An Irreverent Take on Dog Trivia

Shoemart mall crowds were treated to the unique sight of costumed dogs as they participated in the dress up contest sponsored by Pedigree on 29 October 2005. Directing three of the hosts, namely, Louise Fernandez for SM North EDSA, JC Gotinga for SM Southmall and Neomi Tabanao for SM Fairview, I also gave them a list of dog trivia to regale the audience with and to fill in that dreaded dead air.

Of course, during the shows, the hosts stated the trivia in a different manner. The irreverent and off the cuff comments written here are my own private thoughts, which have no place at all in a hosting medium (unless it’s a stand up comedy act).

Will’s Primary Beneficiary According to a study, 1 million Americans adore their pooch so much that their canine loved ones have been legally named as the primary beneficiaries of their wills. Hopefully, there are no furious relatives over their decision, otherwise, their pets may soon join them in a place where dog owners and their furry friends live together forever (I can’t say heaven because my born-again Christian friend says it can’t be, to her great distress and my rolling eyes).

Paul McCartney’s Special Tribute It seems that the legendary Beatles singer wants to let his dog know how much he cares for him by including an ultrasonic whistle that can only be heard by dogs at the end of the Beatles song entitled “A Day in the Life.” Well, we now have an explanation for the barking and howling that goes on after that song is played. And here I thought that dogs were Beatles fans too.

Dogs and Autism The Germans developed the method of training dogs to help out blinded war veterans. Now, it has been discovered by scientists that dogs can sense if a child is special, specifically, if the child has autism. Maybe trying out a dog as a child’s companion may turn out to be therapeutic as well (I’m being totally serious here).

Dogs Can See Color When I watch Nickelodeon’s Rugrats I often wondered why the animation would turn black and white when the point of view was taken by the dog Spike. I only learned later that it was because dogs were believed to be able to discern black and white only, when in actuality they can see a limited spectrum of color, like blue, yellow and gray, “comparable to human vision at twilight” (which to me sounds like everything is gray).

Live Longer Owning a pet seems to amount to being less stressed, which leads to better health, and, consequently, a longer life. No wonder all the American presidents own a dog. Aside from the fact it provides an excellent photo opportunity to have a powerful man gamboling on the grass with his dog, it increases the probability for being around to, optimistically, be elected for a second term.

The Chihuahua Outlives Them All The miniscule Chihuahua has the distinction of being able to live 11-18 years, outstripping its larger counterparts, maybe even their human ones. (So if you own one, make sure to have provisions for your pet in your will.)

Beware of Chocolate, Aluminum Foil and Balloons These ordinary items can prove to be lethal for dogs if consumed or swallowed. Chocolate contains theobromine, a stimulant that causes increased activity in the cardio and nervous systems., i.e., they can cause a heart attack or a breakdown. And, aluminum foil and balloons can cause suffocation, which can also lead to death. So for the covetous relatives of dog owners whose pets have been named primary beneficiaries…

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