IT'S A DOG'S LIFE THEY SAY

It has been a few months now that Max came into our life. It all started with a facebook post asking for adoption. My wife thought that we should take a look and check him out. A Beagle.
As we drove to the Animal Medical Centre in Kuala Lumpur, we wondered still if a decision to adopt is a correct thing.  As they brought the fellow out, my wife brought him around and about to see if the fellow would fit us or we fit him.
We had to do a few medical checkups for him and named him Max. Max came in as a thin beagle at 12 kgs and after a few weeks, he grew to 14kgs. Max is playful. He loves to play.
We changed the vets from the Animal Medical centre in Kuala Lumpur to St Angel in Puchong primarily because we did not like the service and the way they treated Max.  At St Angel, he got much better from his illness.
You see, Max was abandoned and is full grown beagle and with an estimated age of about 4 years old. He was found malnourished and with scabs and wounds.  Yet Max showed great tenacity for playfulness and without a care for anything except to keep on smiling and wagging his tail.
Today, Max is beagle who would greet us everytime we came home.  He would bark and start climbing the top part of the bonnet as either one of us drives into the garage. He would wake us up every morning at the same time with his bark.  Now who would need an alarm clock?  He would only stop after you acknowledged him and fed him his meal.
Taking care of a beagle was so much different from taking care of mongrels, German shepherds and a Pekinese. A beagle is a troublemaker.  We now call Max, “Naughty Max” and at times, “Nautius Maximus”.
But Max is a good friend.  He keeps good company and loves children who come visiting us.  Of course, due to his playfulness, he bit parts of our car tires and mud flap.  We now have to keep the leash a little shorter so he would not reach.
It is interesting to see many people now keep pets within Subang Jaya.  Some have cats and some have dogs.  It is quite a sight as in the evenings and early mornings, you could see owners walk their dogs and get a bit of exercise as well.
After taking care of Max, we now know that there is a serious lack of veterinary clinic which has ample parking spaces in Subang Jaya.  We have to go all the way to Puchong.  It would be good that shopping centres perhaps one day avail some space for veterinary services instead of just normal pet shops as pet shops are not as important but more of a complement to veterinary services.
If the medical facility of pets is a problem, let me now also state that there is no public medical facility in Subang Jaya.  As most of us would already know, medical fees at private hospitals can be very expensive. This is also a place where if one does not have a credit card and insurance card, it would be very cumbersome to obtain aid. Ambulance services are also very difficult.  How many of us know how to call an ambulance? There are also public and private services.
There are 2 major private medical facilities within Subang Jaya Main Township.  One is Sime Darby Medical Centre (previously known as Subang Jaya Medical Centre…I seriously wonder why they detach themselves from Subang Jaya) and Sunway Medical Centre.
If we look at Subang Jaya, there is a good mix of population and the pricing for private practice can be quite expensive for a majority within the community.  A public hospital or at least a fairly adequate government polyclinic would help.
Normally these facilities would not be within our priority of wants unless it is too late and we need them.  It is sad when one in dire aid need to go far for a public hospital.
It’s a dog’s life they say. Max has shown us that even in times of dire helplessness; you may get a chance at living.  We are glad that we are giving Max that chance. Max is now a boisterous smiley fellow that would greet you when you get back and never loses his temper.
Perhaps in a world of leaders who takes rhetoric to the limit without even making an effort to realize is worthwhile to look at how we treat our own and our pets.
If one could abandon our pets and leave it to fend for itself,  what future does it hold for some of us who think of nothing but positions, power and money as a solution and reason to tread on others?
In fact, even Max gives a stranger a chance before deciding on whether one is unfriendly.  Hence, we should leave all prejudices aside and take the road of respecting one another.
Senseless rhetorics and the so called leaderships who have failed must be replaced before the situation gets worse.  Chaos has begun.  As I look at Max, I smile again.  Because, even at this time of helplessness, someone will come and stand up against the odds and help those who have hope.
So, it is hope we should have.  It is a dog’s life they say.  Have hope and let the youths and everyone of us stand up to adversity and those who aim at disuniting.
Now, I must stop here.  I have to bring Max for a walk around my neighbourhood.