This charming canine, rescued from Klang by Fauziah Paws Care, an animal shelter in Sungai Buloh, quickly became the apple of Sanjeev’s eye. The Melaka resident was simply scrolling through the “Dog Lovers of Malaysia” Facebook group when he stumbled upon Mocha’s picture.
“There was something about his sad puppy eyes that caught my heart,” Sanjeev told FMT Lifestyle.
“I was told that his siblings were taken away from him, and this poor fellow was left alone. I immediately knew that I needed to adopt him.”
And the rest was history, with Sanjeev beginning his journey all the way from Melaka to Kuala Lumpur to pick Mocha up.
“He was very quiet during the ride home, and I was speaking to him the whole time so that he would get familiarised with my voice and remain calm,” said Sanjeev.
Once settled into his new abode, the now one-year old Mocha’s true personality emerged. Sanjeev described him as both affectionate and hyperactive, with friendliness being Mocha’s most dominant characteristic.
“He likes to run wild amidst people because he loves the attention. I know for a fact he hates to be alone, so he can be a bit of a handful sometimes when people are around.”
Mocha’s warm nature however, comes with a twist. “He’s very friendly with people, but not with dogs,” Sanjeev chuckled. This pup was rather fortunate then, as Mocha is now the only pet in the Palani family.
“My family has had dogs since I was a toddler. The last pet we had was six years ago and was very attached to my late dad.”
After a pet hiatus since their last pet’s passing in 2019, Mocha became the beacon of joy for Sanjeev’s family, especially adored by his six-year-old niece and 11-year-old nephews.
“I would say Mocha has brought cheer to everyone in my family again.”
As the days unfolded, Mocha’s love for car rides became evident, perhaps a fond memory of that life-changing journey from Kuala Lumpur to Melaka.
“He would sometimes jump into the backseat if the car door is open,” stated Sanjeev.
Unlike typical pups, Mocha turns up his nose at kibbles, preferring a specially crafted meal by Sanjeev’s mum – chicken, rice, and veggies. And, of course, good behaviour earns him the coveted meat jerky treats.
“He is always more well-behaved when I’m around. But then again, how can you say no to him when he looks at you with those tender-looking eyes?”
While obedience training was attempted at six months old, Mocha’s spirited character remained unscathed, particularly when it came to house décor.
“He has some fascination with potted plants. He likes to do his own gardening and make a mess. But he does not do that when I’m around,” Sanjeev said.
While usually playful and full of paw-sitive energy, Mocha has a strong aversion towards loud bikes, a quirk that Sanjeev attributes to potential trauma from his early street days.
At just one year old, Mocha may not boast a repertoire of special tricks, but Sanjeev said there’s one ability which he excels at.
“He only knows how to love everyone around him. As they say, the dog’s entire world is the family he is with.”
While initially fitting into Sanjeev’s arms as a chubby pup, Mocha has grown into a tall and handsome boy. Puppy eyes initially clouded with uncertainty now have a newfound joy, thanks to the generosity of the Palani family who in return, get a whole lot of canine charm in their lives.
This article was written by Theevya Ragu @ FMT Lifestyle. Read more pet stories here.
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.