Wanted...

Reflecting on the flip side of being unwanted, there are so many in the world who are unwanted, who go through life feeling unloved and unwanted. These include not only babies, children, but the elderly, the handicapped, anyone living on the far margins of society. This includes all the unwanted pets, dogs, animals etc.

In KL tonight, I know of three dogs who will sleep safely and dream happy doggy dreams. They were rescued - from the roads, the pound and from certain death. They are wanted and loved.

My sister started by taking in a mangy-looking thin brown mongrel with gangly legs and big sad brown eyes last year. She called the big dog, incongruously, Poppet. Under her care, Poppet blossomed, put on weight, thrived on her love. Whenever we visit her in KL, poor Poppet usually ends up traumatised by too many loving caresses by eager small hands and the occasional tail-pulling incident.

Then about a fortnight ago, while my sister was off on a diving trip, Poppet ran off. Heartbroken and grief-stricken, she and my brother-in-law searched the streets of KL, putting up posters, flyers in mailboxes, drove to construction sites and abandoned plots to check out the packs of strays that congregate there, checked the municipal pound, the SPCA and so on.

While at the pound, she was appalled by the living conditions of the strays that were rounded up. More than 10 dogs to one cage, jostling for space, for food, sometimes snapping at each other with the stench of dog pee and poo pungent in the air.

One little guy caught her eye. She brought him home. Called him Wolf. A smaller mutt than Poppet. She sure has a way with names, my sister. While she was at it, she sponsored the care of a creamy mixed Lab while she plotted how to get her husband to come around to the idea of having more than one dog at home. Joey, as she called the Lab, was slated to be put down - the pound was getting crowded. By sponsoring his care, she had effectively repealed his death sentence.

Then on Mother's Day, miracle of miracles, she found Poppet. In the sprawling metropolis that is KL, she found her dog in a suburb far from hers. Someone had seen her flyer, seen Poppet and called her. My sister, overjoyed, offered the caller the reward she had posted but the guy declined it, saying it was enough just to see the reunion. There are still good samaritans left in this world after all.

Poppet was 5kg thinner than before and had a bad cut on one of his legs. When we spoke on the phone last night, Poppet was still in doggy hospital (could not be discharged cos the vet's wife was giving birth!) and was due home today.

Poppet would have to learn to get along with Wolf, my sister said. And possibly Joey too.

Somehow, I'm sure they will. After all, they, more than anyone, would have known how hard life was out there, and what a haven my sister's home is for them - shelter, food and lots of love. For better or worse, they are now part of a family - squabbles over territory notwithstanding.

So many unwanteds in the world. Can't save them all. But I'm glad that those three at least have left the ranks of the unwanted.