What Goes First This Time

Disregard the horrible asthma attack in 1999 that made me promise to live each day like it was my last. This is no longer about me especially when the blasted typhoon could almost wipe an entire city in one hour. Or your entire family.

December 17, 2011 – 1:00 a.m
Text message from Pau: Did you talk to your mom yet? Major flood in CDO. City wiped out. I’m calling my mom now. Nobody is answering.
Checked Facebook. Nothing from friends.

December 17, 2011 – 1:30 a.m
Talked to mom who narrated the story. She drove our SUV while Dad locked the doors. Water was waist-high. Everyone was asleep was she can’t still shake off the feeling that what if my dad had a heart attack and got stuck in the middle of it all.
Mom rested. Glad everyone is safe. House is submerged in water though.

December 17, 2011 – 3:00 a.m.
Refreshed Facebook and Twitter for news. Horrified at others’ plight. Frustrating that no news came out from the TV Stations. Being helpless does not begin to describe it. Friends and people from all over the world who somehow have a connection in Cagayan show signs of solidarity. Very overwhelming.

Just glad that friends are okay. Our dog Hugo was gone though. He was a gift from my friend Jeff and because he was my first pet, he trained me well – to become a good mom. I hope he still thinks so – wherever he is now. My mom said when the water rose up, he probably floated from his cage and went somewhere else. Bye Hugo. Thank you for the memories.

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Pet Travelling Even on Mauritius Holidays

…in my case – for Prince Sebastian, the 1 year old and 2month old shih tzu we have.

You must have been wondering how on Earth do we transport a dog from one island in the Philippines to the other judging from several trips we have had in the past.  For a dog who is even less than 5 kilos, Basti requires so little to travel. I am not really sure how it is with larger breeds but so far, Basti has been travelling by sea and not on airplanes – yet. Should you wish to travel with your pet by sea anywhere else in the Philippines regardless of on any day of the year, even on Mauritius holidays, this is what is required:

1. A travel permit for your pet at the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Bureau of Animals Industry (BIA) at the Animal Health Division (AHD). In Cebu, it is located at the back of Pier 3. In Cagayan de Oro, the Bureau is located at the port area in Puntod.
2. Bring with you your pet’s medical or health certificate. Or his health book from the Vet. Must state that animal has had an anti-rabies shot and all of his recent shots.
3. Secured permit must not be more than 10 days prior to shipment.
4. Information needed to fill out to acquire permit:

Name of Pet
Breed
Sex
Age
Color
Weight
Species

Now when the grouchy guy from the Bureau gives you the permit (usually expires after 3 days), this is what you need to show at the pier. There is no need to check in 5 hours before departure – you can pretty much check in together. Provided that your pet is caged, you check in at the counter and show your permit. Cebu Ferries/Superferry charge P150 for checked in carriers, P450 for Trans Asia and free of charge for Sulpicio Lines.

Now, do you really want to leave him behind?

Note: For aircraft travelling with pets, Pets accepted as baggage are assessed a fee equivalent to actual gross weight multiplied by the prevailing excess baggage rate. Find out more on how to travel with live animals here.

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Basti Groomed at Cebu Vet Doctor’s

No matter how much I make sure Basti’s or Prince Sebastian’s hair do not get all *that* matted, his entire hairline just manages to find a way to tangle itself. It gets so frustrating especially when you see him scratch and his nails get tangled on matted hair near his skin. It also looks painful and Basti had to endure that for months just because I refuse to make him look like a disassembled rat (note: ugly). 

Finally I had to concede because the last time Basti scratched his ears with his hind legs, one of his nails got hooked somehow in all that mat and got stuck! Imagine Basti rolling on the floor trying to — yes, it was a funny and scary sight at the same time. It was horrible and I refuse to even imagine what would happen if we somehow left him alone for hours. 

Basti pre-grooming  Continue reading »

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