Black

I have a black dog.

Dogs are wonderful creatures. They have been called men’s best friend for centuries because of their loyalty to their owner.

There are many kinds of animals that can live amongst humans and in humans’ homes. Some are invited, some are not. Whilst house dogs are invited, some may be living in the porch, some get to live in the homes together with their humans.

Dogs, like humans are different individuals. If we are to stereotype all dogs to be the same, we are right and wrong at the same time. Based on their characteristics alone, there are so many we can hardly group them. Some are meant to live in the wild, some are great on the streets, some love cuddles, and much more. Just like humans, each has their own personality.

We, humans like to think that we are the master of all in the animal kingdom. While we may be the smartest in terms of science and technology, we lack the sixth sense. Perhaps we have even lost our senses in many ways. We can no longer predict the weather even though we have eyes to observe, ears to listen, nose to smell, and skin to feel because we depend so much on the weather forecast on the news.

My black dog is the best rain detector in my observation. He would warn us when the air smells different. It is as if he is born with a 360 degree detector right at the stratosphere. Sometimes he makes me wonder how he can be so sensitive towards minute changes in the air quality. Is it a gift to all animals, or is it his specialty?

Before the rain comes, his warning is sometimes misunderstood as barking for no reason. When it drizzles, he would lay under a bench for some protection. When it starts to rain, we can pretty much guess what is next by observing how he acts. If he continues to lay under the bench, it means that the rain is just the rain. If he keeps barking and banging on the door to get into the house, it means that storm is coming. A few minutes before lightning and thunder strikes, he would have already pounced onto me getting my attention. This, to some owners, means that the dog is scared. To me, it means he is the greatest storm detector in my household.

My black dog is perhaps suffering from OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder). He is a great dog when everything in the house is as is. However, when there is even the slightest change in the position of his bowl, he would be staring at it for hours on end. It is as if he is lost and do not know what to do when the location of things are different. Sometimes, it would take him a few minutes to adjust to the new position of things. Other times, it would take a surprisingly long time.

We had a very messy little patch of soil in the porch we never took care of for years. He made that his personal loo. When we finally got fed up of the unsightly patch, we took into our own hands and made it into a little zen garden with our favourite plants. We had to barricade the whole area to prevent him from doing his business there. He was lost. He did not know what to do. Even though we made him two toilets out of extra-large terra cotta pots, placed them right next to his previous toilet, and filled them with the soil we dug out from the same spot he loved to pee at, he did not use it at all. He held on. He refused to pee and poo for a week. Now, he is great at using his new toilets.

Some people are amazed at his size and thought he is a special breed. Some people admire his black shiny coat. Some people keep asking me what is wrong with his ears, one standing and the other drooped down. Some people admire his piglet tail. I love all of him. Whatever his breed, however odd-looking he is, he is my son, my black beauty.

He chose me to be his mummy. No matter how many years have passed, I can still remember the day he was rescued and brought to our home. He sat right in front of me waiting patiently for me to adjust the oversized collar for his little puppy neck. I was the only one he allowed to put a collar around his neck. It was as if it was meant to be.

Thank you for bringing such joy to my life, my beloved black dog. Adopt, don’t shop!

 

I don’t care if you’re black, white, short, tall, skinny, rich or poor. If you respect me I’ll respect you.    

Adele Laurie Blue Adkins (Adele), English singer-songwriter, 1988-present