Pets are often treated like they are part of the family. — Filepic
GROWING up being allergic to animal fur, Valerie De Cruz was never fond of pets, especially dogs.
That changed two years ago when she saw an emaciated poodle that was chained and left outside by its owner for days.
“It broke my heart. I later approached the owner, who agreed to give the dog to me,” she recalled.
Estimated to be 10 years old, the animal, then named Happy, brought much joy to Valerie and her two children.
“It’d wait for us at the door every day, wagging its tail. After years of neglect, it was finally enjoying a good life,” she said.
But the joy was short-lived. Two weeks later, Happy dropped dead without warning during a stroll in a park.
“My children were crying as I rushed her to the veterinary clinic. A tiny part of me had hoped Happy was still alive.
“Then the doctor told us she was suffering from severe malnutrition before being adopted by us,” she said.
Losing a pet is a devastating experience, as the animal often offers its owner comfort and emotional support.
For many owners, pets are part of the family, and significant effort goes into maintaining the animals’ health.
Two years ago, Nur Aliza Mohd Rashid adopted a stray kitten found by the roadside near her house.
“Its mother was nowhere to be found. After discussing with my father, we decided to take the cat.
“My father and I nursed it back to health. A year later, the kitten went missing during a thunderstorm.
“We looked for it the next day and found the body floating in a drain. We were overcome with grief,” she said.
Mohd Iqbal Hafizan said losing his cat to kidney failure early this year was an emotional blow.
He had adopted the animal when it was five months old from a neighbour nine years ago.
“The cat and I went through a lot together – he was always there for me through my life’s ups and downs.
“When he fell sick, I spent some RM2,000 on treatments, while also taking time off from work.
“Sadly, he died days after being discharged. My family and I kept him company in his final hours,” he said.
Mohd Iqbal said a few people had suggested that he adopt another cat.
“I might do that, eventually. For now, I am still mourning. No new cat can replace the one I lost.”.
