The other night coming back home from an outing, we saw our front neighbor elderly couple taking a walk with their dog and cat. Obviously the dog was happy sniffing around in a leash held by the lady master. But the cat wasn’t. He was tied in a long chain leash held by the master and sat at the grass refusing to move. “Ayoh…!!! Dog goes for a walk with masters but cat does their own…!” Edwin, the animal lover, exclaimed from the rear seat. Of course, they couldn’t hear it. The poor cat, looking gauntly, gave an indifferent look towards us as our car passed by them. It seems they didn’t want to lose their recently picked-up stray cat. So they keep him tied down at the corner of their gate. He doesn’t look pleased, though, to get tied, especially when he sees our dog Jang-Gun, the Doberman, left freely roaming inside our compound directly opposite to their house.
“Mommy, do you know what Winston Churchill said about the difference between cats and dog?" "No, I don't know." He said, “Dogs look Up on you, cats look Down, and…pigs look Equal with you!!”
I laughed. I thought that was brilliant. I am not so much an animal person, but, he is. One time, when he was about two to three years old, he got fascinated with hamsters after seeing it a neighbor girl playing with it. He immediately fell in love with the little creatures, begging me to buy him one. Of course, cannot…!!! I dare not to touch anything crawly, geli, or creepy. All my body hair would stand up and also I can’t stand the smell. On the other hand, he somehow just loves anything that are living things, large and small, except cockroaches. The little Edwin begged me to keep hamster, and later, rabbit, and then, later dog… I would say no, each time, with the excuses that we are not supposed to keep any animal in the house, because we were living in apartments then. But I promised him to keep a guarding dog when we move into a landed house later, with the condition that he would know how to take care and clean after the dog. I kept my promise and he kept his. That is how we have our dog, Jang-Gun. So far, Edwin is doing a good job taking care of him, feeding, washing and playing.
Surprisingly though, I also started to like him and other dogs. Unlike his fierce look, Jang-Gun is a very loving and sweet. He knows whom to bark or not to. He will bark fiercely to sampah men, mailmen, or any suspicious men coming near his house, but never to our guests or friends, even if he sees them for the first time. How he knows? I have no idea. He also knows which plants to disturb and which plants absolutely shouldn’t. My hubby keeps hundreds of orchid in the front and back compounds. Jang-Gun will never, never touch them or go near them. But he will nibble those weeds growing at the different corner of the house. Oh…one more thing, he will also not make any noise if I am in the living hall doing my things or resting, because, he knows I don’t like noisy. He just knows how to behave himself differently to all of us. He is ever hyperactive and playful with Edwin; playful with or afraid of my hubby depending on hubby’s mood; and ever cautious but gently loving with me. See, how can I not like him when I see him having a so clear intelligence and discretion, even if, he is just an animal?
One thing, he doesn’t like water or getting wet. Whenever it rains, he will find the last dry corner to stand, just to avoid getting wet. He lies his body flat on his back whenever Edwin trying to bathe him. Edwin has to struggle hard to drag him to water tap. He is getting bigger, so it is getting more difficult to make him bathe. Every now and then, I watch their battles in amusement.
One day, it was raining outside and I was reading in the table. Then, I saw Jang-Gun seating outside of the porch, wet and shivering. I was wondering what this dog was up to. I went out to call him back.
“What are you doing, Jang-Gun? Why are you sitting there wet? What’s wrong?”
But he just sat there shivering and looking at me afraid. The eyes were of when he did something wrong. So I looked around to see what mischief he did. One orchid pot was fallen on the floor. Judging from the scene, I figured he was walking past the pot when it fell by the strong wind. He took it as his fault. He got scare of his master’s fury when he finds out. So he was punishing himself in the rain wet and shivering, and refused to come in when I call him. I called Edwin who was in the upstairs. As I was telling Edwin the story, Jang-Gun was even more shivering. Edwin’s heart broke to see his dire distressed look. He refused to come in under the porch, so Edwin has to drag him again and tie him in his leash to stop him from keep running out again in the rain. In a while, my hubby came back home. We related the incident to him while Jang-Gun again in his almost panic state with his ears and tail tucked in. It was only when, my hubby tapped his back and said, it’s okay, that Jang-Gun relieved his guilty punishment to himself wagging his tail happily to the master.
It was truly amazing to see how even a dog knows how to repent himself when we human are often not. There are so many people around us who refused to see or admit their own faults, even if it is so obvious. They are quick to arouse their temper in denial or self-defend, ever blaming others for anything wrong but never to themselves. It is always others that are at faults but not them. They are also quick to show their hostility or jealousy to other’s achievements or success. It is they who deserve all the best, the most comforts and success at no cost, while often ignoring or overlooking others’ sweat and toils behind what others might have spent for days and nights. They are so selfish when it comes to guarding their own interests but, seldom considerate or merciful when it is about others’.
I often wondered why, whenever I come across with such injustice or unfairness in anyone or situations. I used to chew or fret over it until I disturb my peace and sleep for days. But, now, as I am older and wiser, that I no longer wonder but understand why. They are lacking in self-love and sense of security. That is why they are behaving selfishly as the way they do. They might have grown up in the environment ever challenged with scarcity, competition for love or lack of affections. They might have grown up in over-pampered environments that, everything was revolving around themselves, never knowing how to share or be kind with others. They might have grown up in very threatening situations that, everybody else was out to get theirs or hurt them, but might never have received warm hugging and hot soup to relieve their cold stomach…
Whatever the reasons might be…this much is sure. Those who can’t love, share or repent over their own faults, they are the most unfortunate people in the world no matter how much they are rich or successful. After all, life is surprisingly simple to live and be happy when you have a roof over your head, clothes to wear, and enough food to eat. It is only when the heart is not content or in the right conditions, ah…that’s when the life starts to get complicated, with much wants or don’t-wants, hatreds or blames, regrets and worries…I suppose that is why, these days, many people are having dogs and call them they are the man’s best friends. Because their love, loyalty and dedications are totally unconditional…
