he came to our family in 1999 when he was still a young puppy. i remember i have just came back from my studies in kl and when I got home, i saw this young chap sleeping near the shoes rack. my mom told me that his name was Vicky though he was a male dog! hahaha! they also told me that he was a quiet dog. man! they were wrong! he eventually grew up and became one of the fiercest dogs we ever had!
i am closest to him among all the family members. i was the one giving him his weekly bath that he disliked. when he was sick, i was the one who went to the vet, to talk to the doctor, explained his symptoms and conditions and eventually got the medicine for him. vicky was the only dog in our family that did not visit to the vet but could get his sickness treated!
he was a very loyal dog. at first we did not notice this. when a stranger was outside the house, he would bark but he wouldn't attack if the stranger remains outside the house. however, if he ever steps foot in our house compound, vicky would attack because his territory had been invaded!
vicky liked to have his stomach scratched. when he was lying on the floor and when i told him to "lie down", he would roll over lying on his back and wanted me to scratch his belly! i enjoyed doing that and he enjoyed being pampered.
vicky was not picky when it comes to food, just like his master, me! occasionally, i would give him hard boiled egg or make him some fresh milk which he would finish in no time!
when he came to our house in 1999, a stray cat which we call him meow meow also came about the same time. they eventually became good friend. meow meow sometimes would sit in between his legs and scratch his neck! it was so rare to see cat and dog sitting together, without any fight! every morning when we let vicky out to do his business, meow meow would follow him and wait for him outside the gate. after things were done, both of them would walk back to the house together and wait for their breakfast! that was so cute!
towards the last part of vicky's life, he was suffering from arthritis. his right hind leg became weak and he had difficulty in getting up and walking around. i think he must have felt painful too when he had to get up, that's why sometimes he would just sit down and pee. it really broke my heart and saddened me to see him that way. i went to see the vet and got him glucosamine, the supplement for joints. the vet also told me that it would not cured his arthritis, but would improve his quality of life. that was good enough! i did not want to see my dear old dog to suffer at his old age. the supplement indeed worked on him and i could see a stronger and a more lively vicky, sometimes he would even run! according to mom, on the last few days of vicky's life, he has had no appetite and was weak.
on that fateful day, i was travelling from hoi an to hue (i was holidaying in vietnam that time) and strange enough, i kept thinking about vicky. memories of vicky just flashed through! after i have checked in to the hotel and settled down, i received that message from mom....
i just burst out....
it has been a wonderful and eventful and amazing 11 years that we have spent together as a family. he always has a special place deep down in our hearts.
we will meet again, vicky! :o)
