“A dog doesn't care if you're rich or poor, big or small, young or old. He doesn't care if you're not smart, not popular, not a good joke-teller, not the best athlete, nor the best-looking person. To your dog, you are the greatest, the smartest, the nicest human being who was ever born. You are his friend and protector.”
Louis Sabin
I got this picture and the accompanying poem from this flickr member here. And immediately it made me feel warm all over...and then suddenly sad all at the same time.
Why you may ask? Well recently...I got a call from a friend who asked if I'd like to have a cocker spaniel.It's black, about a year old and has been abandoned by a buyer who bought him and another dog from the pet shop only to leave it there in a cage for between 6 months to a year. The pet shop was frustrated and put the dogs out for adoption and hence both landed in my friend's hand who passed one to my hands as she lived in an apartment and couldn't keep two dogs.
It was a gorgeous dog...and it was easy to fall in love with him...here's his picture...and as much as I loved him from the first hug...I almost hesitant at taking him trying to convince my friend to keep both by asking if she's sure she don't want to try and keep it almost repeatedly.I was hesitant because I know I couldn't manage the time to properly care for the dog as it is one that required much grooming...and I already had a dog named footstool.
Footstool is also a dog that I wrote about numerous times on his blog...as I said...I think he's intelligent but he often like to tease me until I am pissed at him. Here I am ironing a curtain...so much of thinking well of his intelligence...that he so kindly marked his territory on. Peeing for him took 20 seconds...washing , drying and ironing the curtain took hours...footstool, if you secretly know how to read and are reading this know one thing...it's not funny. As much as my assistant Dennis love footstool, he doesn't think much of his intelligence, he likes to knock footstool head then look at me and say "see...it's hollow...see it's hollow"
As much as I hate to admit it....I question dennis's intelligence sometimes too...only an idiot would get into a wrestling match with a dog...Yeah...keeping a dog is a big commitment. But I proceeded to say yes to the black cocker spaniel that I named carpet because I know he had no other home...and so I took him in.
Carpet was a warm and friendly dog and followed me wherever I went. So it was all good.
Problem only arose when Footstool began to get jealous that he had to fight for affections....
I wanted to let carpet sleep indoors while footstool outdoors. Because Footstool has obviously lost the privilege since the curtain incidence repeated twice...and footstool is quite a big fella so he can topple things.However, footstool gave me this look of "hey...you're being unfair"
I ignored it painfully with a broken heart...
That night, Carpet came with me to my workroom and sat on the floor. It was so cute...after a while he ran off. Suddenly, he came back with a durian shell...I was like ??? Upon going downstairs for inspection, I found my rubbish bin torn open and garbage everywhere...there was also there was land mines everywhere...With a sigh I walked out and came back armed with a box of tissue to clean up.
That night carpet slept in my room.All's good until he woke up at 3am and started scratching the door barking wanting to be let out...I had to claw myself up to let him out...go back to sleep...after half an hour, he was again barking and scratching the door wanting back in...I opened the floor to find that he didn't shit n the box I prepared for him and has instead shit everywhere...at that point i had it...and carried him to the toilet downstairs far from my room and locked him in. Finally I get to sleep.
A few days later...carpet got a slight running nose(a trip to the vet reassured that it was nothing really chronice but just that it was kept in a cage for so long it's resistance was probably low) and I worried for him too...
After two weeks...I finally said that I cannot manage carpet but the good news is my friend did find a new home for him...as he walked out of my house...I was at first relieved...but then he looked back with almost a puppy like smile and a nod of thank you...and I actually felt sad that he's going...in fact I am tearing and missing him dearly as I write this...
But to end this all...I just wanna say that...keeping a dog is a joy and I highly recommend it....you can immediately fall in love with one...but do not just make a decision on that impulse... dog ownership like any other thing is something that come with a commitment. And as dog owners, we are responsible for our dogs...so really don't get a dog unless you are really up to caring for it.
And don't buy a dog...go to your local RSPCA and give one a home...also ensure your dog don't get or give unwanted pregnancy...
That said...I need to go scoop up footstool's shit...
with a smile of course...
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