taking their dogs out. Irresponsible pet owners who don’t pick up after their dogs may also be the reason why malls and other establishments don’t allow pets inside.

Mark and Joey have also joined up with Pedigree as Titan is one of the dogs used in the ad of the pet food brand – they were tapped to help Pedigree when it came to promoting the pet-friendly Eastwood Walk.

"We went to Eastwood for eight Sundays and introduced a free obedience training program for dogs. It was a huge success," said Mark.

Aside from doing this, Mark and Joey also like to go to the different barangays in Metro Manila with Pedigree where to help teach owners just how important taking good care of a dog is – no matter what kind of dog it is.

"We get questions like: How often should we bathe our dog? Or is it OK if we use detergent for the dog? How do we cut the nails of our dog?" quipped Joey. "We don’t claim to be experts on these topics but we give them tips from what we have learned from caring for our own dogs."

Joey and Mark can go on and on when it comes to talking about the importance of pets in their lives – and they have so many ideas to share. But at the bottom of it all is their desire to do more for pet owners and also for their loving dogs.

"But we are only a two-man club. We know there are other groups that have the same vision as ours, but we want to be able to reach as far and wide as we can," said Joey. "It would be great if there were more shopping establishments that welcome pet activities even in their parking lots – these would encourage more pet owners to come out and get involved and become more responsible."

"It is amazing just how many people come up to us when Titan, Coco and Polo are with us," said Mark. "They are all so curious about the dogs. And the best thing about it is that they are not frightened by the size of the Goldens."

Indeed.

I have interviewed many people for Pet Life and most pet owners have complained about the lack of pet-friendly establishments here. I remember how Marilen Concepcion, who owns Labrador Retrievers, told me how she holds dog parties in her home so that her dogs and those of the Labrador Retrievers Club would learn how to socialize better. I have also heard complaints about people who live in exclusive villages where pets are not allowed in the park because their irresponsible humans don’t know how to clean up after their dogs.

"We’re a two-man team who only want the best for our pets and for everyone else’s pets, too," said Mark. "Maybe when dog-phobic people see how much fun owning pets is, they too will change – and hopefully become pet lovers, too."