A dog lover again
A white fur ball scurries towards me. I pick it up like a stuffed toy and give it a hug. My grandfather gives me this “Ang-dumi-niyan” look. But I just smile and continue playing with him. I have a dog again.
It has been eight years since my Labrador’s death. I had never thought of replacing him. But last year when I dropped by a friend’s house, a group of fluffy white puppies came to welcome me. My initial reaction was to pick up the first puppy which came my way.
I don’t think I even noticed that I was dropping by my friend’s house more often to see the puppies. The first reason why I fell in love with them wasn’t because they were sweet and cuddly; it was because they seemed to have been genetically “paper” trained. Though not a hundred percent, because as I write this piece, my mattress is hanging out to dry. My dog peed on it.
There was one particular pup I was quickly drawn to. Among the bunch he had the cutest face; from certain angles he looked like Snoopy, though pudgier. Every time I visited, he was the first puppy I picked up. Before I knew it, I was shelling out a few thousand bucks for the puppy, without really thinking about how my household would react.
We even consulted the Chinese calendar to choose the right day to bring him home. It did seem that my dog was fated to be mine. I still had the prize money from the Great Singapore Sale Shopping Challenge I joined last year.
Of all the dogs I’ve had, Jack Jack is my favorite. He’s a Bichon Frise.
I try to explain to people within 30 seconds what kind of breed he is. Some think he’s a giant Poodle or a giant Shih-Tzu.
But there’s more to this breed than a name that is hard to pronounce. Its coat is hypoallergenic. It is very affectionate, like a living stuffed toy, and highly intelligent.
Like me, he hogs the bed and hugs a pillow. Among his toys, his favorite is a smooth rock which he nudges under the sofa after playing with it. He likes to drink only cold water from the fridge and sleep in an air-conditioned room and just on my bed. He barks if it’s not my bed.
If this were a person, he would be a brat; but he’s just a dog and is just plain cute.
I have had Jack Jack for a year now. Perspectives change when you’re taking care of another living being, even if it’s just a dog. It’s true what they say that pet owners are the most affectionate and cheery ones. I’ve found that out myself.
It seems that at first he seemed like an expensive purchase — how many times he has feasted on my footwear! But now, no amount of money or slippers could replace him. He has even influenced our household. With Jack Jack, life seems a little happier.
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E-mail the author ketsupluis@yahoo.com.
