Nithia Arumugam Pillai and her family picked Whisky from a litter of 10 Golden Retriever puppies. He was tiny and not really much to look at then. But like all fairy tales he blossomed into a handsome prince soon enough.
Nithia’s sister often says that Whisky just grew and grew like Clifford the big red dog because of the endless love the family showered on him. And she is right, Nithia says, because the family loves Whisky to the moon and back.
Whisky does a lot of things that often leave the family speechless. Like when he watched his human father plant some daisies.
The next day Whisky decided to do some gardening of its own. He happily re-potted as many of the plants as he could and well, the end result speaks for itself.
Whisky also loves tearing things up to smithereens. Newspapers, plants, pillows, toys, blankets, plastic containers, bottles and shoes – everything is fair game.
He goes for it wholeheartedly and although it has cost the family lots of time and money to clean up the mess and replace stuff he’s destroyed, they never have had the heart to punish him.
Rather than discipline Whisky for his misdeeds, Nithia’s husband usually turns on his wife instead, questioning her as if she was the culprit.
When Nithia tries sitting Whisky down and reprimanding him, the dog just raises his large paws in surrender and holds her hand down. That usually means it’s “game over” and all’s forgiven.
Despite his large size, Whisky has the most wonderful smell that Nithia says she picks up the moment she drives into the porch.
She says he smells of screw pine leaves especially on the back of his neck and ears, and his paws. She swears she’d be a millionaire if she could bottle that scent!
Nithia says Whisky has pulled her through many a rough day and dark night, and just knowing he’s out there, and stepping out to catch a glimpse of him calms her mind and soul.
Whisky is the kind of dog who’d probably welcome a thief into the house like a long lost friend, but Nithia says she still feels a sense of security knowing that he is there and will lay his life down for her as she would for him.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR PET: FMT Lifestyle readers are invited to send in pictures (landscape format) and a short video (if any) of their furry, scaly or feathery friends to [email protected]. Don’t forget to include details like your pet’s name, age, breed and a short story about them.