Embok is in Doggy Heaven.

Embok

Age 8, July 02, 2003 - December 04, 2011

Our family member who gave us hope and love, we miss you so much Embok.

Nickname: Em-Em, Kulot, Lagum, Tisoy, Emim, Chim-Chim, Tambo

Embok was born from our neighbor's dog and was given to us for adoption. From then on, I knew that he would be part of the family and would quickly steal our hearts on the spot. Embok welcomed us as his respectful and loving owners in return. He was a really chubby and fat puppy at that time and really likes to play hide-and-seek a lot. Because of his chubbiness we decided to nickname him "Tambok", a word in our local dialect meaning "Fat". He was neutered when he was little and has some serious cases of shyness. He really likes to be the center of attention and would even do anything just to get our eyes and focus on him. He even jumped to the dining table and waited for us there after we went shopping to the mall. He is also really fond of being cuddled and hugged. Whenever he goes or sits beside us, it would be that indication that he is waiting to be cuddled and if you didn't notice him, he would likely and surely lick you to get your attention. I knew then on, he would be a very valuable part of the family.

All of that change when he was about to reach the age of 4. He was showing signs of hip dysplasia, an abnormal formation of the hip socket that can eventually cause crippling and painful arthritis of the joints, and is one of the main reasons why he can't walk well. Despite that, Embok didn't see it as a hindrance to his life and accepted it and is proud of what he is. That's one of the main reasons why we really love this dog because he doesn't show regrets and pains as long as he is beside us. Even with his difficulty in walking and maintaining posture, my family and I accepted him as a family member whole heartily.

Embok then became slowly thin and rarely eats. That's why his "Tambok" nickname went to a spelling reform to "Embok", thus came the origin of his name. Despite his appearance, he wouldn't fluster to eat healthy because he knows that health is important to him. Embok is also the only sole survivor of all his siblings which all died to their early years from different reasons.

Embok is noted for their intelligence, being the smartest of all our dogs that we owned from the past. Because of his superb intelligence, he can be trained quickly and can be on his own with less supervision. He can easily read our actions and give us signals and signs if he wants something or he wants to tell is something. Like one time, there was a stray cat that went inside our house and went to the dining table, the cat ate the fish that was supposed to be our dinner. Embok then hurriedly went to our bedroom and keeps looking at us then points to the dining room as if he was trying to tell us something. To my amazement and curiosity, I followed him and there I saw the cat eating our dinner so I then scared and thrown the cat out the house. Because of this, my mom gave Embok a treat for his smart actions. Even if he wants some fresh water, he would just look at me then sits near his water bowl indicating that he wants to drink fresh ones. This is one skill and trait that I really miss about Embok. No other dogs that we own can do what he had shown us.

Embok was also our hope in times of struggle. We were really having problems financially before and when my mom was in a really tough scenario like that., Embok would just go to her and comforts her as if he was supporting her to never give up. My Mom was really determined and founded ways to solve our financial problems, after achieving results, my mom then honored Embok as a real blessing. Embok is like our own private counselor. He is always there if ever we really needed someone to talk to. One time when I was in High School, due to the inability of myself to adjust to the school environment and people, I was planning on transferring or dropping that school but Embok confronted me at my room when I was deciding for an answer. Then on, he would be my source of strength to move forward and ignore the hindrances coming along, and my source of hope in times of struggle. He was really there and was never absent from our ups and downs in life.

Embok also has developed anxiety which resulted to Monophobia, fear of being alone. It was triggered when his buddy, Clifford, another dog of ours, was sent to another place for care and protection, because Clifford was visible symptoms of skin allergies and tons of fleas and ticks living on his body which my mother cannot solve the situation anymore. As Clifford left the house, Embok was alone and would constantly cry and howl as loud as he can if we would left him alone in house. That's why we adopted another dog, Cutie, a female mixed labrador retriever to be his personal companion. Then as time passes by, Cutie gave birth to puppies from another dog in the neighborhood. Some of the pups died because of the carelessness of their mother and some were given to family friends but we kept one pup which has an active and playful behavior of all the pups. We named the puppy we took "Clifford", the same name as Embok's companion. Embok would then aggresively torture Clifford because of jealousy of affection. But as Clifford was growing, Embok came to accept him as a member and would even play with him sometimes.

On Embok's 7th birthday, I noticed a lump on his chest. I suspected it as a tumor but my mom and brother would just say it is just nothing. I was really worried and planned to make him go to the vet for a check-up but I couldn't do a thing since I am not the financial leader of the house. But as time passes by, the lump became a little bigger and there I concluded it was a tumor. I was so saddened to know my best friend and partner has very limited time left here. I then promised myself to take good care of him even if people would mostly ignore his health situation. I really love my dog, My mom then went abroad to work and I go to school. So no one except the maid are in charge to take care and to watch over Embok while I was gone. Then I learned that our housemaid would give Embok leftover bones and rice for a meal. I was really frustrated and kept reminding my ignorant maid the proper and healthy meal. But as always, she would ignorantly ignore again which made Embok weaker and thinner. That's why I would feed him specially at a special time to cope up with his health. I really love my best friend and he was a brother to me, that's why I don't want anything bad to happen to him.

One day, On December 04, 2011 at some time around 09:30 am to 10:30 am, I checked on Embok and noticed he was always vomiting white foam and keeps on coughing and hacking. I was really concerned and alerted my mom. My mom then asked our maid to go to the local vet clinic and ask for medications. BUT my ignorant and careless maid only give the white foam symptoms not the "repetitive coughing and hacking". So as the maid arrives, she said that it was a sign of parvovirus. I really doubt that since Embok was injected to be immune with the parvovirus. Then, around 6pm, I noticed that Embok's tummy was getting more bigger and I searched the net and I concluded it was a "Bloat". It was really fatal and life-threatening. I asked my mother for assistance but she texted me saying that our maid's inquiry and answer from the vet could cure him. I was really worried to my partner and texted again my mom to go to the emergency vet but she fell asleep and texted me 2 hours later. My maid was also not around to assist me. Only my brother and I was keeping Embok company and Embok's breathing was slowly weakened and tummy getting wider. I can see tears coming off from his eye and the pain of suffering he is feeling. I was so mad for myself because I couldn't do a thing. I still need to ask permission from my mom or an adult to guide me to the vet but no one was around. At 10:00 pm my maid arrived and just ignored Embok's fatal condition I was so frustrated to her for being ignorant and careless that made Embok have wrong Medications. My mom texted me around 10:45 - 11:00 pm, she texted me a go signal and we the hurriedly rode a taxi with my maid and brother carrying Embok and went to the vet ASAP. But along the way, Embok was really suffering and passed away at 11:34 pm. I regretted that time for having an ignorant and careless maid. I could have saved Embok if it weren't for them. I was so guilty that I cried heavily that night. I was so mad and furious. I felt so sorry for Embok.He was always clinging to me the whole day but as what our maid said, I just pat him on the head and cuddled him unknowingly that he was actually asking for my help. I'm so sorry Embok for leaving you unattended with our maid. If I was stronger enough and only relied on my own, I could have postponed your death. I'm so sorry for ignoring your condition when you really needed my help. I am so guilty and ashamed for believing my maid. My mom on the webcam, my brother beside me, and I cried so hard for the lost of our precious family member. Our maid was as always ignorant of the incident and just stood there and watched.

I really love my partner, best friend, forever friend, and my brother Embok. Hope you can forgive your big brother for being so stupid and bad. I hope you can forgive me. We really miss you Embok. If I could do anything to prevent that incident and your sad goodbye, I would seriously do it for you. Knowing also that it was Embok, he wouldn't have held a bad grudge to me. He has a good and gentle soul giving only unconditional love and hope to us. That's why I'm really guilty of the incident and regretted every bit of it. I'm sorry Embok and I love you. We really miss you.