Pets got Diet’s heart

Diether Ocampo is one cool dude. He is a pet lover (he lives with 11 of them – cats and dogs – and he is an advocate of PETA or People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals).

"I am busy doing a new TV series called Rounin," said Diet. "It is an anime-based action drama series which will be shown soon." In spite of his busy work sked, Diet makes sure he spends quality time with his family of cats and dogs. And, when all is quiet at home, Diet busies himself with writing new songs for Blow, his rock band. He is working on the third album for the group.

Did you grow up with pets?

Yes, I grew up with pets.

How old were you when you had your first pet?

I was eight years old. My first pet was a cat. It was funny how he seemed to understand me when I spoke to him. I used to think that was uncanny, but funny.

Do you spend enough time with your pets?

Not as much as I would like to. But I do make up for the times when I am busy at work by giving them extra care when I get home. I spend a little time talking to them and telling them how my day went. This really helps get rid of the stress that comes with my work.

How many pets do you have?

I have six dogs and five cats. Did I count that right?

What are their names?

Let’s start with the dogs. Downey (Golden Retriever), she’s three; Tristan, a Pomeranian, he’s four; Party, a Siberian Husky, she’s two and her unico hijo, Uno, he’s three months old; Pogee, a Jack Russel Terrier, he’s two; and Alfred, a mongrel, he’s three. And then there are the cats: Basti, a Tom Cat (a.k.a. Daddy) is now five years old; Mandy (a.k.a. the wife), she’s three; and the kitties are Snowy, Vanilla and Shobee. Whew! Did I miss anyone? Hope not.

Who bathes your pets?

When I have time, it’s me. Otherwise, the helpers do it.

What do you and your pets do together?

We play and eat together, usually on weekends.

Have you ever taken any of them out of town with you?

I used to take Downey to Taal Lake when I would go sailing. Pogee comes with me when I go wakeboarding.

Do your pets make you smile?

Yes. I remember feeling so depressed and then I saw Tristan humping Downey. Imagine a Pomeranian stud and a Golden Retriever in heat, I almost died laughing. Tristan suffered a stiff neck.

Do any of your pets sleep with you?

Yes, Basti, my Tom Cat, and Tristan sleep on my bed. They get along when it’s time to go to bed. Downey used to stay in my room, but I woke up one night to the smell of her digested end-product. Now, she’s banned from staying in the bedroom.

Other than dogs and cats, what pets did you have?

I used to keep a baby Boa Constrictor when I was still living in a condo unit. I woke up one day to find it gone from its terrarium. I had to call the admin to inform them of my predicament. The angry residents had sleepless nights for a while. After four days, I was able to extract it from its coiled position underneath the built-in cabinet. I brought it to my friend’s farm. That experience was so traumatic, yet funny at the same time.

Why do you like pets?

Because it’s fun to learn about other animals. I am also amazed at how our pets are able to behave and adapt to our lifestyle.

How do you give names to your pets?

I choose the first names that come to my mind.

What other pets would you like to have?

Big or small it doesn’t matter. I like all kinds of animals, even the weird ones.

Any advice for first-time pet owners?

Treat your pet like a member of the family. They have feelings, too, and you don’t want them to feel bad, do you?

What’s it like to be an advocate of PETA?

It’s fun and exciting to be an advocate of a well-respected organization like PETA. I think everyone should get involved.