This week's ASEAN Hive Challenge, "ASEAN Hive Pet Pals", is very timely as it will be my beloved pet Duday's 14th anniversary in dog heaven on January 23rd. This is a great opportunity for me to commemorate her.
Duday is a half Japanese Spitz and half "Aspin" or Asong Pinoy(Philippine Dog). Her name was given by our mama where she coined it from a little girl's name from an evening family sitcom every Sunday back in the early 2000s.
Duday was brought to our home by our aunt one afternoon somewhere back in 2002. I think she was just only a month old. I remember she was so hungry when she arrived in our home because she'll quickly devour the food my sister and mother would give. Also, my little girl self at that time was very excited to have Duday in our home because she looked fluffy with her fur as white as snow.
She grew up to be a really kind and obedient dog. Duday is actually the only dog I could pet from the tip of the nose to tail. A well-tempered dog even though she easily gets bored with me, often rolling her eyes and giving me a deep sigh. Lol.
She knows a few tricks like sit, shake hands, up, and sleep. She also knows how to unhook her leash from her kennel with her snout that's why we have to tie it sometimes.
If it's not chicken, I'm not eating!
My small furry four-legged sibling is a picky eater. If it's not chicken, she's not eating! Though sometimes we can convince her to eat beef. It was really a mistake letting her taste Jollibee's Chickenjoy because she had completely snobbed her dog ever since.
Duday has made my childhood more colorful with her presence. I always greet and play a bit before going to school and whenever I arrive home. I make sure to pass by the back door to see her. And during weekends, I would usually spend longer time petting her that's why she got fed up with my presence. Haha. Her favorite person is my mother.
She is also camera shy and would always look to the side when she knows you're taking a photo.
Duday lived for a good 9 years. She crossed the rainbow on January 23, 2011 due to heartworm disease. It's very heartbreaking to see your dog get weak and lose appetite. We did what we can to save her, even had her confined for several days at the vet clinic but Duday wasn't able to overcome the disease.
Her body was sealed in a box when she was returned by the clinic. We brought her home and buried her remains in our backyard.
Duday has been the kindest dog we had. Sometimes I still dream of her that she is not dead and was only hidden somewhere, or sometimes she's fighting a cat. I would always save her in my dream.
My family didn't have a dog after Duday passed away. I'm looking forward to the day we welcome a new furry family member and give her as much love as we did for Duday.
It makes me happy that our society today are now more aware of how pets should be treated. Just like humans, they have emotions too. That's why we should treat them with care and love just like how we treat humans. They are no longer just a man's best friend but a family.
We miss you, Duday! 🩷🐶
Thanks for reading! 💚