
written: Oct. 23, 2007
It would have been easy for me to have a puppy a long long time ago if only my family (except for my brother) was a little bit more compassionate to animals. My mom hated dogs because of their smell. We once had a dog named casper but he died. I guess if casper had the chance to talk, he would have crushed our hearts by scolding us on how he was treated in the house. I was young then, I just let others handled him the way they wished. Therefore after having casper, no other dog followed.
So a trip to Bioresearch last Oct. 20 was something ordinary. I was just dragged by everyone. My brother, who for some reason after buying a number of animals seems to be building a mini zoo at the back of our house, persuaded my parents to take a look inside Bioresearch. Going there for me was a chance to view firsthand everything my brother narrated to us, nothing more.
When we entered the place, different kinds of aquatic animals welcomed us. My mom, a cousin of mine and I led the tour. Upon approaching the next section of the animals that were displayed, my cousin and mom pointed towards something. When I looked onto the direction where there eyes focused, I saw a big box, one that's a bit rustic and has been used to contain a printer. Inside the box were three golden brown, curly haired, cute puppies that wiggled and peeped onto our side. Delighted, I immediately ran towards it. I touched the puppy one by one as if it was the first time that I was able to see puppies. I really felt overwhelmed. I kept on touching and playing with them until my dad and brother saw us. They too had the same reaction. And to my surprise, everyone adored the puppies, even my mom and dad.
We asked the man and woman sitting beside the box regarding the whereabouts of the puppies. They told us that the breed of the puppies is poodle and that they were going to sell it to Bioresearch. I was shocked when my dad instantly proposed to the them to just sell 2 puppies to Bioresearch and let us buy the remaining one. The couple hesitated. They told us that they already committed the three poodles to Bioresearch. My dad kept on insisting. And so after a few minutes, the couple finally said yes and instructed us to make the deal with them outside Bioresearch. At the parking lot, when we were about to pay and the couple was suppose to hand the papers of one of the puppies, an officer of Bioresearch approached the couple and asked them regarding the puppies. The wife was summoned by the manager and so we had to wait for them to finish talking before we can buy the puppy.
While waiting, I already carried with me the poodle that we were suppose to get. I chose her among the three puppies because her color is different from the two. Hers is darker and warm. She has an inviting eyes, and there's a certain sweetness and playfulness by the way she behaves. When the wife came back, we received a bad news from her. Bioresearch did not want to get just two puppies. Hence, we were not allowed to buy one.
Everyone felt really sad. But I guess I was the saddest because on our way home I never stopped talking about my adoration for the poodle. Initially, I was already telling everyone that my dream came true. I was hoping for a puppy all this time. However, we went home empty handed...
...Not for a long time. Before we arrived at our house, my dad got a call from the owner telling him that one of the poodles was still with them and they would like to sell it to us. All of us were uplifted. Suddenly my brother was in high spirits again and everyone was smiling. I told mom, alas this time around my dream is not just a dream anymore... it's going to be real. As real as touching and cuddling the puppy when we met with the couple. They disclosed how they were able to get away with selling only two puppies. The wife said, she knows the feeling of having a puppy that you really like and she knew how we felt when we were not able to get the poodle. She confessed that when she saw me handing back the poodle, she felt sad as well. And so she talked to the veterinarian of Bioresearch and begged him for the longest time to give away one pup. I think going home that moment was one of our happiest trip of going home.
We call our poodle Pauline. The reason? Nothing special. After brainstorming a hundred names of pups, we ended up going back to one of our first choices. Pauline.
Pauline is a blessing. She makes us smile. She brings out everyone's kindness. She gathers us in one place. Pauline lets us feel as if we are a child again taking care and taking full responsibility of his first pet.

PAULINE
Original Name: Chardin of Ridgemont Club
Breed: Poodle
Sex: Female
Birth date: August 18, 2007
Color: Apricot
PCCI Reg. No.: 11948A7