Raising the best breed - with a heart
 When
talking about dog breeding, it is inevitable that you start asking why the
breeder go into such profession, as dog breeding takes time, money and lots of
dedication. This is because raising dogs can have its rewards and its
frustrations - just like raising children.
Dr. Roberto "Jojo" Ramirez is not an ordinary dog breeder. His kennel has one
of the most interesting stories and one can't help but marvel at the way he
manages both his role as a dog breeder, as a doctor, and as head of a drug
rehabilitation center. Dr. Ramirez founded and is presently the executive
director of the Bulacan Drug Rehabilitation Foundation, Inc. (BDRFI), a
non-stock, non-profit treatment and rehabilitation center founded on November
28, 1998 to answer the call for an effective and complete rehabilitation
program for drug/alcohol dependents. The center's 10,000-square-meter compound
is located in Baliuag, Bulacan. It has the capacity to admit 80 - 100 patients
at any given time and has successfully treated more than 500 patients, at the
same time providing therapy and support services to the patients' families.
What makes BDRFI unique is its staff's commitment to provide effective
treatment and rehabilitation using state-of-the-art facilities and procedures
without losing the personal touch that helps patients regain their
self-confidence. The foundation has gone beyond the usual clinical treatment to
cure drug dependency as it operates a drug-free environment following the
therapeutic community (TC) concept. The concept is based on a sound physical,
spiritual and emotional aspect of recovery, follow-up and aftercare of
graduates for integration in their families and society.
Part of the BDRFI program is the maintenance of a Zoology Department inside its
compound. The Zoology Department is where the kennel is. The integration of
kennel maintenance into the center's Departmental Function has been one of the
achievements of the foundation although at the start, there was no intention to
do so. "I started taking care of dogs after I had my bypass operation in 2000.
The doctors told me to exercise to keep me alive so I bought my first dog, a
Doberman, to accompany me when walking around as it can be boring walking
alone," begins Dr. Ramirez. What started as an ordinary exercise routine didn't
end with a Doberman as after a while, he decided to buy a female rottweiler.
The family of Dr. Ramirez got into the hobby and bought their own pets - one
child got a pitbull while the youngest had a Lhasa apso. When the rottweiler
gave birth, the puppies were swapped with other breeds and thus, the number of
house pets grew with additional mini pinscher, labrador and golden retriever
being added to the household.
"At first there was no intention to bring the pets to the rehab center until my
daughter who owns the Lhasa apso developed allergies so we had to take the dog
to the BDRFI compound. I noticed that the residents (or drug addicts undergoing
rehabilitation) responded well to the presence of the pet because they kept on
combing and grooming the dog," adds Dr. Ramirez. When the golden retriever was
brought to the BDRFI compound, the residents also showed positive response to
the dog and took good care of it. "That encouraged me to buy two Belgian
malinois which the residents trained. And that's how the kennel at the BDRFI
grew."
The BDRFI treatment and rehabilitation program has since included the dog
training and grooming conducted by the residents as part of the Departmental
Function. During that period, each group of residents takes turn taking care of
the dogs - including grooming, feeding, training and exercise. "It helps them
because it teaches them to take care of a life. From being a bum and worthless
individual, taking care of the dog gives the drug addict's life a meaning and a
sense of direction," explains Dr. Ramirez. Sometimes, the residents get too
attached to the dog, they will not eat if the dog will not eat. So most of the
time, the puppies of the dogs that the residents take care are being bought by
the residents themselves or their families to take home. "It gives me great
pleasure when that happens because the dog helps in the healing process and
full recovery of the drug dependent," adds Dr. Ramirez.
The kennel at the BDRFI has raised champions among its flock. "We won in
several major categories at dog shows and whenever we win, it's not only me as
a dog owner who feels proud but also the residents who feel that they have
achieved something really important." As the executive director of a
rehabilitation center, maintaining a kennel is one of Dr. Ramirez's most
rewarding experiences so far. "Financially, I don't know if it's profitable
because I don't even count how much I spend on my dogs. If the dogs need
medicines, vitamins or veterinary services, I would spend. I would buy the best
dog foods in the market for my kennel, one that gives complete nutrition and
helps my dogs grow fast, develop good muscles and body structure," says Dr.
Ramirez.
The special attention and personal touch that Dr. Ramirez gives to the
residents undergoing treatment and rehabilitation, he also extends to his
kennel. "Dogs are like human beings, if you decide to take care of them you
must give your best shot. The same special attention to the basic needs of
humans should also be given to your pets, plus lots of tender loving care." To
date, the BDRFI kennel has grown in number and popularity with people valuing
the pets they buy from the kennel not only because they are purebreds, but also
because they represent the special care and attention given to the pets by
recovering drug addicts who want to regain their integrity and place in our
society.
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