My Dog Peso and the one he knew as "Mommy", A story for Mother's day

In time for “Mother’s Day Celebration”, I am dedicating this article to all mothers, who are mothers not only to us Humans, but also to our pets. This is a true to life experience that I witnessed between my mother and my dog Peso. After reading this, you’ll realize I am not the only human that Peso loves so much, that before he helped me survived all my life’s struggle, It was Mommy he rescued first.

One Night, I dreamed of my mother. In my dream I was browsing the pages of Animal Scene Magazine, as if I was looking for my article, but when I found mine, I saw my mom’s picture as part of my featured story. Then I woke up wondering what my dream wanted to tell me.

When I was a little girl, Mommy was the first to object when it comes to having a dog in our house, but when she finally gave in; she went overboard and became more overprotective of our dogs. And her compassion for dogs was not limited to our dogs; it extended to my uncle’s dog, neighbor’s dog, until we got three local dogs in our small house. We also had 1 adopted pure breed, a Maltese, abandoned by his wealthy owner simply because he had rashes on his neck, and they gave him to my father instead, believing our family can give him a better home and much needed attention.

Year 2000 when Peso came to our house, Mommy was 66 years old, at that time, she felt that she was no longer fit to take care of another dog, few weeks later she told me to return Peso to his former owner, which I obviously disobeyed. But eventually Mom became closer to Peso, calling him “Bunso” once in awhile. She always brought Peso along every time she sent me off to tricycle terminal. They became closer every time I leave for work. Mommy was over protective, she did not believe in training a dog to a point of putting his health into risk. The first time I saw Peso’s potential to follow a command, Mommy objected because she said I was abusing Peso and I really made him very tired, which I believed was exaggerated because I was just telling Peso to get my red pillow from the bedroom (less than ten steps away from the living room) and when he came out of the bedroom bringing the pillow, I tried if he would follow if I told him to return the pillow to my bedroom and he must return to me without it, to my delight Peso returned to my bedroom and got back to me without my red pillow. I was jumping with joy, and Mom rejoiced; but to make sure that it was not “luck and Tsamba”, I told Peso to get the red pillow again, and when Mom heard me she shouted “ENOUGH”.

Peso was nearly one year old when this unforgettable night happened. It was 1 AM, when Mommy had asthma attack, for someone with a heart enlargement history, having asthma attack was really very critical. I went to our relatives who lived at the other half of our duplex house and requested my cousin to drive us to the nearest hospital. In Marikina Heights, to get a cab in a day time is almost next to impossible so definitely much harder to get one in the middle of the night. Everybody was rushing, and Peso never stopped barking and crying as if he knew what was happening to Mommy, but I had no time to tell him to stop, mom was not getting any better so we rode the tricycle and my cousin started the engine and ran, but panicky Peso ran after us. I was already panicking at that time because mom was really catching her breath and she looked like she was no longer aware of what was happening around her. We were few meters away from our subdivision and I can still hear Peso barking and he was still running after us. My panic doubled, I was caught between worrying about my mother and worrying about my dog who might get lose or get hit by another car because we were running on the national road already. My cousin stopped the tricycle and told me to let Peso go with us. So unleashed Peso reached us, rode the tricycle, still barking, crying and yet licking Mommy’s face endlessly. I guess that helped revived Mommy, because she suddenly returned to her old self, shouting at Peso when he was not behaving well…

Until we reached the hospital, and Peso was left with my cousin at the main entrance leading to emergency room. While my mommy was being treated, I can hear Peso barking and crying, and when he had the chance, he really ran and went to emergency room and looked for Mommy. Good thing, Mommy was the only patient at that time, and the doctors in a way, let him in. When he found Mom he barked again and embraced mommy as if telling her “Mommy let’s go home”, at that time Mommy’s condition was getting better, the doctor told me mom can go home after the treatment but I should bring Peso home first, other patients may arrive anytime.

So I left to bring Peso home, Peso was barking and crying as if complaining why we were leaving mommy. When we reached home, my Auntie was waiting anxiously, worrying about mom and Peso but she was surprised to see peso with us and was amazed to what Peso did.

2005 a few weeks after mommy died, I asked Peso this “Peso where is Mommy?” Peso went to the couch where Mommy used to rest and sleep, then he went back to me. Not so convince I asked him again, and asked him if mommy was at home. Peso refused to follow and instead he barked his cry like bark as if telling me to stop asking him about mom, or maybe he saw her but he probably knew she was never the same anymore.

The last time I talked to Peso about Mom was during his last surgery and confinement at a Veterinary Clinic. But instead of asking him I told him this “In case you see Mom and she asked you to go with her, just tell her you can’t leave Big Sis yet...”

Recalling this part of my life with Peso and Mom, made me realized that my mother is still guiding us. She probably wanted her presence felt by contributing in a way to my article. Maybe she wanted to support me in my campaign to encourage people to care for Local dogs, Askal or Aspins through Peso’s story. That dogs like Peso are not just Askal as what others called them. Each Local dog can have the same potential as Peso, If only they are given the chance to live without discrimination.

But most of all Mommy wanted me to write more inspirational stories, about her adorable “Bunso” (youngest child), who had prolonged her life somehow.

And so I came up with this article. Happy Mother’s day to all mothers.

Peso died a month before his 16th birthday on 07 June 2018, I just wish he is with Mommy now.