ode to the canine

A lot of people would mistakingly assume that just because I am the #1 cat lover, I hate dogs. On the contrary, I do love dogs, too, in fact, any creature for that matter. I must've descended from the line of Noah or something. I have a softest spot reserved for them strays, in particular.


Having said that, animal cruelty is a huge source of vexation for me, especially in this country where we can’t do much about it - legally, at least. It makes me turn into a misanthrope sometimes. A friend of mine just wrote on her blog an epilogue of sorts to the recent typhoon Frank about how pets are neglected in dire times like this. And I was reminded that even on regular days, a lot of people still take their pets for granted, which is ironic because those animals didn't choose to be with them in the first place, it was the other way around. For instance, I live in a residential building with another tower being constructed beside us. I would often hear a dog or two howling from the direction of the construction site, sometimes non-stop at night, perhaps from hunger or from being improperly caged or leashed. Another - our building is on a narrow but busy street but I have seen dogs cramped in a tiny cage along the sidewalk in front the owner's house. The dog could barely stand inside the cage. When Frank started to let loose early Sunday, I was quite awake then and I could swear I heard those dogs wailing discordantly against Frank's whipping winds.

Something my friend said as we exchanged comments made me think that in this case, the most destitute, mangiest of cats are in a much luckier position than the pet dog sheltered by an inhumane master. I know that cats do not enjoy as much respect from most people as dogs do - they are seen as evil or cunning and unaffectionate, they get run over by cars a lot, and people put them in sacks to lose them. But at least (most of the time), for both strays and pets - cats can't be tied on a leash, kept in cages with large spaces between the bars, they can easily sneak up someone's table or inside garbage bins for food, and they can climb to higher areas during floods. The news on the cats that were helplessly gunned down inside an animal shelter in Makati last December is another story altogether but all in all, when it comes to animal cruelty, the old adage about cats having nine lives does make sense. After all, if they already seem indifferent (seem being the operative word) to humans who love them, they won't stay a second with those who won't treat them well.

And for this, my heart goes out to the canine kind, who are known for their loyalty and taking to heart being their master's best friend, even when their masters don't.