Remembering Kunig, My Original Maligcong Soul Dog (2008-2024)

Spending a lazy day with then 7-year old Kunig

It was 2013 when I first heard of Kunig and Maligcong. My best buddy, Ironwulf, decided to take a detour and spend the holidays in this part of Mountain Province after a trip to Buscalan. When he told me of this wonderful dog who loves to hike up Mt Kupapey, I instinctively knew he was special. 

The following year, I got to visit with friends, Ironwulf, Erick, Rocel, and Norbel, and meet Kunig and Suzette, the owner of the homestay and his primary human. Up to that time, I was adamant about getting bonded to dogs (and cats) as I want to avoid the pitfalls of sadness and depression when the bonds are broken. But little did I know, that was about to change. I visited every 3-4 months ever since and each time, Kunig was always my constant companion, not just in the boondocks but also inside my room.

Here's a little secret: I'd take pity on him especially during the colder season when he'd struggle to make himself as small as possible to fit on the foot mat outside the door of the two-room homestay (yep, it used to be a two-room affair way back then). At lights out, I'd smuggle him inside and he'd take his place on the other bed in room number one or right under my table. Suzette is always too kind to overlook the fact that letting him inside the room (and later on, the other dogs would also sleep inside with me, especially Maku, TamTam, and Shiwa who'd actually sleep beside me) means extra cleaning and laundry work. 

DIY Cat Grass

Alvin, my almost 2-year-old rescue cat, has a liking for tasting my plants. Though she's off limits to the balcony garden (she once almost gave me a heart attack for jumping on the ledge; good thing she jumped back the right way instead of 30 floors down), she may at time, bite into my aroids. I know they're potential p9isons but after repeated conditioning, she has learned to steer clear of my indoor plants. I once gave her a pot of cat grass, which, at P200 is expensive. I've grown millet seedlings before from feeding the sparrows on my old ledge garden so I know it's feasible to grow my own.

Just take some bird seeds, the usual ones fed to cockatoos, and some clean soil. If you ant to be extra careful in not passing on any pathogens living in the soil, either use soil that's been treated with sufficient heat or use coconut coir instead. 

It takes a week or two to germinate to sufficient size but you can save a lot, especially since the usual cat grass is good only for a week or so (sooner if your cat takes a liking to the grass and consumes a lot in one nibbling session).