It's a Jungle World with the Dogs!!!

The Old Singapore...

 

Growing up in the era of the 70s, in Singapore,  I was born in a time where I would call it A Jungle's World.

I was brought up in Telok Ayer and Havelock road area, when I was a little kid. My GrandDad, Mr. Chia Peng Siong, then had a shophouse in Telok Ayer, somewhere near Amoy Street, opposite the church.

My Dad was a printer, and my Mum, a teacher. So often, my sisters, Diana, Jazzlene, and my brother, Kenny (He was still alive), were brought to my GrandDad's shophouse, so that my maternal Granny (She was the second wife), could look after us.

My maternal Granny and Great Granny with Kenny and me.

It was a really fun time at Telok Ayer, as we ran in the alleys, and often played with our cousins, especially my cousins, from my Third Uncle and Aunt,  Long Shan Ge Ge (Dexter Chia) and Long Quan Ge Ge, as I called them.

Diana, Jazzlene and me

A childhood of great fun, we often see many lovely street Dogs, wandering for food, crossing the roads freely, as if the land belongs to them.

My love for Dogs began, when one day, my Dad took us to Kusu island to pray. Upon seeing a beautiful white Dog, My Dad brought it back on the ferry together with us.


We called it, Shaggy.


Shaggy was like a collie breed. The four of us immediately fell in love with the her, as she stayed with us in our house at Havelock Road. However, the happy moments with Shaggy were rather short-lived.


Out of the blue,  one day, my Mum , decided to give Shaggy away. Our consistent begs and tears didn't stop my mum from doing so, and Shaggy left our world.


As I could recall, we cried for weeks, and often, begged my Mum to bring us to visit Shaggy at her new house.

Thank GOD.


Soon, other Dogs came into our lives, in Geylang area, another spot, where The CHUA siblings, us, often showed up at our Dad's office, Interline Corporation, along Geylang Lorong 16. It was great fun as we took in a few stray dogs.

 I remembered one was Scrabby.  She is a lovely brown, dog, who then had babies, which we kept and took care of, all by ourselves.

I'd still remembered there were times when the dogs went missing, and we ran through the lorongs, streets and alleys,  searching fervently for them.

And yes, we finally found them.


As I grew older, I moved to a new house at Telok Blangah Heights, Block 71, just opposite the Hill of the Thousand Buddha, which is just opposite Mount Faber Hill.


It was at that time, when Tanny came into my life. I was 15 then.
 

Tanny was brought home by Kenny, one day. I'd remembered that Kenny told me that she was a lost dog around the vicinity.


She was a beautiful brown dog with a fluffy tail. I instantly fell in love with her and as our family moved to our new Massionette Apartment in Tampines, soon after, Tanny came along.


Tanny soon became the love of my Life, and Kenny and I took good care of her.

Tanny and me

Tanny was such a wonderful dog, and seemed to understanding me and my moods. Sometimes, when I was upset with anything, and cried, she would come to me and sat on my side. Looking into her eyes, she kindda spoke to me, telling me to stop my tears.

 She would also play around with us, and her toys. The enormous bundles of joy with Tanny, were simply indescribable.


Then, Lighting stroke upon us, one day, when Mum complained about the shedding of fur from Tanny's body, which gave her headaches, as she had to clean the house more often.

She then told my Dad to bring Tanny to his office. We really "hated" Mum for being so cold hearted, and didn't speak to her for days.


Two weeks passed and we'd missed Tanny so much and pleaded my Dad to bring her back home one day.


That one nite, Dad brought Tanny home. However, as she got out of the car, she dashed straight into the blocks and went missing. My Dad wasn't fast enough to catch hold of her.


I'd still remembered the next morning, as I woke up, Dad came into my room and said, "Rong, (my Chinese name is Huirong), Tanny had run away last nite ...".


Tremendously stunned, I stood up straight and changed, sped down towards the door in the living room.

 

A Surprise.

Tanny was sitting in front, outside the doorstep, wagging her tails, as I opened the wooden door. I was simply overwhelmed and amazed by her intelligence. Since then, I'd loved Tanny even more.

Happy days aren't forever...

One day, Mum told Dad to bring Tanny back to my Dad's office again.

It was then, the very last time I saw her, as she really went missing around Jalan Batu (My Dad office had then shifted there). My sister, Diana and I went around the blocks to search for Tanny, but in vain.

Tanny was gone forever...


Year 1991.

I have a close friend Jane. I'd known her since 16, while I was taking up part-time job as a salesgirl after my 'O" Levels examination. We had became good friends since then, and I'd kept in close touch with her.

One day, I had decided to visit her at her house in Toh Yi Drive. I'd borrowed my Dad's car and drove all the way there from Tampines, all by myself.


I saw Ebbie, her dog, and she'd reminded me of Tanny, as they looked exactly alike. I'd told Jane how I felt about Ebbie.

"If you want, bring her home", Jane said.

Well, so came the beloved Ebbie into my life! And it was her, Ebbie, that I'd really learnt to take care of a pet dog till old age and death.

During that time, I was pursuing a 3 year Diploma in Music at Lasalle-SIA college of the Arts, under a Scholarship. I was then 26 .

8 June 2001.

I was 29. Joseph came into my life sometime in year 1999, and he later, after two years of courtship, became the Man of my Life.

Immediately, I became a step-Mum of two.  Ah Bing, was 9 and Joyi was 5. (Joseph was a divorcee).


One day, we brought Joyi to the animal farm in Choa Chu Kang. She fell in love with a white Maltese puppy and begged us to bring it home.


Out of love for Joyi, we bought it.

Here comes Snowy!!!!

It was tremendously fun, with Snowy and Ebbie. Ebbie was like the mother and Snowy, the baby. I was the Big GrandMother then, having to take care of them.


I was staying at Jalan Tenaga then, with Joseph's parents, together with Joyi and Ah Bing.

That time, I was rather active in sports. Besides swimming, I run, and brisk walk, and did pilates.


It was also during that period of time, when I'd performed solo piano, at Le Meridien Orchard (now known as The Concorde) and then the Swissotel.

Snowy is rather hyperactive, and he gallops like a horse.

Well, I'd guessed my jogs and runs with Snowy consistently gave him a good foundation for strong healthy body, even till now. Snowy is 15 years old now, but he still look young and active.

 

"Ageless", as I'd call it.

Two years passed and Snowy became "Man".

One day, Ebbie and Snowy mated at my Mum's house, in the balcony.

Appalled at that moment, I didn't know what to do. Mum, who was washing plates, near the balcony, told me to splash a bucket of water so that they will split up.

They parted, after my two attempts.

A horrible sight.

But what I saw then, was Snowy's genital, got pulled out,  together with everything that was attached inside. It was a long stretch of intestine-like thread spanning about 1.5 m.


Frantically, I called the Dog's Emergency number and seek for help. However, in the next few minutes, I noticed that the whole thread had shrunk and disappeared.


Snowy was then spayed.

Ebbie and Snowy

Ebbie, Snowy and me.

Well, Ebbie and Snowy had a great life together with joseph and me. Often, wherever I go, even to the market, I would bring them with me in the car.

They are also often fed with herbal tonic soup which I'd brewed for Joseph during lunch.

 

Angel.

Time flies. Ebbie soon aged, and reached about 14 years old. Cataracts formed in her eyes and she was often seen banging onto furniture and objects.

But, she was still managing alright.

Came one fine day when I ended my tuition class at Riverina View, in Pasir Ris, that I saw a beautiful brown Mongrel.

It was drizzling. As I walked along the path, it sat on the pavement calmly. I went to her, thinking that it was a missing dog. Without hesitation, I brought it and walked with it around the terraced houses, asking the residents if the Dog belonged to them.

Upon calling SPCA, they asked me if I could shelter the dog for a while, as they were running full capacity.

Well, to shortened the story, I'd finally decided to keep the dog, just in case someday Ebbie were to go to heaven, and Snowy would be lonely.


The Dog had no problem with Snowy and Ebbie at my house. I called her Angel and she responded. Soon, she became part of my life.

Angel

Well, now, Ebbie had been gone. Angel and Snowy are enjoying their lives, often lying around the living room, enjoying the cool breeze, as I'd left the main door opened.

My life with Dogs, had been fun and fulfilling. Dogs brought meanings to my life, bringing tonnes of joy and happiness to me.

I thanked GOD for creating Dogs. And I shall always shower them with love and care. Till Death do us part.

Till then,

God Bless, Jenny.