KUALA LUMPUR: Four dogs raised from puppies ran to greet their former owners, despite being apart for nearly six months.
Iffah Syafiqah Mohd Ridzal, 28, said the four-legged friends had been part of the family, cared for closely since they were young.
“Since Angelina (the mother dog) was little, she would go to the garden every day to eat, from before she had puppies until after they had grown up.
“So after more than two years, they really felt like part of our family.
“The dogs were named Angelina, Nala, Carla and Bella (Angelina’s puppies). They were adopted in May 2024 to look after our garden in Kuantan, Pahang,” she said when contacted by Harian Metro.
Syafiqah said her family had to make the difficult decision to hand the four dogs over to her mother’s close friend, who could provide them with more space. She added that her family still visits whenever they can.
“I was touched that even after so long apart, the dogs still recognised me and my family.
“The first time we visited, they ran towards our car. The second time, last May, they still recognised the car and us. Dogs are loyal; they never forget their owners.
“The new owners also like them because they take good care of the garden. He always sends videos, so we feel relieved and happy to see them healthy,” said the accountant.
She added that parting with the dogs was not easy, as they had once saved the family from a python.
“Once, the house was almost entered by a large python, but the dogs barked until we woke up. That’s why I say they are loyal,” she said.
Although aware of community sensitivities about keeping dogs, Syafiqah said her family was always careful and complied with cleanliness requirements.
“We always ‘sertu’ (cleanse) after contact. Now there are modern soaps and detergents.
“So we still maintain boundaries. The important thing is that love and responsibility towards the animals are not neglected,” she said.
Meanwhile, her father, Mohd Ridzal Abdul Latip, 53, said he had adopted the dog to guard the garden after taking it from its original owner, who no longer wanted to keep it.
“Initially, our intention was to adopt it because we wanted to guard the garden, which had cows, goats and trees.
“We felt the need for a dog for security,” he said.
But as the dog grew, it began wandering beyond the garden and into their home, which caused concern among neighbours.
“There were neighbours who were not happy about this, so we had to find a solution,” he said.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
