“What kind of an animal lover are you — a protective and strict one, or one who allows your pets to roam free and spoils them?” we ask.

“I am both,” Janice de Belen says. “Protective and a spoiler.”

Dogs or cats?

“I am a dog person for sure,” she adds. “Cats, not really, but my girls are.”

As kids, Janice and her sister, Gelli, grew up with dogs. But, sadly, when the sisters were younger, they lost a puppy to parvo, and their longtime poodle died. Because of those unfortunate events, it was hard getting back to having another pet.

“Gelli and I had a hard time getting back to really taking care of dogs,” Janice added. “I made several attempts, but parang (it seemed) I wasn’t really there yet. It wasn’t yet the right time.”

It was much later that Janice got around to having dogs again in her life.

“I only became serious again about dogs in 2004. I was given a Chow Chow named Tyler. I lost him in 2016,” she recalled.

Today, she shares her bedroom with three dogs — two St. Bernards, Haneul, 9, and Panda, 1, and a Giant Poodle, Yumi, 2.

What is it about dogs that makes her fall in love with them?

“My dogs see my every mood,” she chuckled. “And they accept it for what it is.”

No beating around the bush

Would you describe yourself as a person of few but concise words, much like your animals, where the look says it all?

“Hahaha. Yes. I hate beating around the bush.”

Are all dogs loyal? I query.

“Yes,” she replies, adding that they are loyal and give unconditional love.

As a spoiler of her three fur babies, she says, “Walang bawal for them. But only one sleeps on my bed at night — Haneul. She is the eldest.”

Yet, although Janice is a pet lover of few words, she does admit that sometimes she talks to her pets and even screams at them if the need arises.

“Yes, I believe they understand me,” she begins. “Pets and owners, over the course of time, develop a language na sila lang ang nakakaintindi.”

And yes, there may be times when she tells her furbabies her problems.

“Depende,” is all she offers.

Other pets

If you could have a pet other than a dog, what would it be?

“Other animals? I guess it depends. I used to have fish, pero mas mahirap yung maintenance. Maybe turtles. Sometimes parang cute din ang bearded dragons. I see them on TikTok,” she said. “Or maybe an alpaca, but I heard they spit.”

How would you describe yourself as a pet lover?

“I guess I am someone who appreciates the animals I have chosen as my pets,” she continues. “A pet lover is someone who gives her pets emotional support as much as their chosen pets give them.”

Why big dogs?

“I like dogs that I can hug and roughhouse with,” she laughs. “That is why I have small wounds and lots of scratches.”

Your dogs look like gentle giants, are they? Is that the kind of pet you look for?

“Well, Panda is still a puppy who grew up with a Giant Poodle, so OMG, it’s crazy,” she says of her pets. “Haneul is super gentle. Panda and Yumi are sweet. But they get chaotic when they are playing. And yes, I love the chaos.”

And in the chaos, you and your pets are able to live together happily?

“Yes, crazily happy.”

Do you have a memorable experience with any of your dogs that made you realize that, indeed, you are an animal lover?

“I didn’t need an experience. I’ve always known.”