A doggie Easter party

We knew this would happen.  From the moment The Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) organized a Halloween pet event several years back as a fundraiser for our animal shelter, we knew that it wouldn’t be long until people asked us to organize other pet events celebrating occasions like Christmas, Valentine’s Day and yes, an Easter Egg Hunt for dogs.

It would still be the guardians trying to find the eggs for their pooches, not unlike scenes of parents carrying one year olds and grabbing the prizes at the pabitin during kiddie birthday parties.

But that didn’t stop Alpo, which joined PAWS and the La Vista  and Loyola Grand Villas Toddlers’ Playgroup, in mounting a unique Easter Party for all dog lovers.

The energetic kids who trooped to the La Vista Park enjoyed getting dog designs painted on their faces, making bunny masks and decorating their own Easter Eggs.

The dogs got a special treat when they were among the firsts to sample the newest Alpo variety — Alpo Lamb.  

There was a surge of anticipation as the Easter Egg Hunt was about to start.

”Release the kids,” the host said.

“Release the dogs and dog owners!” she shouted next.

The Easter Eggs for kids were hidden in the main field, while the Easter Eggs for dogs were scattered around the fenced-off playground.

There was the unmistakable sound of shuffling feet, bustling for position and then a mad scrambling into the Egg Hunt areas.

Dog owners exchanged tentative looks — partly because they were still in a state of disbelief that they were, for the first time, taking part in all this — with a special area all to themselves.

But when they entered the dog Egg Hunt area, the competitive mode set in.

Owners of small dogs scooped their wards in their arms in order to move faster around the area. Owners of big dogs shrugged their shoulders in frustration when they could not get to the eggs in plain sight because their dogs wanted to sniff along the bushes, overgrowth and the paths “not taken.”

Kids with dogs could not believe their luck. After combing through the main field, they could still run into the “dog” areas with their pets doubling their chances of finding the eggs with special prizes!

We heard that there is a dog with a talent for holding multiple tennis balls in his mouth who plans on joining next year.