Dr. Blake is one of the three Dr. Dogs in Metro Manila who are on the roster of therapy animals consistently making ‘rounds’ at the DSWD sanctuaries for girls. His story is quite interesting.

“Blake was impounded in the Mandaluyong City Pound in 2022. He was a frail young dog with poor skin condition. He only had three good legs and a ‘chicken wing,’” Rona Albarillo, a teacher and Dr. Blake’s fur mom, shared. “Considering his disability, it was extra difficult to fend for himself. Matter of fact, it was a miracle that he managed to survive into adulthood (maybe he had angels help him along the way).”

Yet in spite of what life dealt him with, he exhibited a sunny personality. It was through the help of the Mandaluyong Animal Shelter (MAS) Dogs Citizen Initiative, a group of volunteers helping impounded dogs at the Mandaluyong City pound, that Rona decided to pull Drake out of death row. Rona provided Drake with needed rehabilitation and care.

In the Mandaluyong pound, Blake patiently waited for years for a possible home, all the while just trying to go with the “flow” with all the other dogs in the pound. He is known to be independent, confident and amiable (both to humans and fellow dogs).

However, he never had a close dog friend while in the pound. As years went by, volunteers noticed that he was slowly losing his sunshine. Some more dominant pound dogs would often bully him.

“As the bullying towards Blake started to get worse, pound volunteers looked for a possible foster home so that he could take a break from the pound,” Rona narrated. “My family offered to be the foster home. Blake charmed everyone in our family. And that was how a foster arrangement turned into a loving forever home!”

Blake started to bloom and return to the pink of health. He discovered that there is a bigger world beyond the cages of the pound, and a beautiful side to this existence. He now goes on adventures and travels with his close buddies and fellow rescues, Chia and Pampu.

It was because of amiable nature that he never lost no matter the treatment he got at the pound that Dr. Blake passed the assessment for therapy animals under PAWS’ Dr. Dog program!

Rona proudly shares, “Today, Dr. Blake Pepper Barkley, continues to spread his sunshine everywhere he goes, bringing happiness, love and healing to those who need it most.”