When I was a young kid and was staying with Pak Pak, I was blessed with many pets. For a start, when my parents sent me after my full month to Pak Pak’s house, he bought a baby turtle (sui yu). I was told he bought it for me. Till date, I don’t know why a sui yi? Anyway, I had never been able to pet the sui yi nor any one, except Pak Pak because it bites your finger off! I heard once a neighbour’s kid puts his hand in the cage and ‘chomp’ ..the finger was gone! I have a feeling that this is just a myth told to prevent me from being funny with the sui yi…Well, you know that often the adults will create a lot of scary stories to teach the young ones…Like one stupid story I heard was, if you lazy to spill out the fruit seeds, the next day you will find a tree on your head!
Besides the sui yi, Pak Pak also had a lot of fishes (again there was a fish which bite everyone except its owner), tortoise, chicken (more of for our dinner than a pet tho), birds and a dog or at times dogs. I remember the first dog was bitch and black in colour, called Dolly. It was as big as me (I was 3-4 yrs old then) and taller than me when she stands up. I even had a photograph with her. She was loved by Pak Pak…
When I returned home and shifted to Kelana Jaya, I always pleaded with my parents to have a dog. My parents refused. To resort to our ‘itch’ for a pet, my brother and I then often catch some stray cats to play with and feed them, only when my parents were at work. Some days early in the morning my mom would be screaming away to chase away these cats (cause these cats knew that this house provides them food). After such episode, next scream will be targeting at my brother and me. Sigh…
Finally a breakthrough came. My neighbour’s bitch gave birth to a number of puppies. My parents agreed to adopt one of the puppies. My brother and I were so excited and we chose the eldest pup. It was dark brown male with a short tail. My brother gets to name the pup. His name was Ricky. I was 12 years old. Everyday when I returned from school, he was my first priority. Ricky had become more like a family member than a pet to us. My parents loved him like a son while I loved him like a little brother. No matter where we go, when we return, first thing was to look for out him and hug him. 20 hours a day, Ricky would be in the house rather than outside.
12 years passed quickly and Ricky reached its old age. Mom was offered another puppy. My parents decided to take another pup since Ricky was ‘retiring’ from its duty to safe guard our home. Kiwi was named by me because of his fur colour. Kiwi was born in a fruit orchard. During his pup’s years, he loved papaya, honeydew, or any fruits which is sweet except banana. Every morning when mom cuts fruits to prepare for her stall, kiwi gets a piece!
Our family loved Kiwi as much as Ricky and we taught Kiwi all the tricks we did for Ricky. Perhaps, Ricky helped a little by being a role model for Kiwi, Kiwi learned fast!hahahaha…Kiwi was more mischievous than Ricky. I had a lot of scars on my hands resulting from his playful bites. Kiwi loved to play catch. His eyes can tell you that he is ready for you to catch him – if you can…and when you are ready to give up (you can never outrun a four legged), he will pretend to slow down and drop down for you to ‘catch’ him! what a dog…he knew how to please people…
One more character of Kiwi was whenever he managed to escape out of the house, he would run for his life. The problem was he didn’t know how dangerous a moving vehicle is even until his last day of his life. Thus, we would be chasing after him and our hearts pounded like crazy whenever he crossed the roads! At times, I just closed my eyes and prayed I won’t hear any crashed…Gosh! Thanked God – Kiwi always successfully avoided accidents. Later, we found that the more we chase after him, the more confident he got and will go further and further. He knew we were right behind him. He also knew that when he is caught and once he reached home, he needs to dash to find cover because it would be canning time! Every time after a good whacking, we will open the gate – he wouldn’t dare to make a move…
But the whacking and pain were only a short memory for him. The next time when the gate was open, he will be back to his old habit again. Sigh…we were so fed up and we just cannot bare to see him crosses the road, we stopped chasing. Amazingly Kiwi did not venture too far when he didn’t see any of us behind him. He returned home after a few pee nearby. This time we shut the gate. He was frantically barking to be allowed in. After a few minutes, we opened the gate and kena whacked kow kow…if I recall correctly, after that incident Kiwi never dared to repeat his old habit..hehehe..we won finally!
Ricky was diagnosed with cancer 6 months after Kiwi was brought home. The Vet advised us to put him to sleep. I remember the last morning Ricky was with us. I went to work with a heavy heart after saying my last goodbye to Ricky. Later that day, my dad took him to the Vet and buried him at my cousin’s fruit orchard. My dad was very upset for one week. For the rest of the family, we felt sad but the pain was gone easily because Kiwi was with us. But not for my dad, and I could understand why he was so bitter about the loss for so long.
About a month ago, Kiwi lost a lot of weight and wasn’t eating well. We took him to the vet and were told he had a kidney failure. We were advised to admit him immediately to do away the toxin which was accumulating in his body. The vet mentioned that kidney failure is a norm for old dogs. With special diets and dialysis, Kiwi should be ok.
Not like Ricky, Kiwi had never spent a nite out side my house before. We did not have a choice and admitted him. Little did we know, that was his last day with us. The next morning we were informed that Kiwi did not survive. ..I was heartbroken because I was shocked by the news…I could not accept the fact for many days. I could not even mention that he was gone. This time, I truly understand how my dad felt when we lost Ricky.
Kiwi had been with us for 10 years. We were amazingly touched when we felt that he was grieving with us when my dad passed away in 2006. When my brother got married, Kiwi insisted to have a photo with my brother and his wife during tea ceremony…how? Kiwi just refused to barge in the center of my living room where the couple was serving tea! Once a photo was taken, he slowly walked away…he was not jus a dog but again a family member!
Every morning when I wake up, I feel some thing is not complete. It has been 22 years we have a dog. Many occasions, my friends asked me to adopt another pup. This time, I am reluctant. I am still missing Kiwi.
I was thinking what title I should put when I decided to write. Suddenly, “Love cannot be substituted” pop up. Well, I am not just referring to my love for my pets but rather for all those whom I am fond of. In 30 years of my life, I have lost quite a number of my family members. When I looked back, nothing so far was able to replace them in my life. Each of them has a special place in my heart. Even some day when I am in love or being married, the love I have for my loved ones is irreplaceable.
If I am just a human being who is created in His image has this concept in my life, our Father in heaven’s love is even much greater. He has even given His Son’s life for us in the name of Love. This proves His love for us is irreplaceable. Even right now, Jesus is with Him with all the angels, His love for us is still the same yesterday, today and forever. Nothing can change His love for us.
I am blessed to be loved by Him. I am blessed to have my family members who loved me. I am blessed to have friends. I am blessed to have Ricky and Kiwi to love. They have all contributed in my life and they have a special place in my heart forever. Remember, He loves us dearly...
