Our Precious

I remember it was year 2002, somewhere in May.

Assuming my memory is superb, it’s probably a Good Friday holiday during that year.

That time, home had only Karinna and myself.

Think we were out somewhere in Bedok, while on way home, a call was received regarding re-homing a dog.

We stopped by at a bus stop along Bedok North Street 4, deciding whether to go to Jurong West to look at the dog.

And we decided to get her.

When we reached the foster home for the dog, that dog was bark non-stop at anyone who comes near the home. Essentially territorial.

Other than the barking, she is basically a scaredy dog.

And she is Precious.

We brought her home. Took her cage along as well. Can’t remember what other things.

That night, she kept barking whole night. It was a real sleepless night.

She had lots of skin problem. Brought her to vet to get necessary treatment. Fed her better nutritious dog food (so called), with lots of fish oil.

In the end, she turned out beautiful-er.

Skin problem was eventually resolved too.

I remembered once, after walking her, we thought we found ticks on her belly.

Tried to poke and tried to pull. Hmmmm.

In the end, we realised it’s her nipples. D’uh!

It was hilarious, and yet felt so sorry for the poor girl.

She is really sweet girl. Just greedy and barky.

When Zyan was born, and when Zyan started to cry, Precious would run towards us and ‘asked for help’ by barking at us. She would stand up onto the baby cot and looked at Zyan.

At that time, Sapphire, the other dog that we had a little later (died last year), was also good with Zyan. Just that, my memory says Precious is more ‘caring’ towards Zyan.

This Precious had been with us for 16 years. Born in 2000, as we were told. When we adopted her, she was 2 years old. At 18+, she is considered to have outlived most dogs of her breed. Sapphire only lived until she was 15.

Precious welcomed Sapphire home, and sent Sapphire off when she was gone.

This time, the new adopted dog Penny would see that Precious is gone.

Precious need not suffer anymore.

She had been so-called bedridden since probably early this year.

She nearly cannot make it last August, but she was a fighter. Fought against the odds and managed to walk again last September.

Old age is something that is difficult to go against. When her legs got weakened again, she basically just lied down and couldn’t do anything else.

Pee and poo became a problem, and so she had to wear diaper.

Eat and drink will need some help from us.

Actually other than that, her head is still quite strong.

Signs of old age, and of a dying dog seemed to get more obvious.

Besides, there’s no quality to her life.

We brought her to the vet.

She had wounds on her due to body contact against floor, as she couldn't walk.

Telling her the last goodbyes, and to make her suffer less.

And so she goes …

May she rest in peace

Bye bye, the first dog in our life ...