Bring Love to Home 💕

Adopting a German Shepherd when I was 12 years old.

Adopting a pet is an easy decision, but taking care of them in the future is not easy stuff. I love to interact with furry animals since I was small, and so does my family. They encourage and promise me as if I achieve 1^st place in my class, they will buy me a pet. Without a doubt, I try my best and I make it by changing it from impossible to achievement in my life. In order to fulfill the promise, they bring to the pet shop to purchase a lovely pet. The moment I step into the store, I saw all single puppies trapped inside the show cage which only have a small area of movement given, they can’t run and play either. Each of them is trying to attract customers by bringing them home via behave actively and shaking their tails to please those buyers. I feel pity and regret deeply from my heart instead of the joy of choosing a pet dog. I decide to change my mind to adopt as I had coincidently watched the slogan ‘Adopt, don’t shop!’. Without any hesitation, we headed to Society for The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA Penang) looking for pets to adopt.

We reach there just a few minutes later, although the environment over there is not high-class compared to the pet shop with many air cons and high maintenance, there provide a larger space and freedom for those pets. Dogs and cats over there weren’t a product waiting for the buyers, they are waiting for an owner. Some of them are full of dangerous awareness toward humans because they are not treated well and with a hard fate in previous as this had become their nightmare. Literally, I understand these animals need a special individual approach, patience, kindness, and a caring attitude. I walk past each cage slowly to observe those dogs, but I didn’t find the one I like the most. However, an area is locked due to those dogs being fierce to humans. I went there and unlocked it unconsciously, and I was startled that there remain a German Shepard in the corner.

Without any hesitation, I walk nearer to the cage and put my fingers through the bars of the cage just to get up close to it. My parents put me back in the next second because my action is too aggressive and without considering the consequence of it. As I love it at first sight, all of us were agreeing to bring it home. However, it wasn’t successful as we imagined. When we went to the information desk to ask if the dog was scheduled for adoption, we got word from the blue that it was already booked. We can only be the second decision on the list. This news left me depressed for weeks afterward. We tried every solution to overcome this obstacle. And finally, we found out that the guy before us is a pet seller who only aims to get a certain breed and sell at a higher price. So, we decided to report it to the SPCA staff. Obviously, the guy had been backlisted in SPCA and we get the priority to adopt it.

Soon after, the person in charge went to my house to investigate whether the environment is suitable for large dogs and finally confirmed that we are eligible for adoption. After the confirmation of the adoption, we went to the pet store for purchasing its essential needs such as dog treats, dog grooming, dog care and health supplies, bowls, and more. We always feel like we haven't bought enough to go home and be ready for it. But in fact, we almost bought all of them. Soon it was time to pick him up and we waited with great anticipation for the final health check-up by the veterinarian. We also know that its name is Rocky, is a little boy. After a click, I fastened his collar and chain around its neck. “Let’s go home, Rocky!” I said to it. That is the first time I interact with it so near and call its name. Its arrival has added some vibrancy and security to our home.

In the beginning, it was still very strange to the new environment, but under the patient and loving care of my family, it gradually became cheerful and lively. It has been in my house for 7 years now. We all love the feeling of it running towards us every time we come home exhausted at the end of the day, forgetting the fatigue for a moment, and only feeling happy. As time passes, it was like he instantly imprinted on me. “When the dog looks at you, the dog is not thinking what kind of a person you are. The dog is not judging you.” – Eckhart Tolle. It plays the role of bringing how much love and laughter into our life even strengthening the bond between our family members. To sum up, to the world you may be just one person, but to your dog, you are its world. Love it as much as you can in the limited time spend with it.