A dog's tale: Heartwarming and tragic

In 2019, my 14-year-old Dalmatian mix dog, Charcoal, passed away from kidney disease and maybe from just getting old. He had been staying at the vet clinic for a while, until it reached a point where there was nothing more we could do.

The morning before Charcoal passed, I had a dream about him being healthy and running around. When I woke up, I felt like it was a sign that he was gone. So, I went outside and found him lying there, lifeless. After that, I swore not to get another dog for a long time. Every dog owner knows how sad it is to lose their most loyal companion.

But no sooner had we buried Charcoal in our backyard and the soil had settled, than our neighbors offered me one of their mixed-breed puppies, a breed I wasn't certain of, but irresistibly cute nonetheless. I named the puppy Chewy, who's now three years old. Even though I said I wouldn't, I ended up getting another dog. If Chewy lives as long as Charcoal under my care, he'll have a pretty long life. But even 14 years feels too short for us humans.

Pets are more than just companions; they are part of the family. They bring joy to our lives, and one study shows that compared to individuals without pets, pet owners showed significantly higher levels of mental well-being during the COVID-19 lockdowns (Grajfoner, Ke & Wong, 2021). Pet owners were better able to cope with challenging situations and experienced more positive emotions.

But even as we appreciate the joy and comfort pets bring to our lives, it is crucial to balance this appreciation with responsibility and control, as a tragic situation in Barangay Adlaon, Cebu City, recently demonstrated.

Just yesterday, a heartbreaking report by The FREEMAN emerged about 101 dogs rescued from an abandoned, illegal shelter in Barangay Adlaon. Authorities said that many of these dogs, due to their worsening health condition, will have to be euthanized. The report states that the shelter's owner had left four months ago, leaving 127 dogs and a single caretaker. Unable to maintain the shelter due to depleted resources, the caretaker eventually had to abandon the dogs, leading them to starvation and, in some desperate cases, even cannibalism.

It was later discovered that the dogs hadn't eaten in nearly a month. Although eight of the dogs were found to be healthy and suitable for adoption, the health of the remaining animals was steadily deteriorating. Thus, the decision was made to resort to euthanasia.

Given this tragic turn of events, we must ask: How did the situation escalate to such a point? What steps could have been implemented to avert such an unfortunate outcome?

I believe it is a combination of uncontrolled pet population growth, lack of responsible pet ownership, and inadequate support for animal welfare within the community. In the case of the abandoned dogs in Barangay Adlaon, the individuals who volunteered to care for them in the illegal shelter eventually exhausted their resources. Sadly, they found themselves unable to provide further aid.

While it’s easy to say that pet owners must provide their pets with a safe, loving, and sustainable environment, such commitment can prove more practically demanding. Even I sometimes struggle to find enough time and affection for my dog, Chewy. Managing the needs of even one pet can be difficult.

So what can we do then as a community? First, we can implement a comprehensive spaying and neutering program. By controlling the pet population, we can prevent overburdened shelters and reduce the number of animals left homeless.

Another thing we can do is encourage people to take care of their pets responsibly. We should also back animal welfare groups. That way, if pets get abandoned or their owners can't look after them anymore, there are places that would not run out of resources to help.

I realized after having my first dog Charcoal that a pet is not just about its first few cute years. It's a commitment that lasts through their old age, through sickness and health, until their final days. But the reality is, we need a certain level of control; otherwise, as we've tragically seen with the dogs in Adlaon, we’ll see more of those dogs subjected to a life of neglect or abandonment.

The importance of spaying and neutering our pets cannot be overstated.