It was midnight when he first saw her
She was a stray pup who looked very sick and needed help immediately.
She was also such a sweet, trusting pupper as she would come to him when he would call her.
But he could not take her home. His family did not like having dogs in the house.
Still a student who would go to the computer shop in 2014, Virgilio Cabanag would always see the puppy whose condition tugged at his heart. One day, he recalled he saw the pup was so weak, it looked like the pup would die anytime.
“I just had to help her,” Virgilio said.
Thus, after three days, he decided to do something to help the dying puppy.
It was also midnight, Virgilio said. “I called her and told her that if she would allow me to carry her, I would bring her home.”
Then he asked help from Save All Inc.- Save Animals of Love and Light as he did not have the means to have the dog treated immediately.
Save ALL asked him to bring the pup to a clinic where she was diagnosed with the fatal distemper virus and demodectic mange, or galis, a skin disease that flares up every now and then due to allergy to food or a compromised immune system.
Shine almost died. But she fought hard and everyone, specially Virgilio, fought with her.
Save ALL admins were amazed at Virgilio ’s desire to help the puppy get completely well. He would give the meds prescribed and the supplements that Save ALL admins recommended. He would bring the puppy all the way to a clinic which is far from their Deparo, Caloocan home for the follow-up check-up and treatment for mange. Man and pup endured the two-hour bus ride to the clinic, and another two-hour travel time going home.
Because of the puppy’s amazing transformation and the effect on Virgilio’s life, everyone agreed to call her Missy Sunshine.
Virgilio fostered Shine for a year. When she was declared completely well, Save ALL decided to allow Virgilio to adopt her because of his dedication and love for the rescued puppy.
Before her rescue, dogs were banned from their house. But Virgilio’s persistence and Shine’s sweet, loving nature grew on the members of the family, thus Virgilio parents not only allowed Shine into their home but into their hearts too.
“My family loves her so much now. My parents treat her as their apo (grandchild),” Virgilio said.
Shine grew up into a very lovely doggy because of the love Virgilio and his family showered her.
Virgilio said he still can not believe the sick pup he rescued is now the beautiful doggy who continues to bring sunshine into their lives.
“She is indeed a blessing and my sunshine,” Virgilio said.
He is happiest, he said, when he sees Shine “comfortable while sleeping, unlike before when she was sleeping on the streets. Napakasarap sa pakiramdam. (It is such a good feeling.) I am happy to know she is now fed well and no longer on her own on the street looking for food and nowhere to go when it is raining. It feels good to know I have helped someone like her have a good home.”
Shine, said Virgilio, also made him responsible. “She is now one of the reasons I work very hard.”
Virgilio eventually finished his studies and became a seaman.
“Shine is one of the best things that happened to my life. She is one of the reasons I have set goals in my life to improve the lives of those I love. Siyempre kasama siya. (Of course, that includes her.)”
Also, Virgilio said, “After I finish my contract, I promised Shine we will go to the Paw Club. She is not just my dog, she is my baby.”
Virgilio stressed: “ We, humans, should know how to give back the love and loyalty that our furbabies give us.”
Editor's note: There are a number of pups and dogs waiting for a human to love them. These rescued pups and dogs will thrive well in a loving home where it is hoped they will stay for the rest of their lives. They do bring sunshine and love into any home. To adopt a rescued pup or dog or to donate for rescues of Save ALL, please contact Save ALL admins Maricel Mondejar, Joanne Zamora, or Julie Rodriguez in Facebook (FB) or in the Save ALL FB pages.