The ‘bukid’ life of Joey Mead King

THE youngest is Sophia, she is a mare at 3.
PHOTOGRAPHS courtesy of Joey Mead King

“A purpose and responsibility that I had been willing to do” is how animal lover Joey Mead King defines her role in the lives of horses the Philippine Animals Welfare Society (PAWS) rescued after the 2020 earthquake in Tagaytay City. “I have always wanted to have a horse, and the opportunity was there when the volcano erupted. It was a responsibility that I had been asking the universe.”

She adds, “I have always wanted to care for a being that can live its life in freedom and pasture and can be taken care of. I wanted that responsibility.”

What began with the adoption of three horses became four, as one was pregnant, and Joey is “content that they are healthy.”

Talk to the animals

As an only child, Joey, who grew up in Australia, always felt like she was a Miss Doolittle as she cared for her mom’s small dogs, a Pomeranian and a Chihuahua. When Joey moved out to the country, she spent a lot of time in nature and with the animals that she would come across. Out fishing, for example, she would talk to the fish and the other animals around her, feeling she understood what they said.

MISS Luna is watchful, sensitive and gentle.
PHOTOGRAPHS courtesy of Joey Mead King

She created what she calls a “fantasy world” of thinking that she could communicate with animals. But as she got older, always living in a condo as a young model, she could not have the dog or cat that she had hoped for. It was impossible as she lived from condo to condo, crashing on a couch or renting a room.

But when she started her relationship with Ange King, their first dog was Noah, a Rottweiler-Retriever mix. Then came Haley, a small poodle, and then Shadow, their black cat.

Farm life

Joey has been with the Philippine Animal Welfare Society for many years and when the opportunity to adopt the horses came around, it was a no-brainer.

So we ask, do the horses show gratitude for the life that they are living now?

“Wish they would. It is a human fantasy,” she chuckles. “I always tease them, specially the youngest since she was born on the farm, she has no idea. She is the most spoiled.”

Like any other animal lover, Joey says she cries when there is a movie and the animal dies as her thoughts drift to her pets. She goes back to the horses and says, “I am just really glad that they do well. They want to be with each other.”

JERRY is the only gelding.
PHOTOGRAPHS courtesy of Joey Mead King

“I love seeing rescue stories,” she says. “I am also the type who sees rage when I see animals that are not taken care of or when I see people who don’t have the means to care for their pets. They are taking care of the animal for its whole life — things like that make me mad.”

Aside from the horses, there are 11 cats and three dogs, six cows and one rooster.

As the interview draws to close, Joey has a thought or two that she shares.

“I am an animal lover, period. And if I can help one, I will,” she adds. “At the moment, we are full in farm. I love all types of animals and always wish them to live their best lives. I have done all that I can when it comes to rescuing animals — up to bottle feeding, which would be the closest I have come to caring for kids because we don’t have any human children. But, I love all types of animals and always wish them to live their best animal lives, be it domestic or otherwise. I believe an animal should be free to roam and never be caged.”

Oh, and yes, the only thing she says she humanizes is putting voices in the animals she sees.

“I really wish I had more of a connection with animals,” she chuckles. “I guess the bukid life has actually enhanced the respectful animal lover in me.”