‘Animals are such agreeable friends – they ask no questions, they pass no criticism.’
– English novelist and poet, George Elliot.
Last Friday afternoon, I managed to give my two dogs, Cookie and Bailey, and my cat, Mimi, a bath, just as the sun was setting. It had been weeks since I last bathed them; sometimes I was busy and sometimes, it rained.
I was surprised Bailey was the first to follow me obediently to the tap in the car porch when I shouted, “Time for bath, my friends!” in Hokkien.
I tied the young female dog to the gate before looking for the dog shampoo, pet scrub as well as a sturdy stool for me to sit on.
I’ve discovered that talking helps my dogs to relax. So as I shampooed and scrubbed Bailey, I chatted away.
“You have to come nearer.Otherwise, I cannot shampoo or scrub you,” I told my brown short-haired dog.
When I pulled the leash nearer, it did not resist.
“Okay, okay… we are almost ready,” I told Bailey as I scrubbed and scrubbed before splashing more water on its body to get rid of the shampoo.
After bathing, I tied Bailey to my front gate.
Next in line was my 14-year-old male dog, Cookie, who looked like a German Shepherd. A handsome looking dog, it has a loud and deep authoritative bark.
The only time you can hear Cookie’s loud and deep authoritative bark is when the garbage truck comes to pick up household waste in my neighbourhood. It will bark from the moment the truck enters our lane until it leaves.
By the way, the garbage truck comes to my neighbourhood twice a week — on Wednesday and on Sunday.
When I was bathing it last Friday afternoon, Cookie was silent. It just stood quietly by the gate as I wetted its coat before pouring dog shampoo on it. It did not move as I scrubbed its thick coat.
Cookie is actually a very obedient, loving and protective dog. However, many people including members of my own family are afraid of it because of its big size.
I’ve even warned the nine-year-old boy who lives opposite my house not to play with Cookie. The proverb “Still water runs deep” applies to Cookie; you just don’t know when it will bite you.
After I had finished with Cookie, I also tied it next to Bailey at the front gate.
Then, it was time for me to look for Mimi, my two year-old male cat. “Mimi, Mimi, where are you?” I shouted again in Hokkien.
Usually, at that time, it would be busy visiting its friends in the neighbourhood. But that day, I found Mimi lying on the floor in the kitchen.
Without much ado, I quickly picked it up from the floor and told it that it was going for a bath.
It resisted a bit but I held it tightly and quickly tied it to a leash.
Then I quickly shampooed it and after that, splashed water on it.
Soon, it joined Bailey and Cookie at the front gate.
After that, I took pictures of my two dogs and cat waiting for their coats to dry in front of the house. Then, I whatsApped one of the pictures to my family members with the caption “Time for the dogs and cat to bathe.”
I wanted to show them that my dogs and cat could exist peacefully. I consider myself blessed that they are able to do so. I know some dogs and cats cannot get along due to instinctual differences, contrasting body language and individual personalities.
Of the three animals, Cookie is the big boss in the house. If you have biscuits, you must feed it first.
Bailey and Mimi are like little children. They like to chase each other around the house.
Some of my family members have asked me, “You live alone. Why do you keep so many pets in the house?”
Actually, Cookie has been with my family for a long time, long before my nephews and nieces left for greener pastures in Sarawak or other towns.
My family had a few other dogs and cats but they died either of old age or sickness. Cookie was very sad when one of my old cats, also called Mimi, died. So I asked one of my nephews, Kiong, to look for a puppy to make Cookie happy again.
I also asked another nephew, Lai, to look for a cat because I had problems with mice. He found one and I called it “Mimi” in memory of my old cat. I treat Cookie, Bailey and Mimi as children. Before I leave the house, I feed them and tell them I am going to work. I ask them to be good at home.
They are happy to see me when I come home every night. All three demand to be patted and will sit near me as I relax before going to bed.
What about you, my friends? Do you have pets?
The views expressed here are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of Sarawak Tribune. The writer can be reached at adelinel888@gmail.com.
