My cousin just lost both his dogs in one day.
And it’s taken me this long before I could finally get myself to write about it. You see, one of his dogs is slightly more special to me because at one time, my cousin left her with me.
And me being the spoiler that time… well let’s just say that in a few days that she was with me, she gained a lotta pounds.
… and now she’s gone.
I’m not going to dwell on the details of what happened because to be frank, I am also unclear about how it happened plus that grief is his to carry.
I’ve been to his plae a few times since then and I guess you could say it’s really empty now without those two dogs running around to greet people and beg for food.
Anyway… he’s looking for a new dog now.
And I’m writing this for him.
And for anyone else who is standing exactly where he is — in that strange space between loss and beginning, wondering what comes next.
Please adopt.
Please.
What Is an Aspin? What Is a Puspin?
Aspin — Asong Pinoy.
Puspin — Pusang Pinoy.
Simply put, these are our native Philippine mixed-breed dogs and cats.
Animals that have lived alongside Filipino families for thousands of years, shaped by natural selection in our specific climate, our specific food, our specific way of life.
They are not failed purebreds.
They are not second-choice animals.
They are the original Philippine pet and they are genuinely extraordinary.
The Aspin, for example, carries genetic ancestry from ancient Austronesian dog lineages that traveled with the first human settlers of the archipelago.
Geneticists studying Philippine dog populations have found traces of some of the oldest domestic dog lineages on Earth in the Aspin’s DNA. The dog on your street is, in a very real sense, one of the oldest dogs in the world.
Why Adopt Instead of Buy
There are an estimated 11 to 12 million pet dogs in the Philippines. A significant portion of them are homeless, in shelters, with rescues, or on the street. Sadly, every time someone buys from a breeder instead of adopting, a shelter animal’s waiting time gets longer.
The Aspin is also, genuinely, one of the best dogs you can have in this country.
- Heat-adapted.
- Resilient.
- Loyal.
- Hardy.
- Does not require aircon.
- Does not carry the inherited health problems of breeds produced through narrow gene pools.
The moment a dog who has been afraid chooses to trust you anyway… that is not something a breeder can put a price on.
Because it has no price.
It is just one living thing deciding that this human is worth trusting.
Aspin Care Sheet: Everything You Need to Know
Once you’ve decided to adopt, here is the practical guide for bringing your Aspin home and keeping it healthy in Davao.
| SIZE | Varies widely — small (5–10 kg), medium (10–20 kg), large (20+ kg) depending on ancestry; most Aspins are medium-sized |
| LIFESPAN | 10 to 15 years with proper care; some well-kept Aspins reach 17 to 18 years |
| COAT | Short to medium — single or double coat; far easier to manage than most imported breeds in Davao’s heat |
| TEMPERAMENT | Alert, loyal, adaptable, intelligent; bonds strongly with family; territorial instinct makes them natural guardians |
| DAVAO CLIMATE FIT | Excellent — genetically adapted to Philippine heat and humidity over thousands of years |
| EXERCISE NEED | Moderate — daily walk or active play session; adapts to owner’s lifestyle |
| LEGAL STATUS | Fully legal; governed by Animal Welfare Act RA 8485 / RA 10631; barangay registration and annual rabies vaccine required under RA 9482 |
FEEDING
Aspins are not fussy eaters but that doesn’t mean anything goes.
Commercial dry dog food as a staple — look for a named protein (chicken, beef, fish) as the first ingredient. Supplement with cooked rice and vegetables, small amounts of cooked meat, and occasional raw egg.
Fresh water always available and changed twice daily — in Davao’s heat, water left out goes warm quickly and dogs drink less warm water.
Avoid feeding salty, processed, or seasoned human food. Avoid chicken bones that can splinter. Feed twice daily in measured portions — obesity in Aspins is more common than people think. I know of a dog that looked like a small barrel after I… oh wait… that was me.
I overfed a dog once for days.
My cousin wasn’t too happy about it.
SHELTER AND HEAT MANAGEMENT
Aspins handle Davao’s heat better than any imported breed but they still need shade, especially between 11am and 3pm when the ground radiates heat.
An elevated sleeping area keeps them off hot concrete. If your dog is outside, shade on at least three sides of their resting area is the minimum.
A shallow basin of cool water to stand in during the hottest hours is a simple upgrade that makes a real difference.
Check paw pads — asphalt at midday in Davao can reach 60 degrees Celsius and will burn.
HEALTH AND VET CARE
Core vaccines: distemper, parvovirus, hepatitis, leptospirosis — ideally completed as a puppy series and updated annually. Anti-rabies vaccine is required by law under RA 9482 and must be renewed yearly. Deworming every three months.
Monthly heartworm preventive medicine.
Monthly tick and flea treatment — tick fever is real and common in Davao.
Regular vet check-ups twice a year even when nothing seems wrong.
Vets in Davao are accessible and experienced with Aspins specifically.
Spay or neuter if you are not planning to breed — it reduces cancer risk, improves temperament, and is one of the most responsible things you can do for an adopted dog.
TRAINING AND ADJUSTMENT PERIOD
Give a newly adopted Aspin at least two weeks of quiet adjustment before introducing them to large groups of people or other pets.
Some come with trauma.
Some have never been inside a home.
Patience and consistency — same routine, same feeding time, same sleeping spot — tells an anxious dog that this is safe and permanent.
Basic commands (sit, stay, come, leave it) are accessible to any Aspin with positive reinforcement.
They are smarter than they get credit for and they remember kindness.
| ADOPTION FIRST-WEEK CHECKLIST: Sleeping area ready before they arrive. Vet appointment booked for the first week. Age-appropriate food sourced. ID tag with your number on the collar from day one. Two weeks of quiet before large social events. Patience budget set for accidents and adjustment. That’s the whole list. The rest you’ll figure out together. |
One More Thing
There is no right amount of time to grieve for a pet before getting another.
You’ll know when you’re ready for the next one.
Your next dog is waiting.
Probably in a pound or a rescue or on a barangay street that doesn’t know that their luck is about to change.
If it’s meant to be, you’ll find each other.
| ANIMAL TRIVIA: The Aspin carries genetic traces of ancient Austronesian dog lineages — the same dogs that traveled with the first human settlers of the Philippine archipelago thousands of years ago. Genetic studies show Philippine dog populations are among the most genetically distinct in Asia, making the Aspin not just a local breed but a living piece of Philippine prehistory. |
