Mindanao Times Writer Suggests Animal Cruelty

I called their office and I was told to write my complaint on email and send it to them. I am glad to share what I wrote to them as this will also be forwarded to this supposed writer.

Hope everyone shares my view, but this is also just my opinion to the matter.

I may not be the best writer in the world but at least I have the decency to be more respectful of other living things and can even write about it and share it with my friends and family.

According to Animal Welfare Act of the Philippines, only a registered veterinarian can perform euthanasia to an animal, or it can also be done inside only of the premises of the city pound. It is also said that it is MANDATORY to acquire anti-rabies vaccination to our pets. This column by Loreto Tinitigan entitled "Pet lovers, your attention please!" at the Mindanao Times dated today, March 21, 2011 (http://www.mindanaotimes.net/?p=18318), has sent my nerves cracking for paid published writers like him pretending to be responsible pet owners on print media and even reasoning his highly humanitarian authority to give up his pet for "asocena" just because he had to endure 25 injections to save him from rabies which obviously costs a lot of money if only he had updated his dog's anti-rabies shots then maybe it could've been a win-win situation--both of them alive and well and kicking. Oh by the way, the anti-rabies vaccination by the Department of Agriculture Bureau of Animal Industry is FREE. Since it is mandate from the government itself to give anti-rabies vaccinations to our pets, this service can be enjoyed by anyone with pets.

Ignorance to the law is inexcusable.

I am Marie Angeli S. Gacayan, 26, female, single, self-employed and had never graduated college. I am a proud owner of 3 Basset Hounds and 2 Miniature Dachshunds, a dog kennel I run in memory of my brother. And this writer has never even passed as a novice pet owner in my opinion.

I am not afraid to face this man and tell him that what he has done is against the law and of our morals. I have been bitten by a dog before, and a puppy at that which had more rabies than that of an adult, and it died 2-3 days after it had bitten me.

I cried for its death and then I was sent to the hospital to start my 90-day schedule for anti-rabies shots. I didn't blame the puppy for my misfortune. I blamed myself more for being less of a responsible pet owner. The puppy died biting me because I didn't give him anti-rabies vaccination. An experience charged as a life lesson.

Yes, I don't have children. I hate kids to extend that matter, and so is my hatred the same for responsibility, but my hounds taught me that what I give them will always result to something. They are a mirror to my actions, good or bad. Pretty much like raising a child, I suppose. The only difference is, the dog is never wrong. There is no such thing as a bad dog, only a bad owner.

Basset Hounds and Dachshunds are members of the hound group classified as scenthounds who, unfortunately, are not the brightest of all the breeds. Basset Hounds are known to have the second-best nose in the canine world, hence their stubborn nature. Dachshunds have highly-acute sensitive noses which also make them very hard to train but plausible if with consistency.

So why am I making problems for myself anyway if this is a bother? Well, it is not a bother for me. Basset Hounds and Dachshunds are known for they affectionate nature. I am impatient and have a very bad temper (my psychologist even told me to undergo Anger Management which I never did), but I fell in love with these breeds. They were not bred for training, they were bred for hunting and it's up to me as their owner to enhance their hunting instincts through dog sports in the city.

Obviously, this man had read too many wrong information. Why should he care about celebrities and their dogs? He can't even take care of his own dog! He should've called the City Pound and give his dog up to them instead of giving it to his friends for meat! UNBELIEVABLY INHUMANE! Yes, my dogs are far way more important than I! I can survive with bread and water daily while my hounds eat boiled black meat, rice and water cress and serve it cold with dry dog kibble. That is the cost I accepted to make them healthy and away from vet bills. I had saved a puppy once from near tricycle accident on a Monday morning while I was on my school uniform. I glared at the driver and then the puppy ran away safe from the heavy traffic.

Why should he have the right to judge an animal's life when he doesn't even know how to take care of one? If he had experience taking care of pets, then at least he could've taught his children why dogs are man's best friend, like what Cesar Millan, the dog whisperer, would tell everyone. It pays to be knowledgeable of responsible pet ownership. Take the time it takes, as what Ed Frawley of Leerburg Kennels, a professional K9 trainer in the U.S., would say.

His opinion is an evidence of poor pet ownership. I suggest he never touches another living thing in his life ever again, and while he's at it, never write another insipid column without even acquiring the proper knowledge to begin with!

Oh by the way, if he doesn't know, the proper way to introduce yourself to the dog is to let him smell you without eye contact. Form a fist with your hand and let the dog sniff it, then conform in a positive voice to let the dog hear you. Lastly, if the dog advances in slowly in a non-aggressive form, touch it's ears slowly and continue talking to him in a positive tone until the dog makes the first eye contact. That is how you introduce yourself to a dog. A helpful tip so he can save himself from another 25 injections.

Pfft. Amateurs. They think it's easy when they don't even know the slightest idea.