Aside from the plantita phenomenon brought about by pandemic lockdowns, another trend was on the rise in Davao City: the so-called "pandemic pets" or "pet-demic" effect.

Isolated by social distancing and concerned for their mental health, some individuals and families opted to acquire pets, mostly dogs and cats, for their perceived therapeutic effect as companions and as a welcome distraction from daily uncertainties brought about by shifting pandemic regulations.

Unfortunately, the spike in pet ownership led to another less positive outcome: the abandonment of "difficult", sick, and elderly pets. Possible responses to this "pet-demic" were education on proper pet selection, pet nutrition and medical care, and responsible pet ownership.

With these in mind, the organizers of "LovaPetlooza" conceived of an event that would not only highlight best practices in pet care, but also give Dabawenyos a chance to see the results.

Top dogs

Recently, a pack of 103 of the country's top dogs, owners, and handlers converged for "LovaPetlooza": the first Philippine Canine Club Inc. (PCCI)-sanctioned dog show in Davao City since the Covid-19 pandemic started.

The 6-Ring, All-Breed Championship dog show was held at the open-air covered facilities of the Davao Christian High School (DCHS) C.P. Garcia Campus located along Diversion Road in Maa.

Professional dog show competitors from Manila, Cagayan de Oro, General Santos, Cavite, Iloilo, Cebu, and Davao were judged by a roster of PCCI judges: Elaine Ty, Simon Sim, Maribel Sy, Fred Salud, Orlino Hosaka, Eugene Chua, Sidney Bascon, Marc Tee, and Micheal Siy.

“Due to Typhoon Paeng, two PCCI judges in Manila got stranded. So, we, the organizers, quickly adjusted the program of Day 2 into a specialty-pointed show and fun match. A portion of the proceeds of the event was also pledged to aid those affected by the natural disaster,” says Mark Seng, the event lead.

The top three winners of each ring received Philippine Eagle-inspired trophies specially commissioned by the Davao Canine Exhibitor's Club Inc. (DCECI) along with the coveted "Best in Show" ribbons.

In addition, visitors to the show were treated to the sight of rare purebred dogs, some of them were only one of their kind in the Philippines such as the Bedlington Terrier, Cane Corso, Saluki, and Samoyed.

Pet market

At the onsite Pet Market, new products were launched, and pet owners were spoiled with product samples from sponsors namely: Montego, Bingo, John’s Farms, A La Carte, and Doggiessentials.

Moreover, pet service providers Houndly Lane, SYZ Goodies, Mymy Illustrations, Clayhouse Figurines, and PWP Kidpreneurs Pet Shop, sold the latest pet accessories, treats, and novelties to satisfy any fur-parent's desires.

Guests also had the pick of onsite food and beverage pop-ups: The Meat Up lechon baka rice, Paramount Coffee espresso-based drinks, Miah's Corner canteen favorites, K1 Japanese gourmet, and Taco Boy nachos and tacos.

Pup-lic education

For the public education program, a series of Pet Expert Talks were scheduled. Headlining the talks was Dr. Karlo R. Gicana, MSVM, a member of the faculty at the University of the Philippines, Los Baños since 2004. He talked about "Getting ahead of the pack: the role of nutrition in pet health" and "Healthy heart, happy heart: taking care of cardiac patients". His presence was courtesy of Pet Ideas, one of the leading pet product suppliers in the country.

Meanwhile, Alexi Rodian Bullina, a 17-year-old pet rescuer, talked about the realities of pet abandonment, abuse, and the advantages of "Adopting Survivors". She is the co-founder and honorary member of Bantay Hayop Davao, an active animal rescue and shelter NGO.

Other speakers included Quinn Jarabelo, Davao's Dog Whisperer, who educated the audience on "Basic Obedience Training and Dog-Owner Handling" with his dogs, followed by an agility course demonstration with equipment courtesy of Nutri Chunks premium dog food.

Another speaker was Arvin Serra, former head of Davao's 911 K-9 Division. He conducted a search and rescue demonstration, showing how a dog's natural faculties of keen smell can be used to save lives during emergencies.

Retro runway

Near the close of each of the two days, a fun Pet Parade Costume Competition was hosted by Davao Dog Lovers Community, Inc. (DDCLI), one of the largest online dog communities in Davao.

Participants with pets in retro-themed costumes sashayed and posed at the SKS Interiors, Inc. photo booth before the top duos were awarded generous loot bags from sponsors.

LovaPetlooza was organized by the Davao Christian High School Batch 1998 as a fundraising and runup event leading to their alumni homecoming on February 4, 2023, coinciding with the school's 70th founding anniversary celebration.

The organizers would like to thank Imagine Fotofun for the photo/video coverage and Prohealth EMS for the standby medical service.