Tag: dogs

I used AI to recreate photos of my dog and cat.

As a content marketer and writer, I was aware of the Open AI Chat GPT-3 model from a very early stage. As for generative art, this was my first attempt at AI art using Dall-E and Midjourney.

These aren’t the best photos that I have, but they are the funniest. It took me a while to get something close to what I wanted- and I think using AI isn’t just as easy as it sounds.

The one on the top is my first ever attempt at AI art using midjouney.

The photo on the bottom is a generation I got from Open AI’s Dall-E 2, which was better than the catfish from Midjourney… but barely.

Dogs in Korea (No we don’t just eat them)

As someone who has only had a dog in Korea, I wouldn’t really know what it feels like to have a dog in a different country,

All I know is that there is an increasing number of dog friendly cafes in Korea, and being the owner of a 15kg pup, this is amazing news. Still, many places in central Seoul only accept smaller dogs. But in the outskirts of Seoul, there are places for the bigger dogs and their owners to hang out.

Today, I visited a cafe in Paju. Something about the rain and the weather made it all the more pleasant for us to enjoy the weekend.

My partner hates rainy weather. But I, on the other hand love the rain. The scent of rain and the way it matches my mood is actually pretty soothing. Especially when I have nothing to do on the weekend, rainy weather is something that makes me feel really calm.

When we first arrived, Yeondu took a short walk on her leash, went outside to pee, and came back in to play with her friends. It’s a quite common thing for people to discriminate against jindos in Korea, but this particular cafe was very jindo friendly.

Jindos have a pretty picky attitude when it comes to food, but luckily Yeondu enjoyed her drink as much as we enjoyed ours. One of our goals is to have a house with a yard and two dogs. Sometimes, coming to places like these makes it seem more like a reality.

Sometimes hanging out with dogs and their owners is the best feeling in the world. Hoping that one day I will have a house big enough to foster some strays, and make special relationships with the foster dogs’ adopted families.

Love like a Dog, Live like a Cat

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Ah, the long asked question: are you a cat person or a dog person?

Cats are pretty clean, quiet, and they pee in their designated areas. Of course, they scratch up your walls and your couch so that your furniture starts looking like it belongs in a haunted house. They are whiny– and pretty talkative at times. They like to chase your legs and sit on top of warm laundry, mess up your blankets and rummage through your closet– but its all ok. You know, because they are cute.

Dogs on the other hand, are a lot of work. They need bathing, nail clipping, regular walks, training, and also a lot of attention. Bigger dogs also need a lot of food too. The costs of taking care of a dog are well similar to taking care of a tiny human (though I wouldn’t know yet) but all worth it.

The unconditional love that a dog gives to its humans is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced in this world until now. They will run to you in their sleep, give you kisses like every day is their last day with you, and make you feel like you are the most precious thing in their life.

Cats are more like a roommate, I believe. They are my comfort animal and spirit animal at the same time. What I love about cats is that they don’t really give a f***. They will do what they want, when they want it, but also have the audacity to be proud of what they have done. It’s all I ever want for myself– to be so sure of my decisions, knowing that things will work out in the end. They aren’t afraid to run in times of danger, they will do what it takes to take care of themselves– and that’s what matters, right?

Unlike humans, both dogs and cats are honest.

Dogs don’t calculate in relationships, they give, love, and spread joy. They won’t manipulate or make you believe a certain thing. They are the live representation of love– I believe, and if love was an animal, it would be a dog.

Cats know what they want and how they want it. They act for themselves, and they are proud of who they are. They don’t care much about everything else, they rest, eat, and play– taking good care of themselves is the first priority in their life.

I love being around all animals, but especially in my home I find that there is so much to learn from my pets. I love them most dearly and though I cannot specifically choose whether I am a dog person or a cat person, I know for a fact that my life would be very dull without them. I hope that when my financial status becomes better, I will be able to help more animals find good homes.

Adopt, don’t Shop

Adopt, don’t shop is a phrase I learned only a few years ago while working as a doggy daycare teacher. It is a phrase easier said than done.

I currently have two pets, both adopted. Bori (literally translates into Barley in English), my cat, was adopted back in 2016 during the darkest years of my life. Yeondu (literally translates into Light Green in English), my dog, was adopted in 2021.

There are a few reasons that people hesitate to adopt.

Here are some misunderstood concepts of stray dogs and cats:

  1. Strays or abandoned dogs are traumatized and will never learn to trust again
  2. Adopting at a later stage in life decreases affection towards its owner
  3. Stray animals were abandoned for a reason
  4. “Pure-bred” pets are cuter and easier to domesticate

After spending so many amazing years with my pets, I have learned that strays and rescues are not always what people think they are. They are as sweet and affectionate as any other pet from the kennel or pet store, and sometimes even better!

There are also many perks to having mixed breed pets, such as:

  1. Saving a life
  2. Less genetic health concerns
  3. Costs less money to adopt
  4. Amazing community
  5. Helps fight puppy mills and illegal breeding

Many breeds of dogs were made by humans to fulfill our greed. Working as a doggy daycare teacher, I also realized that many of those animals suffer from genetic diseases. When it comes to bringing in a new furry family member, I would strongly advise adopting a pet. Not only is it less expensive, but it also comes with a special community of warm-hearted people.

As time goes by, I realize that having a pet is more than just being around cute animals. It requires responsibility, empathy, and a lot of patience. I don’t know how many more years I will have with these two. But one thing I am sure of is that they have changed me for the better.