When my cousin brought home a cute, fluffy, playful little puppy, of course my lovely sister and I were elated. But my 9 year old pet dog was not at all pleased with this intruder in his territory. It growled as my family members and I first caressed the little puppy. He became extremely angered when the little thing began sniffing his tail. I don’t blame him at all. I understand how he feels. He can be very possessive of us, when a new child or animal comes into our home. Ever since this puppy came in, he’s been seeking a lot of attention. I usually walk him once a day, but he ‘asked’ me for a walk 3 times, yesterday! (which I obliged to, as I did not want him to feel rejected because of the new puppy).
Doggy has been with us for 9 years now, through thick and thin. He actually belonged to my Chinese, elderly neighbour when I lived in a different residential area about 6 years ago. The former’s son bought him the puppy to keep the old couple company as the lived by themselves, and also to watch the house when it grew up. This puppy is of a mixed breed – German Shepard & an ordinary dog. His has a furry, brown coat and some black on his nose and ears, around his his eyes, and a streak on his head.
When Doggy was yet a puppy, my sister and I used to go over to this elderly couple’s house and play with the puppy at their gate. The couple was pleased, as they were old and unable to keep up with the pace of the playful little puppy. They were happy that the puppy had company; otherwise it would be very bored. Since we did not know the puppy’s name, we called call him ‘Doggy’, the first anyone would probably think of to call a dog, when we played with him. The name stuck to him, to the time he became ours. And that explains his name – Doggy.
Doggy became ours through a very special way. He got so attached to my sister and me that he soon began slipping out of his gate to our house. His owners were very nice people, and understanding the puppy’s boredom, allowed him to stay with us for hours. The puppy would go home for his meals and return to my place. When it was time to sleep, he would go home. But as soon as it was morning, and the owner opened his gate, he would run over to my place. And so it continued for many months. But after some time, Doggy showed hesitance in returning home. Sometimes, we would have to carry him home, and when we left him there, he would whine until we reached out of sight. By this time, Doggy looked was a full grown dog.
Doggy’s owners were observing all this and in the end, said that we could keep Doggy with us through the night as well. And they even came over to my place to feed him sometimes. And Doggy was a loyal little fellow. He would regularly go over to their place and visit them. When they had their grandchildren come over to their home, the old couple would send them to my house to play with Doggy. Doggy was probably the luckiest dog in the neighborhood. He had 2 places he could call home, where people truly loved him.
Soon, the time came when my family had to move to a different house within that same neighbourhood as our landlord wanted to sell the house that we were living in. We thought we had to say good-bye to Doggy, but we didn’t have to. Doggy’s owner gave him to us! Doggy was still faithful and visited his 1st owner’s regularly until we moved to house in different vicinity.
Doggy is a very special dog; special in the way things happened to him, and also his characteristics. Once he met with an accident while we were still living near his former owner. Believe me, he was treated like a king! Not only did my family care for his wounds, but also his former owner and their family members. The former owner’s son brought him special medicine and visited him a few times a week until he recovered. His other family members also came to visit him. Over the years, Doggy has met with 3 really serious accidents, and he survived them with great willpower and our prayers. In the most serious accident, Doggy was hit by a car running at high speed, and impact caused him to be practically thrown to the far end of the road. We all thought he would die, but he survived. That’s why we also call him the ‘Miracle Dog’- for he cheated death 3 times. In another accident, he was bleeding profusely after a hit-and-run, and our car wasn’t at home. Our very kind neighbour (not the dog’s former owner) volunteered to take him to the vet in his beautiful, pretty new car..(I mean, how many people would do that for a dog?)
During his years as a puppy, my sister kind of ‘conquered’ him most of the time, as she loved to cuddle him and gave the rest of us very little opportunity to hold him. But as the years passed by, and Doggy grew up, I had more chances to spend time with him. I would bathe him and take the time to walk him. Nowadays, my mom takes care of his food, my cousin, his baths, and I, his walks. In my house, I am the first one Doggy would ‘ask’ for a walk. It is only with me that he would put a longing look and stand outside the grill as soon as he sees me after dinner. Maybe he knows I would understand.
I feel that my dog and I have many things in common. He is rather serious, and even as a puppy, he didn’t enjoy games so much. He was choosy about food, and the way it was presented. Only I seemed to understand, and would tear the bread into tinier pieces and feed him from my hand, when the others had given up on feeding him. He would then try the tiny piece, taste and see that it is good, and then finish up the remaining bigger pieces.
When I go for a walk to the my little friends’ (the kids that he likes) home in the neighbourhood, if I am just standing at the gate, and the kids persuade him to enter, he would look at me for approval, and if I don’t enter, he won’t. Over the years, Doggy has exhibited great loyalty to my family as well as his 1st owner. And he also responds well to only new faces that likes. Besides that, he is unique in the sense that he is very shy when he eases himself. When I walk him, he will ease himself away from me and he won’t do his ‘business’ if I’m watching. So I just stand there, and look elsewhere. He also never eased himself in the house (except during the time he was wounded in the accident.)
Apart from that, people have also commented that Doggy is a very Christian dog! The Bible teaches us to be kind to others, share our food, and love our enemies…Well, Doggy used to bring home a few strays and let them eat his food! And Doggy actually hates cats as much as they hate dogs, and would run after in whenever he spots one from far. But once he found an injured little kitten in a drain, and brought the helpless animal home, without seizing the opportunity to attack it.
One of the things I like the most about Doggy is the way he makes me feel so loved and wanted. Doggy has all the freedom he wants in the world. Later in the nights, we let him out the gate to ease himself. He has his own walks and returns later, and we would open the gate for him. But even with all that freedom, he still wants my company. Sometimes, when I feel that no one loves me or understand me, Doggy would come and pull my hand to go for a walk. And when I just open the gate, let him out and stand there, he would run a few steps excitedly, and turn behind to see if I’m there. When he realizes I’m not with him, he would run back to me, and run around me in circles, until I start walking. He really makes me feel so loved and wanted. Many times, Doggy makes me think of my own relationship with my Master, Jesus Christ, and has taught me many lessons.
Just the other day, during one of my walks with Doggy, I looked at him and said “You are the best I’ll ever have. You are so amazing and special in every way. I don’t have to have 10 before you or another 20 after you to compare. I just know you are the best I’ll ever have.” And he looked at me as if he understood. Even as I said this to Doggy, I was thinking about life. I know it will not do justice to link this to marriage, but maybe to a certain extent. I was thinking, maybe this is how a man or woman feels when they have decided upon the ‘One’ person to be their life partner in marriage.
In regards to dogs, I have had a few others, before and with Doggy. They have come and gone. Each one with its own personality and special characteristics, but as far as the bonding and the feelings of the heart of concerned, I can say with sincerity to Doggy that he is the best I’ll ever have. I hope that he can live at least till I get married (if I do) and even better if my children can know him. Truly, dogs are man's best friends. I always thank God for Doggy, as he is one of the best gifts God has given me.
You are the one and only Doggy,
