PET owner: Cocoi Martin

Pet name: Loki, Greyjoy, Fenris

Pet breed: Siberian Husky

“LOKI, the eldest, was my first pet. He was a birthday gift from a good friend. Back then, I was hesitant to have a dog in the house because I was afraid of the allergies (rhinitis) it might cause, most especially to the older people. So what I did was live in a separate house but still within the same compound. Since I noticed that Loki would be sad when I would be away, that’s when I decided to get Greyjoy so that they could be playmates. I told myself then that two would be enough. But after a while, Loki mated with another Siberian Husky and Fenris was part of the litter. From one dog, now there are five of them. There’s one small dog named Drogo, a mixed rat terrier and Chihuahua. And there’s Amora, the only girl, a Belgian Malinois. We all live in one house and share the same bed in one room so we can save on air-conditioning.

What’s the best thing about your pets?

“The best thing is when they’re excited to see you arriving from work or a trip. It totally takes away the stress. I can talk to them about my problems. Sure, they don’t reply, but at least they don’t judge! But kidding aside, it’s actually a difference-maker when you actually have a pet with you in the house.

What tip can you give people who want to be responsible pet owners?

“Pet ownership is a responsibility. You’re like a parent, always checking when the next visit to the veterinarian will be, learning how to train or discipline the pet, watching for the diet in terms of food and vitamins taken etc. Check the nutrition value content of the food you’re giving to your pet. Not all pets eat the same kind of food.”