I love/hate puppies.

See these adorable photos? They were the first batch of our poodle's puppies. Sadly, two of them were either sold or given away and the third one is with us (Nutella, or Ella for short. I didn't name her, believe me). Right now, we have the second batch of puppies. I don't have pictures of them but they look exactly like the first batch. You know. Just this week, one puppy was given to my sister's best friend, another was to a teacher, and the last awaits judgement.

Why am I talking about puppies? I mean, I wanted those puppies gone. They're cute and all, but they're not once they scatter poop around the house. So really, I was glad of the prospect to get rid of them. But I still couldn't help feeling a twinge of sadness when I watched them given away.They were being separated from each other. Permanently. Forever. Right now, it's sad seeing the last puppy looking desperate for playmates and so lonely because her sisters were all taken away from her. How tragic is that?

A Dog Story 2: Missed Me? -said the poodle

He was lost, and now he was found. He was dead and now he is alive.

Yes. Ren-ren's back! Safe, sound, and a tad shaken, but alive. And home.

Mang Claro found him this morning at our neighbor's house. The story was that the neighbor found him, took him, and caged him. Apparently he was the one barking last night. And we thought it was only a haluccination, that our shocked brains were tricking us. I could just imagine the horror that Ren-ren went through last night, locked up and alone. He must have nearly gone mad.

So this morning, just before we went to school, he was back. My little sister was so overjoyed that she cuddled and carried him all around the house. I could tell our yayas were totally relieved. When we left the house, they were fawning over him and wouldn't even allow him out of the front door. Unfortunately, I didn't get to pet him or what because I was too much in a hurry. All I remember is Ren-ren in Regine's arms, and if I'm not mistaken, he was happy. If dogs can smile, maybe he'll be grinning from ear to ear, with a look that says, "Missed me?"

Well, well, we sure learned our lesson. We'll be paying attention to you now, Ren-ren. No need to get jealous of the other dogs. Next time, please, don't do this again! You'll make us all insane.

Now everything can go back to normal. Thank God you're home.

A Dog Story: Missing Poodle

Missing. Lost. Gone. Perhaps even dead.

Where is he? Where is Ren-ren, our poodle? Where, where, where? Wish he'd come back.

Today totally sucked. When I got home from school, I found out that Ren-ren's missing. No one saw him go, no one saw him taken, no one knew where he went, no one knew where he is right now. In a minute, the whole house was on fire, with everyone searching for Ren-ren. Papa went around the streets, asking for him. My sisters went too, riding in the car and yelling Ren-ren's name, stopping at every bark of a dog. The yayas were frantic, because of course they were here all day so they were responsible for Ren-ren.

Lord, we miss Ren-ren. My little sister was nearly hysterical already, crying and blaming the yayas. She even made a video of herself, reporting, "ACTV News...This morning, a dog was...He is Ren-ren (sob)...Please, if you find him (sniff. cry.)...return him to us...reward is P1000...!"

The rest of the night is spent in misery. As of now, while I'm typing here, Papa is still going out and looking for him. My sisters and I are already reminiscing about the good times with Ren-ren, looking at photos and telling each other stories about the last time we saw him. I in particular remember how I wouldn't let him enter the house and would shoo him away.

It's as if he's dead. But, Lord, please don't take him yet. He's still alive, somewhere out there, probably missing us. He'd go crazy without us.

He was our first dog. I remember how he first came to us as a little cottonball of fur, all sweet and adorable. He grew up with us; we grew up with him. Oh no. I just remembered! It was his 7th birthday on September 19, and we forgot. Each one of us. God, I feel so guilty.

What if Ren-ren got tired of us and got mad because we forgot his birthday so he went off and vowed to never return? Or what if he saw another dog and his basic instincts took over him so he chased after that dog and got lost? Or what if someone found him, roaming in the rain, and took him away? Or worse, what if someone stole him, to sell him, or to turn him to dinner?

We were all imagining the endless possibilities of what happened to him. Just some minutes ago, we heard barking from a nearby house. We began thinking that it might be him. Maybe it's just a figment of our depressed minds. Like just a second ago, I thought he barked right outside the door.

Lesson learned: We only realize the value of something when it's taken away from us. Like Ren-ren. He was old already and we didn't pay him that much attention compared to when he was a pup, because we have younger, more energetic puppies right now. Old Dog was forgotten.

So now that we learned our lesson, can you please come home now, Ren-ren?