On my 21st birthday, I made a wish to get a dog.

So fate brought me to him one sunny August day at a pet shop. I was at the SPCA with my parents prior to that but didn’t manage to find a pal there. The decision to go to the pet shop was the start of a turning point in my life.

When I arrived at the pet shop, the staffs were still in the progress of cleaning up the puppies’ area and we couldn’t go in.

“What breed are you looking for?” the lady boss asked.

“A mini pinscher” I answered, recalling one cross of that breed which I chanced upon at the SPCA but has already been adopted.

The next minute I knew, the lady boss carried this scrawny little fella out of the puppies area. It really wasn’t love at first side cos I was thinking of a Shih Tzu – that type of fluffy potatoes which are excellent for cuddles and squeezes. I didn’t want a hairy skeleton swaying in my house, so I wasn’t very interested in this skinny fella sniffing at me (And I don’t even know why the hell I told the lady boss to show me a mini pinscher).

But people do change…When I see this fella running about in circles in the play pen and trying to catch my attention with his comical stunts, standing on two legs and jumping about, the Shih Tzu I was picturing in my mind started to fade off. The final push was him trying to reach out for my arms. And I knew it – it got to be him.

About an hour later, my parents and I exited the pet shop, with the fella in my arms. So in the end the dog got to choose its master instead of the other way.

I decided to name him Joseph cos the name means
- the desire to protect and provide for his family
- the compassion for others
- and most importantly, love for God.

I am thankful to God to allow me to meet Joseph, cos I have found a friend in him. One thing I knew, he’s not just a dog, but a friend and a part of the Lu family now. Joseph has taught and shown me many things for the past four months, some of which are so simple that complicated human beings have stupidly overlooked.

His unwavering spirit at retrieving his toys taught me not to give up easily.

His patience in waiting for me to return home each evening makes me aware that family is so important.

His wagging tail not only welcomes me home, but also comforts me that someone cares for my existence.

He never remembers your harshness towards him (for getting into mischief) and will come to you with a wagging tail. He has showed me that forgiving and forgetting someone can be so easy.

He cares for us because
- he couldn’t sleep when Dad was hospitalized
- he waits for us dutifully each evening for our return separately
- he is unable to settle down properly when someone in the family is missing from home for a long time
- he wants to play and spend time with us even when he is sleepy

He doesn’t care whether I am rich or poor, fat or thin, pretty or ugly, clever or stupid.
He likes me for just being me.
He chose me for just being me.
He loves me for just being me.

And now, it no longer matters whether he is a fluffy potato or a Shih Tzu. Cos I love him. For just being him.