JC Intal: I cried when my dog died

MANILA, Philippines - JC Intal currently plays for the San Mig Coffee Mixers in the PBA. He previously played for the Air21 Express, Barangay Ginebra Kings and amateur basketball for the Harbour Centre Batang Pier in PBL.

JC was also part of the Ateneo de Manila University basketball team that won the 2002 UAAP Men’s Basketball Championship.

“I grew up with dogs,” says JC. “I remember our first family dog, which we had when I was seven years old.”

JC says that he was given his first dog in 2003. The dog was a black Labrador he named Jordan.

“Yes,” he quickly adds. “He was named after Michael Jordan.”

JC admits that it was Jordan who started his love affair with dogs. Since then, he has had a slew of dogs of different breeds. “After I watched the movie Eight Below, a movie about Siberian Huskies, I bought Siberian Huskies,” JC says. “I bought a pair that had puppies. I also bought a female Lab for Jordan. She also had puppies.”

With so many puppies, JC decided to sell the Siberian Husky pups. But the Lab pups he opted to give away to friends.

JC lost his female Lab after she gave birth to 10 puppies.

After the loss of the Lab, he got a Golden Retriever and then a female Rottweiler. As his family of dogs grew, so did the size of his dogs. He went as far as getting a huge Bull Mastiff.

“But when it comes to choice of breed, my real love is for the English Bulldogs,” JC quips.  “I have four now.”

JC initially thought of going into breeding Bulldogs. But he realized that he did not have the time to get into the business seriously.

“With bulldogs, when they are pregnant you have to keep an eye out for them,” JC shares. “I did not have time for that. I still have the bulldogs but they are my pets. I am very busy with basketball so I have no time to go into breeding.”

JC recalls bumping into a couple that bought their Huskies from him.

“The owner approached me and told me that he got his dogs from me,” says JC. “The Huskies were so nice, I wanted to take them back.”

Although JC still owns at least 15 dogs, he now has a boy helper that helps him care for his dogs. After all, he admits that with his busy basketball schedule, it is hard for him to have all the time he needs for his dogs.

Here are 10 things about JC Intal the dog lover that you may not perhaps know:

1. Right now I have 10 dogs. Jordan (Lab), Fifi (French Bulldog), Milo (English Bulldog), Bella (English Bulldog), Skye (Bichon Frise), Chuck (Beagle), Turbo (co-owned), D2 (Mini Pin), Bruno (English Bulldog) and Maya (English Bulldog).

2. I spend, like, about P10,000 a month on my dogs. This includes food, shampoo, soap and the sweldo of the caretaker.

3. They have their own bathtub. When it is hot, they can swim in the tub. I have one bathtub for all of them. The tub is used more by the Bulldogs and the Lab.

4. Sometimes, when I have time, I am the one who bathes my dogs. Or else I walk them. The Bulldogs need to walk, too. But they tire easily. After a short round, they are tired already and they will stop walking and lie down. They are super-tamad. They are actually like pigs: they eat, sleep and snore.

5. Jordan, the black Labrador, is my first dog love. He is the eldest and he is my favorite.

6. My most expensive dog is Bella, an English Bulldog. I got her for P80,000. She is from a champion line but I have no intention of entering her in the ring.

7. I cried when my dog died. Big boys don’t cry, but when you have a dog and he touched your life, you will cry a lot. Even my girlfriend has never seen me cry. I lost two dogs — a female Lab and an English Bulldog.

8. I find Bulldogs very cute. I like their face. And lalo na si Bella, she has crazy eyes and I also like a stocky build.

9. I used to be the one to vaccinate my dogs. My dad, who is a vet, taught me how to vaccinate the dogs.

10. I just love sitting and watching my dogs. Behind our house there is a vacant lot where I had a garden constructed, and that is also the playground of my dogs. So, when I see them all there together, whether they are lying around or running, it is a super stress-reliever for me.

JC says that he still has one more breed that he would like to own — a Newfoundland.

“It is a huge breed,” he quips. “It is also a water dog. So I would need a pool. It is a dream dog, really.”

JC says he has learned to curb his impulses because when it comes to dogs, he is a very impulsive buyer. If he likes the dog and he finds it cute, he buys it.

“Pag nag-champion kami, siguro bibili ako ng Newfoundland,” he thinks aloud. “As a reward siguro. It will be my last dog.”

His parting advice to would-be dog owners: Think before you buy. Make sure you get a dog from a quality breeder, who is also a dog-lover. Make sure you feed them every day. Give them vitamins and make sure they get exercise as often as possible.