...dogs

Whenever I come across a TV series or movie that allows a dog in an apartment, I would wish that it was acceptable in Malaysia. Sadly, dogs especially are frowned upon. We are an Islamic country and in general dogs are not an acceptable pet. Recently, I met a Muslim couple staying at the same condo where I live and they have 2 pups ! I was sooooooo happy. This very nice gentleman told me that he loved dogs and he had no problem managing his religion, family and pets (in no particular order). He's a really responsible person; takes the pups out for morning walks with a plastic bag to pick the puppy poo. Later, I found out that some other owners have lodged complaints about him with the condo management. That's stupid and the excuse given was because the pups would drool in the lifts and he would step on puppy drool ! Absurd ya ? As I was told sometime back, dogs were frowned upon by the Muslims because they carried the rabies virus or some call it "mad dog disease". What ignorance not to realise that rabies can be transmitted by any warm-blooded animal !

Information extracted from Wikipedia
Any warm-blooded animal may become infected with the rabies virus and develop symptoms, including humans (though birds have only been known to be experimentally infected[5]). Indeed the virus has even been adapted to grow in cells of poikilothermic vertebrates[6][7]though natural transmission has only been documented among mammals.[citation needed] Most animals can be infected by the virus and can transmit the disease to humans. Infected bats, monkeys, raccoons, foxes, skunks, cattle, wolves, dogs, mongoose (normally yellow mongoose) or cats provide the greatest risk to humans. Rabies may also spread through exposure to infected domestic farm animals, groundhogs, weasels, bears and other wild carnivores. Rodents (mice, squirrels etc) are seldom infected.[8] The virus is usually present in the nerves and saliva of a symptomatic rabid animal.[9][10] The route of infection is usually, but not necessarily, by a bite. In many cases the infected animal is exceptionally aggressive, may attack without provocation, and exhibits otherwise uncharacteristic behavior.[11] Transmission between humans is extremely rare. A few cases have been recorded through transplant surgery.[12] After a typical human infection by bite, the virus enters the peripheral nervous system. It then travels along the nerves towards the central nervous system. During this phase, the virus cannot be easily detected within the host, and vaccination may still confer cell-mediated immunity to prevent symptomatic rabies. Once the virus reaches the brain, it rapidly causes encephalitis. This is called the “prodromal” phase. Once it reaches this point, there is no treatment. Then symptoms appear. Rabies may also inflame the spinal cord producing myelitis.[citation need]

So is it safer to have cats and hamsters as pets ? Dogs have been known to be man's best friend. Their love is unconditional and so long as you love them and treat them well, your love will always and unconditionally be returned a million times over. Their needs are simple and never demanding. They guard and protect you with their lives and would never intentionally cause harm. They have no voice but they speak to us through their eyes and their wagging tails. The very same wag and welcome that awaits us at the end of a hard day's work.
"My best friend, you give everything yet asks for nothing. The little that you ask, I give willingly from my heart. The love I see in your eyes make everything so worthwhile. What I see is far worth a million words. You ask for nothing yet you give me everything. You have a heart more worthy than gold, deeper than any ocean and higher than any mountain. It's no wonder that *all dogs go to heaven*."

Read more...

a sad sad day

All dogs go to heaven......

The 13th of March, 2004 was a terribly sad day for the family. Rocky left us on his final journey across the rainbow bridge. He had been unwell for the past week. He was weak, refused to eat and was vomitting phlegm all the while. My aunt and I took him to the vet and he was given some medication. The vet was honest and told us that it did not look good but we should take him home and monitor his condition. The vet ordered crate rest but guess who got "crated" instead....Bubbles ! We had no choice because this was the only way that Rocky could rest. The vet explained that Rocky's heart was failing and theer was nothing that he could do. We were all upset and that night, we stayed up with him for as long as we could. My aunt slept on the couch that night so that Rocky did not have to be alone. As I left for work early the next morning, I spent some time with him and tried to coax him with some food but he just turned away. I told him to be a good boy and try to eat something and I would buy him a treat on my way home that night. Right about lunchtime, my aunt called me and told me that Rocky had collapsed. She and my mom were rushing Rocky to the vet. I just felt numb but what could I do. I counted the secounds until I could leave work and get to the vet where Rocky was "hospitalized". How and what I feld as I entered the boarding section and saw Rocky, I could never ever explain or put into words. He had drips on both front paws and I could only imagine how painful it was. He was such a good boy. the vet told me that he never once fought, struggled or attempted to bite them when they were adminsitering the drips. Even after the drips were in place, he never once tried to "attack" it. That's our boy with the golden heart. I stayed with him for as long as I could; hugging him and telling him over and over again that he could go if he was suffering. When the vet told me that they were closing, I held Rocky's face in my hands and told him how much he meant to me and how much I love him. I looked into his soulful eyes and told him again that it was OK to go. Ah Ma (my dear grandmother who passed away in 2000) would be waiting for him. What I saw in his eyes is (again) something else that I find hard to put into words. We just understood each other and all I saw was love in his eyes. In my heart, I knew that this would be the last time I would ever get to hold him, hug him or look into his eyes as I always did. As I left, I reminded him to resta nd be a good boy and that I'd be around to see him early the next morning.

This would be a promise I would never be allowed to keep. As I was getting ready to go see Rocky the next morning, the vet called and told me that Rocky's condition was deteriorating fast. My mom and I rushed over but it was just too late. God loved Rocky so much more than we did and took Rocky into His loving embrace. The only consolation that I felt was that he was finally free from pain and suffering. I knew that my Ah Ma would take good care of him. Rocky was still warm when we arrived. My mom left shortly to fetch my aunt from her place of work nearby.

It was hard to go home knowing that I would never hear or see Rocky running up to me again. I cut a lock of Rocky's hair and still keep it until today. I had him cremated the following day and his remains were returned to me in a floral urn placed in a basket of flowers. We are Catholic with a family alter at home. Rocky's remains were placed at our family corner alongside my grandparents and stepfather. He was family like the others whose little corner he shares and we pray that God keeps him safe.

This post is dedicated to our precious ROCKY

17 June 1995 ~ 13 march 2004

Thank you, dear and precious boy for bringing so much joy and love into our lives

You are in our hearts forever and we will never forget

Read more...

paws in the family

I've always loved dogs. During the worst time of my life almost 15 years ago, I found myself walking into a pet shop one hot and sunny day and bought myself a puppy. It was love at first sight; not just for me but for my family too. We decided to keep the name the pet shop had given him and Rocky he was. He became family and I can't remember the number of times that I've shook my head and wondered if this boy even realized that he was different from the rest of us. I smile to myself when I think of it now. He was 6 months old when I brought him home. Rocky was super intelligent. Without any training at all, he learnt how to carry his own towel ready for his bath and to carry out his pillow from the kitchen in the morning. I must admit that this bugger had exceptional taste during his teething days. His choice being my Italian leather shoes, the legs of an antique chair and nothing else. He bit and he chewed and nothing could stop him. It was always only the best for our boy. My mom once carried a huge rattan basket back on a flight from Singapore for her Rocky. My brother was working with Singapore Airlines at that time and even when we never got anything, Rocky was sure to have something ~ a placemat for his bowl, a new collar, a roll of salami, supplements and whatever else under the bright blue sky. My grandma used to spoil him rotten. When we were at work, these 2 would settle into a routine of "one-for-you-one-for-me" and it was all about potato chips ! Caught them at it one day. It's no wonder how often I had to keep replenishing those bags of potato chips. Who wouldn't love a face like that !

Read more...