The Other Half with Laura Chiriac & Baggie
Updated: 6 days ago
Pet parents, their companions & the lives they share
a WHAT IF THINGS GO WELL × OHANA VET editorial series
Some of the most extraordinary bonds happen without words. Stories, little rituals and unspoken connections that reveal another side of the people worth meeting.
Tell us a little about yourself — where you grew up, what you do, and what your everyday life looks like today.
I grew up in the north of the country, in Botoșani, with cold winters and phenomenal meals. I used to walk to school alone, and some of the neighbourhood stray dogs would accompany me until I reached strada mare.
I've been living in Bucharest for 20 years, and this is home now.
Almost four years ago, I left my corporate job behind to pursue my passion for food and wine. Today, I'm a sommelier and a cook, as well as the co-owner of a boutique wine import company, where we organise events that bring people together over good wine and food.
No two days are ever the same. I often take Baggie to work with me, but there are also days when he waits for me at home, and I feel guilty about it.
Who is your other half? Introduce us to your pet — name, age, personality, and all the little things we should know.
Baggie is a beautiful black Labrador Retriever, and we call him băiatu'. He's almost 10 — his birthday is on December 12.
He's incredibly playful, eats pretty much anything you give him, and loves cuddling up next to me on the couch after a long day. Unless it's summer, when he prefers hiding in the bathroom.
He comes with me to visit HoReCa clients and gets plenty of carrots and cucumbers from restaurant kitchens. He's also a fantastic co-pilot.
He always wants to be wherever the rest of the group is. Never alone.
He also has a human sister who's one year younger than him.
Baggie is kind and can always sense when I'm feeling down. Earthquakes, on the other hand? Not so much. I'm pretty sure he's successfully slept through half the ones he's experienced.
How did the two of you meet? Was it love at first sight, a carefully planned decision, or something completely unexpected?
Baggie was originally a gift for my boyfriend at the time, who really wanted a dog. He wanted a Doberman, but through some connections, I somehow found out about Baggie and his sisters.
With my very limited experience with dogs, I simply thought he was incredibly cute and ended up bringing him home.
Growing up, I never had a dog. I used to cry watching a German TV show about a police officer and his German Shepherd, Rex. My parents got me a guinea pig instead.
So we met almost 10 years ago, in February. He came into our home and immediately started eating everything.
Take us through a typical morning together — who wakes up first, what happens next, and who makes the rules?
If I don't wake up, Baggie doesn't wake up either.
Sometimes, if his sister gets up before me and goes into the living room, he'll join her. But only sometimes.
The moment I'm out of bed, he's 100% awake. He follows me to the bathroom, then to the kitchen, grabs his food bowl and starts wagging his tail, waiting for his walk.
We go outside, and when we get back, he gets washed and fed. Then we usually leave home because his sister has to go to school.
Sometimes he comes with us, sometimes he stays home, depending on the day's schedule.
On the days he joins me to pick Iris up from after-school activities, he's the star. All the kids come out to greet him.
What's one ritual you share that you wouldn't trade for anything?
Our forest walks.
During autumn, winter and spring, we go at least three times a week. It's peaceful, and we get to play with sticks. Summer is impossible because of the insects.
I love those moments because they're both playful and relaxing. When he gets bored of the stick, he simply wanders off to sniff around.
I also love the closeness we share after his showers, when I wrap him in a towel and dry him off. I always give him lots of kisses because we're physically so close.
He's incredibly obedient when it comes to washing off the mud, even though he absolutely hates it.
Baggie's favourite treats at OHANA VET?
Pet-friendly restaurants in Bucharest do you love visiting together?
All the cute cafes: Saint Roastery, Butter, Steam and more.
How has having an animal in your life changed the way you live, work, travel or spend your free time?
I've had Baggie for most of my adult life. Or at least that's how it feels.
Whenever I make plans, I automatically include him or figure out how to make sure he's comfortable while I'm away.
We still co-parent him, even though we've been separated for five years. When I'm out of town, Alexis takes over. And if neither of us is around, my father steps in.
Has he changed my life? Probably, but that happened almost 10 years ago, and who remembers what life was like before?
Oh, we did renovate the apartment twice because of the damage he caused.
So yes, I guess he has changed the way we live.
We're also very aware of which restaurants welcome pets and which don't, so we naturally choose the pet-friendly ones. The same goes for hotels.
What's something about Baggie that only you would understand?
When he wants to play, he has a particular way of putting his paw on my leg. It's different from when he's hungry, for example. And I'm the only one who can tell.
I can also tell when he wants fresh water just by the way he walks out of the bathroom.
And I always know when he's stolen something — socks, napkins, underwear, candles — because of the way he walks. It's this strange slow-motion walk that somehow only I can hear.
If Baggie could describe you to a stranger, what do you think he'd say?
"She talks in a weird way. I'm not a baby."
Where do you love spending time together — at home, around the city or somewhere further away?
Forest. Beach. Couch.
What has Baggie taught you about relationships, responsibility, patience or love?
He's taught me to enjoy the simple things. Like sticking my head out of the window during a slow drive and just taking it all in.
He's taught me to be more consistent over these 10 years — with his diet, his walks and my own habits.
He's taught me to pay more attention to the people I love.
And to appreciate a good afternoon on the couch.
What do you wish more people understood about sharing their lives with animals?
That animals feel everything very deeply. They're affected by our moods, our good habits and our bad ones.
And most importantly, at least in my view, I wish more people understood how differently children develop when they grow up around animals. I believe they grow up with so much more compassion and empathy.
THE QUICK FIVE
Who greets guests first?
Baggie.
Who has the better social life?
I think Iris wins this one.
Who gets the best spot on the sofa?
Baggie, of course.
Who's the tougher food critic?
He would eat absolutely anything. So definitely me.
Who rescued whom?
He's helped me through so many difficult moments and has been by my side almost every day for nearly 10 years.
I'd say he's taught me how to be a better person. And in that sense, he saved me.
THE LAST QUESTION
What if things go well — what would a beautiful life together look like?
A life full of love, animal friends and human friends.
A life with more places that are inclusive and understand that pets are part of the family.
A life where our daily routine includes three things:
A neighbourhood tour, because that's where all his friends from puppyhood are. He knows every fence, every cat and every dog.
A sporty walk.
Lots of healthy snacks and cuddles.
That's a beautiful life together.
Vet’s Note — Dr. Alexandra Florea A senior dog isn’t “just getting old”. They’re settling into a softer, slower season of family life, and it can be one of the sweetest. Slowing down is natural, but pain, stiffness or sudden changes in habits deserve attention. Hold on to the little rituals you share: the morning walk, the spot on the sofa, the quiet company in the evening. Add food adapted to senior needs, and from seven onwards, a wellness check-up every six months helps them feel their best for longer.
wellbeing and orthopedics vet clinic
Photography: Sebastian Nicolae Archive: Laura Chiriac Editor: Alinz
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