“She” is Hazel, a two-year-old canine who soon started barking warily. Next, she began curiously sniffing everyone, and finally, sensing the team came in peace, she offered her head to be patted.

Next, Sivanesan brought out Twinky. Her bark was louder, but the pooch, who is under two years old, quickly cooled down once his mother, R Versitar Rajoo, smothered her with kisses.

The beauties Hazel and Twinky look truly happy here despite their obvious inability to walk. Yet for Sivanesan, 33, and his family, they are special, in more ways than one.

Sivanesan said Hazel was found hiding in an area where he and his mother fed strays. That was in 2022. She was covered in bruises, had a bloated belly, and was unable to walk. Clearly, the poor thing was in terrible pain.

Suspecting she had been hit by a vehicle, they immediately rushed her to the vet. There, they were told that her spine was badly injured, leaving her with no sensation in her hind legs. She also had lung issues.

Despite her injuries, Versitar was adamant that the puppy was coming home with them. And Sivanesan felt the same way.

“She’s a fighter and I felt that she would adapt to whatever life it is,” he said, adding that his sister, Hemavathi, chose the name “Hazel” for the pup.

The following month another desperate pup came into their lives. They found her in the same area, rejected by her mother. Moved by her plight, they brought the pup home.

“I fed her like a baby with the bottle,” recalled Versitar, 63. As the puppy’s eyes often twitched, Sivanesan named her “Twinky.”

But the puppy often appeared disorientated when she walked, and one day, she stopped walking altogether. She was later diagnosed with epilepsy but despite her condition, the family were resolute that she was theirs to keep.

Today, both canines have found their “furry-tail” endings. Each of them, Sivanesan shared fondly, has endearing quirks that always make him smile.

Hazel, for instance, appears to have learnt a “yoga move” out of nowhere. “She lifts her bottom leg a bit and puts it on top of her head!” said Sivanesan, laughing.

Twinky, on the other hand, has a unique sleeping position. “She likes to sleep with her legs up, like a frog flipped over,” Sivanesan added.

But unlike other dogs, going for regular walks with their humans isn’t an option. That is, until Sivanesan’s father, Shanmugam Poogavanam, came up with the idea of taking them out in a wheelchair.

These days, both canines look forward to their daily “walks”. Hazel particularly loves watching the sun rise on the horizon, but Twinky has a penchant for activities of the mischievous kind.

“She’s a bit of a sneaky child. When she sees a car or motorcycle, she tries to ‘sneak attack’ them,” Sivanesan shared, adding that they have to restrain her when this happens.

Caring for both girls is admittedly not easy – Hazel has no control of her bowel movements and Twinky is prone to fits – but the family doesn’t see this as a burden. Their pooches’ happiness is what matters to them more.

“I feel like the love you show them during their weakest time is always the strongest thing for them to survive whatever they’re going through,” Sivanesan said of the two differently abled girls.

Indeed, it’s heartwarming to see how the canines have found a second chance in life with this family. But it works both ways, as the family too has been blessed with their presence, especially Versitar, who said that caring for them keeps her active and makes her feel younger.

“That’s the thing I’ve always admired about dogs. Even a stray dog can become your best friend within one week when you meet them daily,” shared Sivanesan, adding that he encourages the public to “adopt, don’t shop.”

“I feel like if you show love to them, they will certainly show love back to you in a very loyal way,” he added.

“Really, a dog’s love is different,” concluded Versitar.