Adopting animals is something Matthew Rey Anthony is familiar with. His two dogs, Tango and Cleo, used to live on the streets before they found their forever homes with him and his family.
“Tango was rescued from a construction site in 2012 when she was about three months old. She was very scared and quiet,” Matthew, 19, tells FMT.
To this day, Tango is afraid of loud noises and people shouting. But her family’s love has brought the little puppy out of her shell, and she is a far cry from the silent pup she once was.
Tango is now nine years old, and Matthew describes her as “pampered”.
“When she was growing up, she was the only dog in the family, and would receive a lot of pats and rubs from the entire family,” Matthew says.
“Until today, she always sneaks into the house just to get some pats from us.”
The beautiful mixed breed is constantly looking out for her family and barks to alert her humans when she senses trouble.
“Tango has a sort of ‘sixth sense’ when it comes to those who might be potential threats and those who are not,” Matthew says.
“A couple of months ago, I heard Tango barking outside and discovered two boys stealing mangoes from my tree. I managed to chase them away.
“But I have also seen Tango with people she has never met before, and if she senses they are not a threat, she goes up to them for pats.”
Last year, Matthew learnt from a friend about another stray puppy who needed a home. He decided to bring the mixed-breed baby home and named her Cleo.
“She was only two or three months old, and wasn’t feeling very well. She had worms and even wounds on her body,” he recalls.
Matthew nursed her back to health, staying up until 2am some nights to care for her.
Not surprisingly, Cleo has a special attachment to the human who rescued her. “She is always waiting outside my room for me,” Matthew says fondly.
Today, Cleo is just under a year old and loves finding things to chew on, including socks, clothes, shoes, slippers, and umbrellas!
“She also barks at moving objects – a fly, a hornet, even leaves and tree branches swaying in the wind,” Matthew says with a laugh.
Describing Cleo as an intelligent canine, he adds: “When she was not well, I would hide her medicine in her food. She discovered my trick and ended up eating all the food but leaving the medicine.”
Matthew also shares that both Tango and Cleo do not like taking baths, but he ensures his beloved pets get bathed at least once every two weeks.
“Having both dogs in my life has certainly impacted me,” Matthew reflects. “I have become more patient and understanding.
“After all, they are living creatures that should be treated properly.”
TELL US ABOUT YOUR PET: FMT Lifestyle readers are invited to send in pictures (landscape format) and a short video (if any) of their furry, scaly or feathery friends to [email protected]. Don’t forget to include details like your pet’s name, age, breed and a short story about them.