An afternoon well spent

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Despite the trauma that she went through, Happy’s zest for life is infectious.

Despite the trauma that she went through, Happy’s zest for life is infectious.

SHE is friendly. She is feisty. She is perfect as a companion in every sense of the word if one is not put off by her looks. If she could talk, hers would be a story of pain, suffering and a certain death if she was not found on one fateful day in December 2013.

Her snout was a mass of infected tissue with wriggling maggots eating away at the wound when an animal lover chanced upon her in Johor Bahru and quickly contacted Malaysian Dogs Deserve Better.

Better known by its acronym MDDB, the animal welfare organisation practises a strict no-kill policy for all the abandoned and injured dogs it rescues, treats and rehabilitates.

An alert was put out to rescue the puppy. A volunteer promptly responded and sent her to a veterinary clinic for initial treatments. She was transported over 300km to Petaling Jaya two days later where she underwent intensive treatment to have all the dead tissue around her snout surgically removed.

The veterinarian found that her bone structure and nostrils were intact which meant she would have no problems eating and drinking. Despite the trauma she went through, the puppy showed much tenacity and playfulness. She was aptly named Happy for that commendable personality. Happy’s treatment continued for the next 11 months where she endured several minor skin graft surgeries to help with the healing process.

Fast forward to the present. She is all grown up now. MDDB organised an event called ‘Solidarity with Happy’ last week to dispel claims that her looks could traumatise children for life and therefore she should be kept away from public eyes for good.

Being animal lovers, my wife and I dropped by at the event held at a shopping mall last week to show support for Happy. Our first encounter with her was absolutely pleasant to say the least. She greeted us warmly by wagging her tail profusely. We had a good look at each other when she stood up beside me with her front paws on my thigh.

I will always remember that moment when our eyes met and we connected. There was so much life in her. Save for the missing nose, and exposed nostrils, upper gum and teeth, Happy appeared to be the least affected by the disfigurement. She went about with a devil-may-care attitude that endeared her to everyone who popped in to meet her.

In the one hour or so we were there, we saw how adults and children alike, who were initially cautious when they approached her, eventually became enamoured by her affability. She never failed to reciprocate with affection whenever they patted her. What she lacked in looks, she more than made up for with her friendliness and warmth.

Happy’s companion at the event was Prince. MDDB founder Wani Muthiah recounted to us the story of how he was rescued as a puppy. A rescuer saw him accompanying the body of his dead mother by the roadside. When she stopped by to retrieve the body and rescue him, he ran away and hid in the bushes. Subsequent attempts to catch him were unsuccessful.

Three months later, when the rescuer passed by the same road, she found him lying in a drain. He was probably hit by a car, just like his mother. His pelvis was shattered and a fractured bone fragment had pierced into his intestine. The prognosis was poor. The veterinarian suggested for him to be put to sleep.

A second opinion was sought with another veterinarian who said his injuries could be fixed with surgery. A day before he was to be operated on, he miraculously stood up and walked.

He was then put through a rigorous regiment of physical therapy to help him get back on his feet again.

Although he walked with a noticeable limp, he frolicked around with Happy and enjoyed the pampering from visitors at the event. I was especially touched when he rested his head on my lap. Both of them appeared jovial and content. Being with them and seeing how they were enjoying themselves despite their circumstances made me appreciate life even more.

Dogs like Happy, Prince and many others would have succumbed to their injuries or been euthanised if not for MDDB. It is good that they are brought out to public events to show that euthanasia is not the only solution for severely injured or disabled dogs. With proper treatment coupled with love and care, they too can survive and lead a reasonable quality of life.

This noble effort in giving these dogs a second chance at life is not without challenges. There is a constant need for financial support from the public to pay for their treatments and upkeep. Disabled dogs are not put up for adoption. However, the public can ensure that their needs are taken care of by sponsoring one of them for RM60 per month. MDDB also holds adoption drives at shopping malls every week to rehome non-disabled dogs.

I am glad we dragged ourselves out of the house that day. We usually prefer to stay at home on the last day of the week to enjoy some quiet time together with our cats. It was an afternoon well spent. I have met many disabled people but never disabled dogs. That was my first time but certainly will not be the last. I relished my time with them and am looking forward to more opportunities in the future.

Find out more about MDDB at https://www.facebook.com/MDDBFurkidSponsorship.