The past weeks have been a flurry of activities leading to the Holidays. No time to post. Just to give you a sneak peak of the upcoming posts.... The pups have grown a lot and are very active and have been running up and down the courtyard-balcony staircase. Marius and Hachi have been adopted already by my neighbors but would still run after Mama Brandie when they see her outside, or run to my house gate and cry till I noticed them and let them in. Diego, the Rottweiler-looking pup is becoming to be my favorite. He has suddenly become very sweet and always excited to see me when his brother Marius left. The pups are developing fascinating and endearing individual characteristics. A bit dangerous as I am getting too attached. Need to remind myself that they are leaving soon. The pups and Brandie show me an animal behavior worthy of an Animal Planet scene. This really surprised me. The pups invaded Brandie's Sanctuary. Mama is always looking for an alone place. Brandie would get her anti-rabies shot before the Holidays.
Back to reality. Back to work mode. :(
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Sunday, December 9, 2012
Cleaning after the pups
Weekends are usually house chores day for me. Living on my own for now in a 4-bedroom, bi-level, 2-balconied house, cleaning seems to take forever, that sometimes, I do the house cleaning once a month.
With the rescued pups more than a month old now, and have just started eating solid food (milky porridge), I realized that cleaning after them seems like a full time job. As much as possible, I would no longer allow Brandie to clean/eat their pee and poop, so I would clean these immediately. Good thing I have the squeezy magic mops from Divisoria at PHP80 each. This is my right hand man in the clean up.
I am just so glad that my carport is tiled which makes it easier to clean/mop. I also noticed that the pups would rarely pee on their mat/bedding. Very good. Four times, I found poop in the courtyard. I had to pick them up and hose the gravel and/or stepping blocks. I think that's the closest they could get to a soil area.
I think each pup would pee about 10 times daily, and poop once. Whew! My carport would sometimes stink of dog pee and dog smell. Unfortunately, the pups could only have their first bath after their 8th week. :(
Brandie has her bath once or twice a week, usually on weekends.
Once or twice a week, I would wash their mat/bedding, then clean the carport with soapy water and Zonrox, then hose the tiled floor. I would put the pups in the storage (Brandie's sanctuary), and they are so behave that they would not leave the place while I'm hosing the carport. They would just sleep their time away.
With the added work due to the dogs, some of my projects for the house have been put on hold (carpentry, frameless art work, new set of living room set covers, etc).
Do I regret rescuing Brandie and her 5 pups, knowing that it would mean more work, more time, and more expense for me, and knowing that the pups would be adopted eventually and leave my care? Definitely not. I gave them a second lease at life. And they've been giving me joy every day, even for a just a few weeks. I just hope that the people who would adopt them would really take care of them.
With the rescued pups more than a month old now, and have just started eating solid food (milky porridge), I realized that cleaning after them seems like a full time job. As much as possible, I would no longer allow Brandie to clean/eat their pee and poop, so I would clean these immediately. Good thing I have the squeezy magic mops from Divisoria at PHP80 each. This is my right hand man in the clean up.
I am just so glad that my carport is tiled which makes it easier to clean/mop. I also noticed that the pups would rarely pee on their mat/bedding. Very good. Four times, I found poop in the courtyard. I had to pick them up and hose the gravel and/or stepping blocks. I think that's the closest they could get to a soil area.
I think each pup would pee about 10 times daily, and poop once. Whew! My carport would sometimes stink of dog pee and dog smell. Unfortunately, the pups could only have their first bath after their 8th week. :(
Brandie has her bath once or twice a week, usually on weekends.
Once or twice a week, I would wash their mat/bedding, then clean the carport with soapy water and Zonrox, then hose the tiled floor. I would put the pups in the storage (Brandie's sanctuary), and they are so behave that they would not leave the place while I'm hosing the carport. They would just sleep their time away.
With the added work due to the dogs, some of my projects for the house have been put on hold (carpentry, frameless art work, new set of living room set covers, etc).
Do I regret rescuing Brandie and her 5 pups, knowing that it would mean more work, more time, and more expense for me, and knowing that the pups would be adopted eventually and leave my care? Definitely not. I gave them a second lease at life. And they've been giving me joy every day, even for a just a few weeks. I just hope that the people who would adopt them would really take care of them.
Prepping Brandie's and the Pups' meals
It would be tedious, more work, time consuming and impractical to cook Brandie's and the pups' meals every chow time. What I do is cook several cups of rice, then portion it in plastic bags, then freeze them.
For Brandie, I would add her fave Dinuguan or other food scraps, then warm water. For the pups, it's warm Birch Tree milk.
Prepping these meals for these rescued dogs, I imagine myself as one of the animal lovers/naturalists being featured in Discovery or National Geographic Channels, rescuing wild animals and feeding and caring for them until they are ready to be released into the wild again. :D
For Brandie, I would add her fave Dinuguan or other food scraps, then warm water. For the pups, it's warm Birch Tree milk.
Prepping these meals for these rescued dogs, I imagine myself as one of the animal lovers/naturalists being featured in Discovery or National Geographic Channels, rescuing wild animals and feeding and caring for them until they are ready to be released into the wild again. :D
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| 3/4 cup of freshly cooked rice in plastic bags being cooled. |
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| Warm Birch Tree milk would be added during meal time. |
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| Ready for freezing. |
Chomp! Chomp! Chomp! (The Pups' first solid food)
The pups are growing fast. They are 31 days old yesterday, December 8th. They are always hungry. Always begging for milk. Always running after Mama Brandie. They sleep less now and are always playing.
I would notice that Brandie is spending more alone time now. Staying in a place where the pups could not reach her. Maybe she's hurting from the now sharp teeth and pawnails of the pups.
I decided it's time for the pups' first solid food.
The pups are aspins/askals. I don't think they are lactose intolerant like a number of imported dog breeds.
I prepared a cup of cooked rice, and mixed it to a glass of warm Birch Tree milk. Then I pureed it using a blender.
It was like a feeding frenzy! They were not fighting. They were so excited that all I could hear was "Chomp! Chomp! Chomp! Slurp! Slurp! Slurp!"
For the first time, they ignored Mama Brandie!
After finishing their meal up to the last grain (they keep coming back to their food tray to lick off the remaining grains), they were like plump sausages or mini piglets. Their stomachs were so big, that I thought was near bursting.
I observed the pups for several hours for any adverse reactions. Nothing. What it did though was they all warmed up to me much faster. They would think it's feeding time whenever they see me, and run after me like a herd of mini cows all around the carport. They would also like playing with me now. They are so funny!
They still have their fill of Mama Brandie's milk. But their milky porridge would always be a treat.
I would notice that Brandie is spending more alone time now. Staying in a place where the pups could not reach her. Maybe she's hurting from the now sharp teeth and pawnails of the pups.
I decided it's time for the pups' first solid food.
The pups are aspins/askals. I don't think they are lactose intolerant like a number of imported dog breeds.
I prepared a cup of cooked rice, and mixed it to a glass of warm Birch Tree milk. Then I pureed it using a blender.
It was like a feeding frenzy! They were not fighting. They were so excited that all I could hear was "Chomp! Chomp! Chomp! Slurp! Slurp! Slurp!"
For the first time, they ignored Mama Brandie!
After finishing their meal up to the last grain (they keep coming back to their food tray to lick off the remaining grains), they were like plump sausages or mini piglets. Their stomachs were so big, that I thought was near bursting.
I observed the pups for several hours for any adverse reactions. Nothing. What it did though was they all warmed up to me much faster. They would think it's feeding time whenever they see me, and run after me like a herd of mini cows all around the carport. They would also like playing with me now. They are so funny!
They still have their fill of Mama Brandie's milk. But their milky porridge would always be a treat.
Saturday, December 8, 2012
The Pups are IN it!
If one wants a to relieve stress, forget all problems for a few moments, one has to watch these 5 pups at play. They are so fun to watch. Though this is play for them, this stage is very crucial in their growing up.
The pups are IN it! I would run out of words to describe how they're playin, prancin, jumpin, runnin, wrestlin, roughhousin, bitin, nippin, pushin, pullin, kickin, nudgin, dodgin, shakin, rollin, etcin. :D
After about 10-15 minutes of play, the pups are so tired and would be in slumber land in no time.
This post would be less text, more pics. :D
The pups are IN it! I would run out of words to describe how they're playin, prancin, jumpin, runnin, wrestlin, roughhousin, bitin, nippin, pushin, pullin, kickin, nudgin, dodgin, shakin, rollin, etcin. :D
After about 10-15 minutes of play, the pups are so tired and would be in slumber land in no time.
This post would be less text, more pics. :D
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| The girls (Sasha, Hachi, Amber) sleep separately from the boys (Marius, Diego) |
Dinuguan: Brandie's new fave food
I live alone. I rarely have leftover food or food scraps. Since knowing Brandie, I usually take home food scraps from the office. But after rescuing her and her 5 pups, I've been cooking for Brandie, too. My neighbors would sometimes give their leftovers as well.
The pups are growing fast and are very active. Always begging for Mama Brandie's milk. No matter how much Brandie eats, she is still thin. Her ribcage and hip bones are very noticeable.
Brandie could eat almost anything. Rice with a very tasty sauce is a treat for her. If no sauce, I would just mix the rice and leftovers and then add a teaspoon of soy sauce and a quarter cup of hot water.
One day, I was eating "Dinuguan". I decided to leave half of the sauce for Brandie. I added it to a cup of rice and some hot water. Brandie devoured it in a just a few seconds.
On market day last Sunday, I decided to buy a gallon of pig's blood for PHP35, some of which are coagulated, which should be a treat for Brandie. The same day, the blood was cooked as Dinuguan. A half gallon was frozen, and the other half could sustain Brandie for a week.
I would usually put a serving of rice in a plastic bag, and fridge or freeze the bags. I would add the Dinuguan and some hot water, and mix them all in the bag. Then I'd pour it to Brandie's bowl.
Brandie is always excited in the morning when she feels that I'm already awake, which means breakfast. In the evening, she eagerly awaits my return, which means dinner. She's always having her meal ahead of me. :D
As I prepare her meal in the kitchen, she would be on the courtyard stairs so that she could watch me prepare her meal, tail wagging, ears flapping, and excited whimpering. This is really fun to watch.
I am now giving her meal on the courtyard stairs. The pups are very active now and could smell food. When I give Brandie's meal, they are excited as well, trying to get to Brandie's bowl. But they are too small to climb the stairs. But no solid food for them for now.
After the meal, I would let Brandie out to do her 3 P's - Pee, Poop, Pasyal. When she comes back she would greet me and her pups, and then proceed to her bowl and lick off the last grain. Then she would drink from her other bowl.
Dinuguan has saved me from planning what to feed Brandie with. It's a very inexpensive, tasty, and rich in protein. Hope she doesn't get tired of it. :D
The pups are growing fast and are very active. Always begging for Mama Brandie's milk. No matter how much Brandie eats, she is still thin. Her ribcage and hip bones are very noticeable.
Brandie could eat almost anything. Rice with a very tasty sauce is a treat for her. If no sauce, I would just mix the rice and leftovers and then add a teaspoon of soy sauce and a quarter cup of hot water.
One day, I was eating "Dinuguan". I decided to leave half of the sauce for Brandie. I added it to a cup of rice and some hot water. Brandie devoured it in a just a few seconds.
On market day last Sunday, I decided to buy a gallon of pig's blood for PHP35, some of which are coagulated, which should be a treat for Brandie. The same day, the blood was cooked as Dinuguan. A half gallon was frozen, and the other half could sustain Brandie for a week.
I would usually put a serving of rice in a plastic bag, and fridge or freeze the bags. I would add the Dinuguan and some hot water, and mix them all in the bag. Then I'd pour it to Brandie's bowl.
Brandie is always excited in the morning when she feels that I'm already awake, which means breakfast. In the evening, she eagerly awaits my return, which means dinner. She's always having her meal ahead of me. :D
As I prepare her meal in the kitchen, she would be on the courtyard stairs so that she could watch me prepare her meal, tail wagging, ears flapping, and excited whimpering. This is really fun to watch.
I am now giving her meal on the courtyard stairs. The pups are very active now and could smell food. When I give Brandie's meal, they are excited as well, trying to get to Brandie's bowl. But they are too small to climb the stairs. But no solid food for them for now.
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| Amber and Marius |
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| Diego, Amber and Sasha |
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| Amber, Diego, Marius and Sasha |
After the meal, I would let Brandie out to do her 3 P's - Pee, Poop, Pasyal. When she comes back she would greet me and her pups, and then proceed to her bowl and lick off the last grain. Then she would drink from her other bowl.
Dinuguan has saved me from planning what to feed Brandie with. It's a very inexpensive, tasty, and rich in protein. Hope she doesn't get tired of it. :D
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