"Puppies are nature's remedy for feeling unloved, plus numerous other ailments of life." - Richard Allan Palm.
I don't know what it is about puppies but their presence just makes everything a lot better. Like if you're going through something, seeing a puppy walk towards you with its tail wagging just brings so much joy that it melts away any negative thoughts in your mind. This is, perhaps, one of the reasons why dog cafes have become a successful trend throughout the world. In both Japan and Korea, there are a number of dog cafes available to choose from. Slowly but surely, Cebu City has started to pick up with this trend with the newest cafe in town: Lovey Doggy Dog Cafe.
The cafe is currently on its third day of operations and is under soft opening so there are still a number of things they are getting accustomed to. When we heard they were open, we wasted no time to head over and enjoy our time with the puppies.
Some cakes and pastries
Menu
Entering the cafe, we were surprised to see how spacious it was inside. The cafe was set up in a two-storey space with its puppy playpen on the ground floor. The top portion was built like an outdoor patio, complete with fake grass and lounge chairs-- there was even a swing love seat. Apart from a place for dining, I think the second floor area is where you can bring your dog with you.
Second floor
Second floor
So here's what you need to know when visiting Lovey Doggy Cafe:
To play with the dogs, you will need to purchase a ticket; which costs Php 100. But you will need to purchase a minimum of Php 100 to be able to buy a ticket. This applies per person so you will roughly have to spend at least Php 200 to order and play with the dogs.
You will have to sign a Waiver of Liability Form before you can enter the playpen. You will also have to santize yourself before and after handling the dogs.
The playpen is available to a maximum of fifteen (15) guests per shift (one hour) and will be able to play with three (3) dogs per shift. They usually count each shift as an hour so it's best to wait for the next available shift so you can get your money's worth. When we visited, we just came from work so we were only able to play with the dogs for around 20 minutes since the next shift had to start. (Will return!)
You may bring your child but he must be accompanied by a parent or guardian, if he is twelve (12) or below
Whenever needed, don't be shy to ask assistance from the staff.
Lovey Doggy Rules for playing with the dogs:
Don't use flash to take pictures of the dogs
Don't place dogs on the tables
Don't make any unnecessary noise that could startle the dogs
Dogs are not allowed to sit on tables
Don't feed the dogs. Outside foods and drinks are not allowed
Don't carry or lift the dogs without assistance
Don't disturb sleeping dogs
Don't leave your food, drinks, bags, or trash on the ground
Teasing, horseplay, and violent behavior are not tolerated
These rules are implemented for the welfare of the dogs. If a puppy gets injured, you will be responsible for veterinary care costs.
Reminders for dog parents bringing in their dogs: Since Lovey Doggy allows outside dogs to enter the cafe as well as the playpen, they also have to follow these rules:
Vaccination cards & papers are needed. Outside dogs need to be fully vaccinated against all diseases
Control your dog at all times. Don't leave him unattended.
Don't let your dog eat off from the cafe's utensils or plates
No bringing in of dog food from outside
Don't forget to clean up after your dog's mess
The cafe also offers daycare and overnight services so be sure to ask if you need it.
Meet the Dogs
On our visit, we were able to spot a Corgi, a couple of Pugs, a Boston Terrier, a very tired Husky, a Pomeranian, and a Bull Terrier-ish dog. There was also a little princess that I liked a lot but I couldn't identify what breed she was. If you guys spot her, she's the white fluffy princess that will greet you when you enter. If I'm not mistaken, she's the one called Miyu.
My friend Pensive Peanut was wearing a Boston Terrier print shirt (purely coincidence)
Pensive Peanut indulging in her favorite dog breed-- PUGS
Apart from these dogs, there are also other ones that Lovey Doggy has in store for patrons:
Pugs: Boni & Hani
Pomeranians: Wolverine & Milk
Pomeranian-Spitz: Miyu
Corgi: Piggy
Beagle: Bruno
Chow Chow: Simba
Husky: Yeeri
Toy Poodle: Nara
French Bulldog: Kuma
Boston Terrier: Leo
I hope there's a better way to identify these dogs. The board wasn't complete with their names yet and I'm hoping they would put a little name tag or ID on each dog... that would be so cute!
I'm excited to see more of these dogs in our next visit. Maybe we'll bring our little monster in soon :)
Our Cocker Spaniel named Fatso
Lovey Doggy Cafe GQS Plaza, Banilad Road, Cebu City Landmarks: across Gaisano Countrymall. It's the complex in between UC Banilad and Petron, where Leona's is also found Operating Hours: 10:00 AM - 10:00 PM Daily For inquiries, call 0915 260 5059
