Project: Sweepy, the SuperDog!

My hound Sweepy (a mongrel I refer to as Pinoy Hound) is now part of a campaign to push for the strict enforcement of 3 laws and ordinances in my community in San Pedro, Laguna.

The laws and ordinances include: Republic Act 8485 or the Animal Welfare Act, Anti-Littering ordinance and the Letter of Instruction 1964 which bans the sale and display of gun replicas. The three major issues which I posted weeks ago. (Please scroll down the page to review).

It is not easy for animals like Sweepy to be part of a community when streets are not friendly for walks and people by nature are pretty clueless about animal care and protection. My four hounds in Heaven (name of my house) do not take walks down the street for fear that strays and roaming dogs will attack them not to mention the fleas and ticks they might pick up along the way! And since my hounds were not neutered or spayed (castrated to restrict overpopulation) they are mostly hyperactive and their father Sumo has a dominating personality which is why they can not roam around our house Heaven together as they used to. Except for Pica, the only female dog who is now 16-years old and still pretty strong and is allowed to roam free anytime of the day, the male hounds has to rotate being in the kennel and out (who's in/who's out routine).

Also, for a year now, I noticed small wounds on the hounds' legs which I attribute to their rough play until I realized that they were inflicted by stray pellets, small plastic projectiles that can fly across properties and can hit anybody on sight! These pellets can practically hit me in my own property by careless kids and adults unmindful of its danger! When I confronted the adult guardian of the kid I caught playing with it across our house, she told me she was not aware of any prohibitions! She called me again to inform me that nobody in the kid's school is aware of any prohibition and I told her the danger is so obvious it does not require a law to restrict it!

I called authorities but to ensure quick action, I SMS our barangay captain on his mobile phone who would immediately send a barangay tanod (watchman) to warn offenders and monitor the area. But these actions are not enough. I still see stray pellets in our private property and pellet wounds in my hounds, people mindlessly throwing anything on the streets, dogs allowed by their owners to roam the street without a leash or dogs escaping from their properties in search for food (I documented these cases!) and spreading the garbage on the streets! So I have to take drastic action!

I decided to conduct a campaign to create awareness and urge leaders to take action. To add impact I included my dog Sweepy (Pica is too old, Sumo is too hyperactive, and Bogart is too heavy) and designed a one-page campaign letter using Sweepy as the campaign icon.

I went to the municipal's office, barangay office , schools, banks, stores, tricycle terminals . . . I brought Sweepy to shake hands with the Mayor (check Sweepy's blog- http://sweepyheaven.blogspot.com/) and the Barangay Captain Norvic Solidum- Sweepy's second trip outside Heaven.

This is not an easy task. Sweepy's first and last trip outside Heaven was when he was just a puppy and it was a trip to go to the vet. Now the vet goes to Heaven instead! Sweepy got scared all the way but he bravely faced the crowd, the many pats and kisses he received comforted him, and gamely showed the community leaders the pellet wounds on his paws, and as always, smiled for the camera and the crowd that gathered! What a real trooper! And what an icon for community service!



It's a long difficult road ahead.
And I know it won't be easy . . .
But I until I can finally bring my hounds
to walk safely down our streets on leash
for a safe, leisurely walk . . .




. . . and until I need not cry in pity
on seeing roaming dogs escaping their house
in search for food even at night! . . .




. . . or angrily see trash scattered on the streets . . .




and most of all, until I see the day
when my hounds will not have to carry
any wounds inflicted by a careless and abusive society
will I finally say that yes, the campaign is over . . .




until then, I just have to see this one to the end
with my Super Dog Hero, Sweepy.




Please support Sweepy: Bantay ng Bayan project. Please volunteer to disseminate information and urge leaders in your community to enforce RA8485, Anti-Littering and ban Pellet Guns! If you have a dog, make him/her the icon for the campaign in your area! Email us at sweepyheaven@yahoo.com

Local Dogs Are Not Askals

That is true!
Askal is a filipino slang word
for "asong kalye" or strays.
Local dogs are not strays.
Local dogs are actually mongrels
and like all the mutts in the world
are discriminated against by society
who prefers the purebred ones.

My studio is actually named after all the pets I have in Heaven. Heaven is the name of our house and the hounds are my pet mongrels who came like life's blessings into our house. You can also add to that all the other 'uncaged' pets like birds, lizards, etc. whose presence inspires me and my work . . .My world, not to mention my work schedules, revolve around them which is the reason why I can not easily accept commitments for long trips and assignments outside of my studio.

My love for animals goes beyond Heaven's gate since I love to talk ('communicate' might be a better word) to all animals I meet. Which brings most of their pathetic plight to my attention and to which I take action by designing a one-page info sheet which I gave to our homeowners association and barangay (local government unit) for distribution. I also try to call attention to owners and people when I see abused dogs and animals. I see a lot of animal lovers doing the same thing and the points I raised were also their concern:

1. Before you adopt a PET, think twice and see if you have the time, energy, and resources to do this. Caring for an animal is a Big Responsibility.

2. Pets like dogs and cats need annual shots, and their maintenance can be expensive so if you can not afford it, do not BUY, adopt or accept them as gifts. It is better to say NO now than to neglect them or worse, abandon them later in the streets!

3. If you happen to have pet dogs in your house already please make sure you provide them with clean water AT ALL TIMES. I cry each time I see dogs (even purebred ones in posh houses!) with expensive metal bowls that are dirty and with NO WATER.

4. If you go out to work all day, at least find time to take them out (or leave them ample space to roam around), feed them well before you go and do the same when you get back.

5. Since dogs have weak lungs, they can not take daily baths. You can wash them once a week (or twice a week during hot summer months) and try to brush their coats as their daily grooming ritual. If you can afford it, hire somebody to groom your pets (clip nails, clean teeth and ears, etc.) once a week, or else learn to groom them yourself. It can be one of your best bonding time.

6. And remember Republic Act 8485 or the Animal Welfare Act which is a law that protects animals from abuse and maltreatment. Your neighbor and the community can call the attention of authorities and you can be penalized or send to jail if you fail to care for your pets!

An animal is not a lower creature to man. All of God's creation are equal and we must learn to live harmoniously by caring for each other. When we care for one another and the world we live in, we assure ourself, not just of our survival, but a good quality of life for all.

And culture is one of our best legacy. We do not look down at our culture as inferior (local dogs as askals, or local ice cream as dirty, etc.) but like all cultures, have its own unique discoveries that shape who we are as a people. And how we perceive others is reflective on how well we see ourself.

If you love animals, please take time to volunteer at your local animal shelter. They have great programs that care for abandoned animals, or use animals like dogs for therapy work, etc. In the Philippines, contact the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) at http://www.pitstopit.com/paws3