Pet places to be

I have gotten in the habit of taking Gorby, my Toy Poodle, with me wherever I go on weekends. This is why I can never be found in any place where dogs are not allowed. Unless, of course, I have to be there for some very important event.

Gorby and I have come up with our favorite weekend hangouts. Here they are:

1. Any store or restaurant in Rockwell PowerPlant Mall except for the bookstore Fully Booked. The guards there are so snooty and they never allow me to enter when I am with Gorby. Why, I have no idea.

2. Greenbelt 3 and 4. Gorby loves the park. We hear Mass at the Greenbelt Chapel and we have made quite a few friends there.

3. Eastwood City. Gorby loves that place – and the sales people there are so friendly that Gorby gets to sit on the counter tops of any shop.

4. Bizu in Greenbelt 3. The staff are so kind to Gorby they even offer him a drink when I go there.

5. Market! Market! Although Gorby can’t enter the Metro Department Store, he is welcomed in the mall.

6. The Fort. The empty lots are great places for Gorby and I to play chase. I chase him, that is because Gorby just loves it when he is let to run around off leash.

7. PARC. The Philippine Animal Welfare shelter. Although Gorby has only been there once he loved seeing the other doggies there and making new friends there.

8. Out of town. Gorby loves to sleep in the car. I like to drive. So in that sense we are a perfect pair. I take Gorby to Tagaytay when I can. He is always welcome there – any place, any resto.

9. Pet stores. I like to visit pet stores because I love to look at what new things there are around. Of course, he is welcome.

10. At home. When we just want to hang out, Gorby and I stay home and lie around in bed. Gorby takes his side of the bed which is the one closest to the electric fan and air-conditioner.

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One of our pet peeves while Gorby and I are out is bumping into people who find Gorby cute but have never been around dogs before. There are kids who love to taunt Gorby. Or teenagers in their flip-flops who use their feet to pet Gorby. I really hate that. We have also bumped into kids who have tried to kick Gorby. I gave the kid a really bad stare – scared him off it did. But there are many more people who ask about Gorby and show a genuine interest in dogs. "Does he bite?" is one of the most common questions people ask. And I appreciate it when people ask before they give Gorby a pat on the head. Gorby appreciates it, too.

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At the Dog Walk for a cause held on May 8 Gorby did a lot of walking, more than he has ever done in his short pet life. He noticed that there are still so many pet owners who did not pick after their dogs, sad. And to think that we were walking to protect the rights of our canine companions.

Another sad discovery that day was that there are still a lot of dogs that are not yet socialized. "Huwag mong ilapit yan sa mga aso ko," said a woman owner of a Rottweiler to me. "Galit siya sa maliit na aso." It is important for pet owners to socialize their dogs if they plan to take them out. This way, a dog can be around people and other dogs and not cause any harm to either. We have much to learn.