This is the third story I’ve written about my Chocolate Brown Labrador named “Coco. For those who have never been around any Labradors they are very special and will worm their way into your heart. We received Coco from my Daughter Hanna last year when it dawned on her that a 65 pound dog didn’t really work well in her apartment. Daddy and Mommy have been the storage area for her other dogs in the past that have not worked well for her in her life, yet seem to do fine at our house.
Last Friday at 0700 I was getting ready for my morning Coco walk, when I called her to the gate she was moving very slowly without her usual over the top enthusiasm, there were no two foot leaps in the air, and jumping up and placing her size 12 paws on my chest to push me out to the street.
It was like she wanted to stay home that day. I looked at her and her eyes were bright red. I somehow knew that was wrong as they normally are dark brown. I tried the anti-red eye feature on my camera but to no avail.
I then knew I was going to the Vet’s office today, I have another vet that comes to the house to give shots and general checkups every 6 months or so, but for this type of 911 emergencies it was a trip to the “Big Po” or Olongapo City, to our other Vet, or as I like to call them, “My Vet Guy!”
Next to eating copious amounts of food and walking in the morning, Coco loves to ride in the car. She’ll sit calmly in the back seat with her head between the two front seats and look out the windshield, and lick your ear once in awhile. That day she just lay there listless.
She knew she was going to the Vet’s office as she’d been there before, and seemed content about it, as the Doctor and his assistants fawn all over her. The Vet checked her out and gave her a shot, and pronounced her well and back to normal it was an eye problem and Coco took a shot to her rump, try to figure that. We asked what was wrong and he said she had a mild eye infection caused by the blowing dust in our purok. We left with some eye drops and a bill for P 1,500.00. But if Coco the Flying Labrador is well again, than that is money well spent.
On the way home my Daughter Ymir (8 months pregnant) wanted to stop at the Boardwalk on Subic Freeport and walk on the shoreline. Her Doctor told her that was good for her and reduced the swelling in her “KANKLES” (Swollen Ankles’)
As the car pulled up to the waterfront it was noted by all, that Coco was well again, for the other thing she truly loves, is the beach and playing in the water. She would pass up food for that!
Yhen (Ymir Thea) and Coco were now beach walking, with my niece Shay, my son-in-law Cecil, Mayang and her twin sister Clara. So an unannounced trip to the beach was how the rest of the day was spent.
Coco of course put the fear of the Lord into all other beach goers that day, but I say; “If you’re afraid of dogs, it was because you threw rocks at them when you were young and they all know it was you.” I’ve seen kids do it to dogs and I have the strong desire to pitch one back at them.
The shot, the eye drops and the vitamins the Doctor gave us must have worked, because the next morning Coco was at the window in my computer room panting to go on her morning walk. I’m thinking it was the day at the beach that did her more good than anything the Doctor did, but what do I know? She’ll be one year old in May, or is that seven in dog years? I’ll take her to the beach on her birthday; she’ll like that better than a new collar.
You want unconditional love? Try this, lock your significant other and your dog in the trunk of your car for 20 minutes. When you open the trunk, note which one is glad to see you!
Paul
Glad to hear your friend is doing much better.
Brings back good memories of my old friend the late “Maxwell Miller Lite” 105lb Black Lab.
Many of night I came home 3 sheets to the wind to a less than stellar welcome from the Wife.
Forced to sleep in the spare bedroom Max would sleep right besides me and even check up on me when I was talking to “Ralph”
Neal;
Like my car trunk theory, I’ve woke up the next morning with the wife missing amd my dog watching over me. As far as Coco is concerned, I’m perfection on the hoof!
Love that Red Sox cap atop a pretty filipina. Looks like our family, only our lab is yellow. But the Sox dropped a 9-0 lead to the Yankees yesterday. At least the Bruins and Celtics are alive.
Rich;
I was watching that game and couldn’t believe it. But with a couple of self administered SMB’s I was fine again. Did ya think she’s ever be caught in a Yankee’s hat? (lol)
Dogs truly are man’s best friend. A dog is always there for you.
My wife talked me into getting a cat. It turned my $2,000 leather sofa into a $2,000 scratching post. Then there’s the stinky litter box to contend with…got rid of the cat.
Some cat owners will claim that cats are smarter than dogs. I disagree. The more social the animal, the smarter it is. How many cats will show embarrasment, or shame?
No more cats for me. Dogs rule!
Hudson;
You can break it down politically also; Liberals keep cats to reinforce their point of view.
Dogs think their owner are God. Cats know they are God and look down on mankind. Glad Coco is all better Paul.
Gary;
Cat’s taught Egyptians how to walk, so they worshipped them, How did that work out? (lol)
Coco is fine, Thank you!!!
Glad Coco is OK. Labs are lovely pets, we have never owned one but I have had a few as friends over my lifetime. I grew up with Lakeland Terriers and we have had two Rough collies. They all of them would walk for miles.
We have a Labradoodle living next door, he is a lovely fellow. He is younger than Coco and full of energy, he soon made friends with us. He keeps the kids he lives with on their toes.
Enjoy your walks the pair of you.
Marjorie;
I’m a dog person, the breed or the mix means nothing to me, if a dog is shown love and kindness that is what they will return. Oh you’re right, Coco’s eyes can melt me, such a happy dog with such a sad face!
Aha! The Chief is also a Dog Whisperer! 😀
I’m always looking forward to your next article. I enjoyed reading them. I must admit i’m not a dog lover coz i’m scared of dogs ( i almost got bitten when i was six yrs old) 🙁 but i never throw rocks at them.
But reading your article makes me want to have one ~ maybe in 3 yrs time 🙂
JiJi;
Overcoming fear is difficult but not imposable. I almost drowned in a lake when I was 5, I had a fear of going in the water after that. There I was with a father who always owned a boat, living on Cape Cod surrounded by water and watching my friends water ski and having fun, when I decided I was going back in the water, ended up 22 years in the Navy and then a Merchant Seaman. Dogs would be easy. A 10 week old puppy in 3 years and I know you’ll be over that fear and in love with your pet.
PS. I forgot to say, those eyes say everything lol
Senior ,
That line about the trunk got me rolling in tears. I that something like have an unauthorized night on the town with the boys. Who will be their at the door with open arms? The wife or the dog?
Glad Coco is fine and you make me really miss my black lab Max he’s with my son at his house with yard. My apt is to small for him it would be like prision. You can bet a case of SMB I’ll have a Black Lab in the PI love my dogs. Do you know a breeder?
Bruce;
My traverling Vet, breeds all types of Labs Black, Brown ond others, and my daughter has two female Black Labs on the farm in Subic, we’ll have no problem finding you a pup, to excite your day. I’ll also show you the other Vet I use in town for 911’s.
My trunk thory: “Please don’t try that at home!”
Paul,
Glad to see the General of the Dog Army is doing better now. Really a good looking dog. They say a dog looks like its owner. You bear a close resemblance lol. All you should do now is drink a few cold ones and enjoy life because all is back to normal again. Take care
PapaDuck,
So that’s why I have always had big dogs. Guess I would look kinda funny walking a mini poodle around with my 6ft frame and 275lbs and my head as big as a pumpkin. 🙂
Hey shoot me and e-mail when you are going to be in PI Subic I’ll be there in Oct.
I’ll e-mail you my dates.
I heard the SMB was on Paul first time around we just had to by him dinner (cheap date I’m all in) 🙂
Bruce,
Sounds good hahaha. We won’t let Paul pay for anything since he’s provided us with all the laughs and good stories the last few years. We owe him alot. Will email you close to when we go. Take care brother.
PapaDuck,
You are absolutly right Paul is a treasure trove of information and a master story teller. Definitely worth his weight in San Miguel. Thank God Paul doesn’t weight what I do I’d have to take out a loan, But it would be well worth it. ( I’d just take it out from my Awasa’s account) 🙂 NOT!!!
PapaDuck;
Coco is a lot better lookin’ than me, she’s got me convinced that I walk her every morning, but she really is walking me.
It’s a lucky man who has both a good woman and a good dog!
Mark,
A dog is forgiving a wife not so much. 🙂
Bruce;
Which is proven by the car trunk!
Mark;
You are so right about that, just stay away from the trunk of the car, and you’ll keep that love flowing. (lol)
Paul,
Just popping my head back in. I never got down to Naparing the last time I was down. Hopefully, I’ll get a chance the next time I’m in the area.
Until then, thanks for your articles, they always give me a good chuckle. I read it aloud for our Yellow Lab, but I don”t think she understood the wit your style of writing. 🙂
:Cheers:
Doug M.
Doug;
Oh I think she understands, did you show her the pictures of Coco?
Your welcome, I pleased they make you smile, that is my point to show that there is humor in everythinf we do, if we take the time to find it. I can crack up everyday here, as like in the United States, people are damn funny and a lot of them don’t even know it.
Paul, glad Cocoa is fine, when I get there next week, maybe Cocoa the Flying Chocolate Lab and Lea the Golden Retreiver/Lab mix Wonder Dog can go to the beach together!
We’ll have to give them nicknames though or we could hyperventilate trying to call them!
Mike;
That is a plan, Coco gets along with all humans and canines, albeit not so well with goats, but I think it’s that cloven foot thing that both goats and the devil have.
I’ll e-mail you my cell number, give a shout when you arrive.