My Puppy Weekend

As previously reported – we got a Lhasa Apso puppy last December and named her Mia. I, a self-confessed dog-phobic person, can’t help but be surprised every time I find myself cuddling the fluffy thing and telling her stuff like “I love you puppy” or saying “Mia, Mia pretty Mia” in baby voices. Goosebumps!

It’s not all pretty, though. There’s poop to scoop, pee to wipe and destroyed pillows and cushions to manage. Not to mention the expense for puppy food and puppy vaccines and puppy grooming stuff. For a new dog-owner like me, I’m probably a sucker for all these - pet shops can sell me anything they say that my growing puppy needs. It’s eating up my barely there budget - she’s not part of the “itemized list” – and this morning I decided to put a slot for her already so I won’t be caught unaware of the sudden resource depletion.

My mom also says I’m like an OFW. I leave Mia in our home in Laguna with my familiar set of feeding habits, only to go home mid-week or the next weekend to find out that she’d outgrown them already. My uncle spoils her and now I can’t feed her the cheapest puppy food that I budget for. Now her puppy basket is filled with a variety of puppy food and treats so "she doesn’t get tired of her menu" (so my uncle says). Sigh. I can’t possibly keep up with Mia’s “discriminating taste” budget-wise – so whenever I am home I make it a point to feed her the local food to keep her “grounded” hee hee. Cheapskate :oP

I also thought puppy vaccines had an ending and then the dog can live a happy life without needing anymore needles. Turns out we have to get boosters of the puppy ones and other sorts of stuff and checkups as the puppy grows older. Then there’s cleaning the puppy teeth and puppy ears. This morning, (she was due for another puppy shot) I also asked the Vet to check her ears. I was so ashamed of myself when the Vet said she had super-dirty ears! I said, “Sorry, I don’t know how to clean them!” – Vet mumbled, “Tsk, time to learn” Huhuhu. I can’t even hold on to a struggling rabbit, so I really let go of Mia whenever she struggles. I guess Mia has to live with dirty ears and wait whenever I find the time and budget to take her for grooming. And I can never, never pull her hair out, which the Vet did so they can access her ears!

It was really major puppy expense this weekend, with the food shopping and vet visit. My mom said I have to accept it and reminded me that Mia makes me happy anyway. Good thing she's a small dog! That made me smile and think of that Mastercard commercial

Lhasa Apso puppy P5,000.00 ( a bargain, really! She was a “clearance puppy”)
Doggie Brush P120.00
Puppy Vaccines P350.00 a pop
Ear cleaning P150.00
Dog Biscuits P120.00 a week
Dog Food P300.00 a week

Stress Relief and Happiness that Mia brings to the whole household…

Priceless.

I used to thing dog owners who love their dogs are super weird (sorry!) – I am yet to kiss and have the puppy lick my face ( I don’t think I can manage that!! Dog phobics have limits!) , but now I understand their devotion.

I took my mom and dad out for a date last weekend and we saw the movie “Marley and Me” starring Jennifer Anniston and Owen Wilson --- had me laughing and crying all throughout. Aside from the dog-factor, I could totally identify with the major life event the main characters faced (watch it and guess what..) The movie’s good even for non-dog owners – so I encourage you to watch it!!!