NEWSLETTER Vol. XVII Jan-Apr 2004

Editorial

Membership Drive at UPM

Doing Right

Doing Right
By Donna Jeremiah

Since January 23, 2004 whenever people look at me I wonder if it is because they can see the void, see the pain and the sadness that emanates from every pore, and from the very core of my being. It was the second night of Chinese New Year and the sound of firecrackers blasted the otherwise still night. That was the night my Golden Retriever went missing, leaving all of me, but taking my heart with him.

Just eight years old, light golden blond, healthy, muscular and gorgeous, he is a sight to admire everywhere he goes. A typical Golden, he loves everyone, and needs only 10 minutes to make anyone fall in love with him.

Guessing that he was probably in someone's house in the USJ/Subang area, I immediately posted notices at all the pet shops and vet clinics in the vicinity. Wanting not to rule out anything, I went to PAWS, SPCA, MPSJ and the Puchong pound, looking for him, speaking to people there and leaving my notices of a missing male Golden Retriever wearing a maroon coloured collar.

I have always envisioned growing old with my dog – I have always strived to give him the best - I researched, read and talked to those in the know about Goldens endlessly so that I could do the best for him always. For eight years, this was the dog I cared for, fed, laughed with, played with, ran with, sat up with when he was ill, comforted when he was scared — for those who are pet lovers, you'll know it's not unlike the feelings a parent has for a child.

The irony is, I always thought he was my dependant — I provided for him. It is in his absence now that I realise the impact and the degree of which I depended on him. And God I miss him so much I think sometimes I would die from the intensity of this pain and longing.

I just need to close my eyes and I can see his beautiful face, his big brown eyes, I used to watch him sleep, memorizing his face. I remember his walk, the sound of his breath, the way he made me laugh at so many things he did, and how proud I was every time I was told how beautiful, obedient and well trained he was. My emotions nowadays are a tumble of guilt, sadness, hope, despair, anguish, worry, fear and regrets. Thoughts of him dominate my every waking moment and in the little that I have managed to sleep, I dream of him.

I would like to believe I have not lost him and he has not been stolen. I'd like to think someone, out of the goodness of their heart, found a lost, scared dog and took him in, fed him and sheltered him, and hopefully are looking for me as much as I am looking for him and it will be a matter of time before we find each other. Just like we'd never dream of keeping another person's child if one is missing, I pray that there is goodness and compassion in the hearts of those whohave him now. And I hope and pray each day that by some miracle, one phone call will turn everything right-side-up again and he will be returned to me.

In my quest to find my dog, I have met many fellow sufferers, people whose dogs are missing or stolen — people who, like me, are agonizing. I have met grown men who are unable to speak between sobs, people who cannot work, who get physically sick from worry, and we try to give each other hope. Lovely kind people have also called just to offer support, and words of encouragement and understanding, some go further by offering to help put out notices, or to walk around looking with me.

On the flip side, I have heard of people whose pets were stolen and then re-sold, or disturbing inputs that suggest if it's a pedigree, chances are whoever finds it would try to quietly keep it. I have heard stories of people who found their pets after three months, and those who have found their stolen pets in shops and others' homes. But there are those who never find them either, and my heart goes out to them.

For all of you reading this, pet lovers or not, all it takes is a bit of heart. In the grand equation of things, I do believe what goes around, does come around.

For every missing pet, both the pet and an owner somewhere is in emotional distress, please be responsible enough to do the right things, to try and find the rightful owner – check and inform all the pet shops, vet clinics in your area, PAWS and the SPCA that you have found a lost pet. You will forever be someone's hero, and few other things would compare to the exhilaration and satisfaction of watching a pet reunited with its owner.