Dog, man’s best friend

Dogs are not only good pets, they also save their master’s life—if not directly, then indirectly.

There’s a belief among Filipinos that household pets, especially a dog, saves its master by taking his place when his life is at stake.

I once had a dog I named “Fraulein” because she was a female German Shepherd.

Fraulein was given to me by a friend who bred dogs. I chose Fraulein from the other German Shepherds because she came from a line of a nonferocious breed; her mother was cuddly and so was her father.

I loved Fraulein because she would cuddle up to me as I watched TV before going to bed.

One day, I got home and found Fraulein dead. She wasn’t sick nor did she show any signs of illness.

As I was moping over Fraulein’s loss, the house phone rang (at that time cellular phoneswere a rarity).

It was my friend, a Constabulary officer on the other line, sounding frantic.

“Mon, make yourself scarce. Don’t go out without a companion. Avoid going to your usual hang-outs. Don’t take your usual route in going to your office and going home,” he said.

When I asked why, he said a Constabulary general had ordered some of hismen to do me in.

He said he heard the general bark the order tomen at “Special Ops” of which he was also a member.

I took his advice. I made myself scarce, took the long-winded route in going to the INQUIRER and on theway home, and didn’t go to places I usually hung out after work.

At first I half believed him because he probably was joking, but I followed his advice anyway. No harm if I did, I said to myself.

Months later, I met the soldiers who were ordered to ambushme.

They became my friends because they were introduced to me by amutual friend.

By that time, the order had been lifted.

They confirmed my friend’s warning.