Of dogs and us

by Jim Ang

One of the benefits of moving from Bangkok to Pattaya, other than getting away from big city life, is the opportunity to have more space. While yes the city lights at night look nice from a 25th floor condominium on Sathorn, nothing compares with the wide open space of a house. Other than the obvious benefits of more space, another is the opportunity to finally have a dog. Although some places in the great Krung Thep allow pooches, you still won't really want to get one because of the absence of playing space for them. Especially, if like me you prefer the large breeds.

Two weeks after the big move, I was still undecided. Should I or shouldn't I? Do I get a rescue dog or buy from a pet shop? I decided to leave it to fate. I told myself that if I see one at the right time (meaning I have the cash to pay for it!), I'll buy it. Finally on the third week, I chanced upon a lovely little golden retriever puppy for sale at a stall in the Thepprasit Weekend Night Market. It was love at first sight. Since I already had a male golden retriever many years back, I decided to get a female this time. Yeah, yeah…Some say that the female won't be as joyful to be with. But I was also told that female dogs are more adoring and at this age, I guess adoring would be a more preferred trait of a companion than with one who wants to tire you until you pant your tongue out the way they would do.

So after haggling left and right, there on my arms and rested on her way to her new home, the little puppy I decided to call Betty was mine and so the saga begins…From her late night cries, until she settled down so well that she started chewing every single footwear she saw. From little packs of dog food to sacks of 10 kilos. From a little crib, to own her doghouse, to my house finally turned to be her own.

Article source: http://www.thethailandlinks.com/2013/01/30/of-dogs-and-us/