WHEN ALPHA DOG MET THE NEW PUPPY
Ona week as disturbing as the last one, I would like to write about something really different and joyful.
We have a dog, a handsome Aspin (Asong Pinoy) we call Iced Tea because he is the color of my daughter’s favorite drink. He is now seven or eight years old. I’ve lost track. He’s become so much a part of my family’s life, I can no longer imagine a time when he was not around.
He is funny and quirky, and understands our words, moods and actions. He almost feels human. I call him my sensuous dog. He sighs when stroked and petted. He retreats meekly when scolded, and licks his wounded pride quietly until he knows it is safe to approach his humans again.
He pushes his water bowl toward us when he wants it refilled, with ice cold water. He likes fish and meats but does not do rice. He also likes pastries such as
piyaya, rosquillos, and bañadas. He pushes my door open and comes in to lick my hand as part of our morning ritual. He looks up at me with those big brown eyes, waiting to be petted. Then he goes under my bed, where he stays for hours, thumping his tail once in a while to remind me of his presence.
Iced Tea has been an only dog all his life. But last week, we brought home a new puppy called Costco.
Two years ago, my friend, who has a Chihuahua called Ikea, acquired another dog, a frisky, hairy half-Maltese-halfDachshund called Couscous. My friend promised that when Couscous was older and could already mate, he’d give us one of her puppies.
When Ikea reached mating age, a male Chihuahua was brought to the house to do what dogs do. Although Ikea was fertile, the Chihuahuas were not interested in each other. As it turned out, Couscous was fertile as well, and a little over two months later, Couscous gave birth to four frisky puppies that are half-Chihuahua, a quarter-Maltese, and a quarter-Dachshund.
They were all adorable at birth — each one looking so different they might as well not be siblings — but we could only guess what they will look like when they grow up. Will they be tiny, short-haired, and yappy like a Chihuahua, hairy like a Maltese, long and short-legged like a Dachshund, or a strange combination of all? It doesn’t really matter. We are already in love with Costco, the smallest in the litter, who has a longish body, shortish legs, and a hint of Chihuahua on his face. He has such beautiful eyes, Audrey Hepburn comes to mind.
To be sure, Iced Tea is the alpha dog. He is bigger and he’s been here longer. Except for my bed, the entire house is his playground. He is so territorial we have to lock him up when anyone who is not a resident enters the house. And after the visitors leave, he follows their scent, running everywhere they have been.
Before we brought Costco home, he and Iced Tea had two meet-and-greet sessions at a neighborhood Starbucks, where they were made to smell each other’s butts, apparently a rite of passage when dogs are first introduced to one another. Costco liked to play, but Iced Tea didn’t show much interest.
Now that Costco is sharing his space, Iced Tea is still a bit aloof, but he seems resigned to the new presence at home. Initially, he kept a respectful distance, coming close with one hoof up and his tail down, indicating some hostility. Once he tried to nip Costco, not so playfully, and backed off when the smaller dog squealed. But Costco is playful and likes to follow him around, and Iced Tea’s defenses have crumbled in the face of Costco’s persistence.
Alpha dog has succumbed to new puppy’s charm. All is well at our home.
*** Ladies Who Launch has a new production, Sigaw sa Dilim, three one-act plays revolving around the issue of human rights in an era of state-sanctioned killings, aka EJKs. A press and partners’ preview is scheduled on Thursday, Dec. 7 at the PETA Theater Center, 5 Eymard Drive, New Manila, Quezon City.
Beshie, directed by Tuxqs Rutaquio and written by Layeta Bucoy, is about a young transgender female who loses her best friend in a Tokhang Operation.
Ang Mga Naiwan, under the direction of Issa Lopez and written by Soc Delos Reyes, is about the women left behind by police-initiated drug raids.
Isang Liham, written by Dennis Marasigan and directed by Ram Tolentino, is about a minor who is killed in a police drug raid.
Starting January 2018, the three plays will be shown in communities and schools nationwide as a barebones production by volunteer artists and staff. The performances will be followed by a debriefing session facilitated by the production team and volunteers trained in the subject matter. Those who would like to support this worthy endeavor with donations may contact Meann Espinosa at meann.espinosa@gmail.com.