Sta. Rosa photo spree...

Hi All,

To say that we had strayed far from the beaten path is an understatement. Last saturday, we found ourselved in Sta. Rosa, Laguna instead of our usual meeting spot at Boni High Street in Fort Bonifacio Global City. We braved traffic and heavy construction along the SLEX but it was all worth it once we arrived at Belle Reve Clubhouse. We were invited by our friend Rina who also is "owned" by golden retrievers -- count 'em 7 of them! The Belle Reve Clubhouse was really nice -- with a lot of wide open fields for our golden babies to run around off-leash.

We had a mini-photo shoot in one of the landscaped gardens. The golden babies took turns posing among the rock formations. If I may say so myself, the photos were worthy of any magazine cover. LOL!

As they say, the pictures tell the story...

http://gorgeousgoldensinc.petster.com/blogs/Jennie_73/Hu nter/13416

Woofs and wags,
Hunter

2008 World Rabies Day Dogwalk @ Boni High Street

Dear All,

We just realized that it's been a long time since we've written anything in our blog. So sorry but mom and I have been busy helping her friends involved in animal welfare with all the activities scheduled these past couple of months. First there was the World Homeless Animals Day, then a series of activities on Responsible Pet Ownership, then the launch of the Hobbes and Landes Pet Club. Whew, a whirlwind of activities.

Just last Sunday, September 28, the Animal Welfare Coalition of the Philippines held a dogwalk activity at Boni High Street in celebration of the 2008 World Rabies Day. Mom and I joined them in their crusade to eradicate rabies not just in the Philippines but worldwide as well. We had a long dogwalk around the Boni High Street complex then ended with some refreshments at Krispy Kreme and Seattle's Best. There were the usual talks on responsible pet ownership, free rabies vaccinations and pre-exposure vaccinations for the human companions, and lots of freebies (both Go! Natural and Royal Canin were sponsors so we got dog food samples, as well as Science Diet dog treats and some grooming products as well). There was also a magic show for the kiddies and the kids-at-heart.

After the dogwalk, we had fun posing under the sticker signs posted on Seattle's Best store window. There was this sign "Best Pet" that I just had to pose under...and mom decided to get in on the action as well by posing under the "Best Mom" sign...LOL!!!!

Well...until next time!!!

Woofs and wags,

Hunter

My Baguio vacation

Hi All,

I'm back from my first vacation to Baguio City and boy did I have a great time there. For one thing, Baguio was about 10*C cooler than Manila and that, by and of itself, made the whole trip worth the 5-hour drive to get there. I loved walking up and down Session Road without breaking into a sweat. It really felt as if an a/c was on everywhere we went -- even out on the street!! We don't get that here in Manila. *Sigh*

We stayed at this really great place called Medrano's Apartelle in Brentwood Village near Leonard Wood Road. They did not, as a rule, allow dogs but the owners made an exception for mom since she assured them that I was really well-behaved. So as not to embarrass mom, I proudly showed-off all my obedience skills at the drop of a hat! The owners and staff were so impressed (ahem-ahem) that they said I would be most welcome to come back. Yay!!!

We did all the touristy things there at Baguio -- we walked up and down Session Road (Baguio's commercial district), then we visited Burnham Park (designed by the same Daniel Burnham who designed Union Station in Washington, D.C.), the Baguio Botanical Gardens, Mines View Park, the Mansion House (the summer residence of the President of the Philippines) the Good Shepherd Convent (where we bought yummy strawberry jam and ube jam), Camp John Hay and the garden trail at SM Baguio. We opted not to go to Wright Park because the horses give me the willies. All of the places we went to were gracious enough to allow me in albeit on the condition that I was kept on leash the entire time -- well, you can't win them all. On the other hand, you can't say the same thing about establishments here in Manila which, almost all, are decidedly not dog-friendly.

My favorite among all the places we visited was the Baguio Botanical Gardens. All the flowers were in full bloom (credit goes to the mild Baguio weather) and, I must say, the park looked spectacular. I had fun getting my paws all muddy (it rained the night before) walking along the garden's numerous cobbled paths. My only regret is that I could not run free throughout the gardens -- that would have been bliss!!! Oh, I did get chased by a goat mom and her kids (hee-hee, that was fun) while walking back to the apartelle.

What amused mom the most from our trip was the little bit of celebrity that followed us everywhere we went. You see, there is this golden retriever called Fulgoso who is a regular on a local tv series called "Marimar" (a Philippine adaptation of the Mexican telenovela of the same title). Everywhere we went people just kept calling me Fulgoso. People just approach us and I get so much attention -- they pat me on the head, rub my ears, stroke my fur, compliment me on my handsomeness (ahem-ahem) and some even asked to take pictures of me and mom!!! But, on the flipside, there are some people who are so ignorant of the golden retriever breed (i.e., how nice and friendly we all are) that they give mom and me a wide berth when we are out walking. A silly lady even screamed in panic when my tail brushed her leg (I stepped on her foot for good measure -- haha).

I really enjoyed myself the whole trip so I was really sad when it was time to leave. But, as they say, all good things must come to an end. Mom promised me though that we will be back soon. I hope she keeps her promise...

Woofs and wags,

Hunter

We're off to Baguio!!!

Hi All!

Mom and I are off on a 4-day trip to Baguio, the summer capital of the Philippines. Sweet!!! I will finally be able to escape the monstrously hot Manila summer and enjoy the cool mountain air up in Baguio. This is my first real vacation and I'm sooooo excited. Mom says I'd better be ready for the 5-hour trip, though. Gulp!!! But, hey, all I would be doing is sleep, right? She will be the one driving. Hope we make a pee stop on the way because I don't think I can hold on for 5 hours. BOL!!!

Woofs and wags,

Hunter

Can't seem to shake off the vet!!!

Hi All!

I am just having a really bad year health-wise. You already know about my recent bout with poisoning. I just went back to vet yesterday for a check-up and get new blood tests to see whether my liver is getting better. Got the results and it was good news for the liver test at least -- its finally almost down to normal levels -- so, yay! But the results also showed really low platelet levels so the vet took another test and it was confirmed that I am positive for ehrlichia (from an infested brown dog tick). At least it's in the very early stages so I just need to take meds (doxycycline) so that it does not progress. Oh boy, I thought I was finally done with the meds but now I have a whole new set to take for the ehrlichia. Mom is just confused how I got it since she is very meticulous about administering Frontline and I have not had any ticks or fleas since I was a wee pup. Maybe I picked it up during our walks??

Hunter

Gorgeous Sissy tagged me ... thanks!

Here are my anwers to this fun game of Tag!! After reading my answers, please do the same and then tag four more friends....and so on...and so on!!

Love, Hunter

Name 4 jobs that you have:

1. To wake mom up with a slobbery lick on her hand, foot, face or any combination of the above every morning (sometimes before 7 am -- heehee)
2. To jump up and down like crazy everytime mom comes home from work
3. To bark at the bakery delivery person, the mailman, the meter reader, and any other person who rings the bell or knocks on our gate
4. To investigate every pottted plant, tree, shrub, flower, rock, pebble, dirt and anything else found in our yard -- and that's what got me into serious health problems just recently :(

Name 4 places where you have lived (or stayed at):

1. At my breeder's house in Paranaque City, Metro Manila, Philippines
2. At my forever home with my mom at Manila, Philippines

(sorry, I have not lived in any other place)

Name 4 places that you have been: (Vacations?)

1. Tiendesitas in Pasig City, Philippines
2. At the beach in Batangas, Philippines

(again, sorry, I have not been to any other place since there are so few pet-friendly places in the Philippines)

Name 4 places you'd rather be:

1. As long as I am with my mom and our extended family, I would be a happy puppy wherever we are but my mom promised to bring me up to the mountains in Baguio, Benguet Province, Philippines soon so I could finally escape the ferociously hot Manila summer
2. Running like a bat out of hell in the big field at the back of our local church
3. Playing along the shore on the beach with my favorite tennis balls
4. Buying new toys and treats at Tiendesitas


Okay, I'm tagging the following friends:

1. Her Royal Highness Queen Kiara
2. Sweet Honey Bee
3. Pretty Annie
4. Handsome Hendrix


Again, thanks to Sissy for tagging me!

Woofs and wags,

Hunter

Hunter is home...

Dear All,

First of all, Hunter and I would like to thank all of you who have sent their healing thoughts and prayers, lit candles and left gifts and rosettes. They really meant a lot to us in our time of need.

Hunter has finally been cleared by his vet to go home. He is now out of danger, thank God. However, his liver bore the brunt of his illness trying to metabolize the poisons/toxins. He will be under heavy medication for quite some time to help his liver recuperate and regenerate. He is, at least, eating and drinking on his own again and hopefully will be back to his naughty old self again soon.

Again, thanks to all of you who have sent the power of the paw our way. It helped immensely.

With eternal gratitude,

Jen and Hunter

Hunter needs the power of the paw

Dear All,

I just brought Hunter to the vet last night since he had been acting so lethargic yesterday, had no appetite and his eyes were all puffy. Blood work showed elevated levels of his SPGT and the vet suspects garbage/pesticide poisoning. Hunter has since been confined and badly needs your power of the paw. We are all so worried and frantic but we hope that, with all of our prayers, Hunter will be ok.

Thank you all in advance.

Love,

Jen and Hunter

I am ONE YEAR OLD now!!!

Whew, what a day! First of all, I am glad that mom made it home safe and sound the day before my birthday. I almost knocked her off her feet when she arrived because I was jumping up and down vigorously -- I really missed her so. I know I griped about her long absence but boy did she make up for it big time. I got prettified at the groomers so that I would smell good on my birthday then I got a whole big box of Milkbone biscuits and a new kong and rope toy. Then, we had carrot cake and some pancit for dinner -- I love birthday pancit!!!

Mom says that now that I am one year old, I should behave less like a puppy and more like an adult. I say, hah, fat chance of that happening because acting like a big goofball puppy is more fun...

Missing Mom...

Boy, mom sure has lousy timing. Of all the times she had to take a long business trip, she just had to do it days before my birthday. Since the time I arrived, the longest trip mom has taken was about 2-3 days. This time, mom has been gone for about 8 days and will only be back a couple of days from now. I suppose I should be glad that she will be home in time for my big birthday (I WILL BE TURNING ONE!!! YAY!!!). But really, did she have to be gone for that long??? What could be more important than me and attending to my every whim??? My only company is our live-in maid -- she is nice and all but she does not always have time to play with me so I am really BORED! I really do miss mom but she better have something nice planned for my birthday to make up for leaving me for so long. What's worse is that she went to this place where it's so cool (it's up in the mountains) that I wouldn't even break a sweat walking outside. Its so unfair...but she said her client wouldn't approve bringing me along. *Sigh*