Dogs not Babies - Ochando, Philippines.
A common trait that most immigrants possess when they first come to Canada is an aversion to treating animals like their kin; whereas, here, it’s become an increasingly common place practice to treat your “pet” like your “child”.
Not to be hypocritical about this, I fully admit that I treat my baby-dog like she’s my child; pampering her to no end. However, if you’ve ever wondered why this practice seems a bit peculiar to those not native to Canada, it’s because dogs elsewhere are seen more as employees than dependents—they serve a purpose: they guard your home.
Seen here: a mix of owned and local dogs roaming about my grandmother’s place in Ochando. She doesn’t own all of them, but they all come to hang out; pick up scraps; alert us of visitors; and protect us from intruders (and other wandering dogs).
Fun Fact: I was actually saved by a now passed away dog, King, back in 2016 when venturing out into the garage of my grandmother’s place. Fangs baring, another local dog started snarling at me and I knew that at any moment I could be bit. Thankfully, King came running out of nowhere and chased the dog away for me! Needless to say, he gained a few extra scraps from me that day.
-reciprocity is key.
