Being a pet owner can be a transformative experience—and for Claudine Barretto, that realization came after welcoming a new furry companion into her home.
A few months ago, the actress received a toy poodle as a gift, a gesture that pleasantly surprised her and eventually sparked a newfound appreciation for pets.
"May binigay sa aking aso toy poodle siya... Teacup, teacup na [dog]," she shared during the Home Along Da Riles: The Reunion grand family day and press conference on June 8, 2026, held at the Makabagong San Juan National Government Center.
It was back in March when Claudine first introduced her dog, Kaizen, to her followers on Instagram.
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She later revealed to PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) and other members of the press that the puppy came from her friend JC Briones, the owner of JC Dog Republic, a pet shop based in Taguig City.
Claudine expressed her gratitude, saying: "I do have a dog. This, this wonderful person gave this to me. Yung si JC...gave, gave us a dog and talagang I'm so in love with Kaizen now.
"Actually yung hindi ko... ang nagulat ako sa sarili ko, pala, hindi ko alam na, the pet lover pala ako.
"We, we had dogs, but hindi talaga ako yung talagang nakatutok."
Her journey as a pet owner did not stop with dogs. Claudine also discovered an unexpected fondness for cats.
"Ngayon naman, I'm more of a cat person. Yun pala yun. Yun pala yun."
This marked a shift, especially since she previously did not like cats.
"Ang hindi ko talaga inaasahan na mai-inlove ako sa pusa dahil dati ayoko ng pusa."
Explaining what drew her to them, Claudine said, "Kasi hindi siya yung lumalapit sa iyo. Kailangan ikaw yung... ikaw yung mangligaw. Ikaw yung mag-charm sa pusa. Ganun pala yun."
Aside from Kaizen, Claudine also owns a cat named Mio, who rarely appears on her social media accounts.
In 2024, Mio was featured in a video courtesy of pet lounge Hotel Catipawnia, which looked after the pet.
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Through her experience, Claudine discovered not only the joys of pet ownership but also a deeper connection with animals—one that continues to evolve with every wag and purr.
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