Chronicles of a real estate agent: Passion (2002-2015)

Dinnertime@ Lim household

Jared: bends head.. licking up his plate

Mummy: Jared??! Stop behaving like a DOG! You are NOT a dog you are a human! Use the fork a d spoon!

Jared: looks up, no no I'm a DOG, and you making me behave like a human.

That's when it dawn on me how serious he was about his dog obsession/ fascination.

There was a litter of pups three streets away, and the boys on their evening ride-about chanced upon them. Apparently, the neighborhood "bicycle gang" had discovered a house that had given shelter to the mother dog. And now, the word is out the new born pups are up for adoption.

Jared had been asking repeatedly about getting a dog. And we resisted the idea of caring for a pet especially when the novelty wears off and we end up the primary person to care for the animal.

But 10 yr old Jared was not giving up and kept persisting. So that evening I went with him to look at the litter. The neighborhood kids had already gathered around when news that Jared 's dad was going over to have a look see. There were just 3-4 pups left, and Jared's eyes lit up. He hesitated only once and then made up his mind. He picked up what I thought was the weakest pup of the lot. It was a light tan color and slightly pink nose. I was tempted to change his mind, but resisted, after all, It was his first pet and I wanted it too be his choice. It was a grand ceremony as we walked back to the house, and his brothers had gone ahead to tell their mother as Jared held the pup like a newborn, bringing it home like a proud parent.

Needless to say Linda gave me this incredulous look.

What kind of dog name is .. "Passion"? more like a perfume range right? But somehow Jared seem happy to name his dog Passion. But she was intelligent and adapted well to her new surrounding.; only once did I see her react when the mother came by and stuck its nose into our gate. Passion show instant recognition wanted to follow her. But the mother dog left quickly, contented to know (i guess) her offspring was safe. (Btw the kids in hood called the mother dog "Kangaroo" ..so I guess Passion doesn't sound too bad! ). It was a time of much fun and excitement for the boys. Passion was a good addition to the family. She could pretend to drop dead when Jared 'shot' at her, roll over and then crawl. Jared taught her the game 'Find the bone'. We'd hide her favorite bone (real) in the house, then invite her in to sniff it out. And she knew the game was ON when she comes in sniffing the air and sometimes the floor (wherever we left a trail scent) and her nose will always uncover the trail to the treasure. Our guests were always amazed at her prowess.

But she was also sickly as she reacted to mange which attacked her body when her immunity was low. We spent a tidy sum trying to get her over the skin disorder. In the end after a small fortune, we just had to live with the discomfort of seeing her scratch herself sometimes rather violently.

She was the weakest among her siblings, but yet she survived, she always she reminded me God loved the 'weak and lowly things of the world, and use them to confound the strong and wise' .
God loves the underdog haha

When we moved to Puchong, Passion had to adapt to her new surroundings (as did all of us!!)

Here we adopted another stray dog (Missy). It was interesting to watch the interaction and dynamics between the two which couldn't have been more different. Missy was a street smart stray dog who ruled the neighborhood; a survivor from young pup till present. Passion although a stray from young has grown up in a home and used to the domesticated life. Whenever Passion got outside the gate, Missy would be showing her around the hood, protecting her (Missy was top dog then) ever vigilant of dangers from (dog catchers, snakes,) and any outside stray dogs and the hierarchy they represent but whenever they came back , she would show complete deference to Passion in the house. She would not touch Passion s food, nor sleep in her spot, nor come into areas of house Passion is allowed to enter.

While Missy was always cognizant of Passion, Passion on the other hand seem oblivious of Missy presence. She must have had the "queen" complex. Once I got angry at Passion and pretended to smack her with my hand, Missy jumps between us and put her body to protect her friend. ( err..did i just see that ? ).

Well, time would fly. kids grow up. we add the years. and so too the dogs age.

One day we notice that Passion would stare into the curtains. At first we tried to distract her but she wouldn't budge. We actually thought she was being 'manja' , but actually she was showing signs of a brain tumor. Not too long after that she began to experience terrible seizures that took over her body. She would bite her tongue and she would go catatonic but her legs would gallop as she lay helpless on her side, frozen in her head. But as suddenly as they come, after 5 mins or so she would snap out of it. The vet treated her with barbiturates and steroids and it seem to help for a season. But as her condition worsen the seizures would be more frequent and last longer.

We needed to put her down but Jared couldn't make the decision and I didn't want to force the issue. Finally, she was hit with an episode which she couldn't snap out of. It was 45 mins before we got her to a vet and they put her down with a single injection (normally two would be needed), but she was already too tired she gave it up easily (and readily )

It was heart breaking as we watch her life slip away.

Dogs seem to reach into us depths which are otherwise untouched, but when they leave ..