“I may be four-legged, but I like to think that I am cute. And how different can I be from humans if we live on the same earth?
“But one day, I met a kind man and woman. They seemed to like me, and I was so happy that they decided to give me a fur-ever home.”
Meet Shuggie, the adorable inspiration behind Brigitte Rozario’s new children’s picture book, “Shuggie from the Streets”. Launched on Aug 24, the book is told from Shuggie’s perspective, starting from the day he was found and adopted by Rozario and her friend, N R Lohan, last year.
It even includes the time Shuggie escaped from Lohan’s house – by jumping over the garden wall! Thankfully, his humans eventually found him, albeit approximately 3km away from his new home.
“He’s a dog who thinks he’s a cat,” Rozario told FMT Lifestyle with a laugh, adding that Shuggie, who is about two years old, also likes to climb on top of cars.
Thankfully, while the adventurous pooch has made many escapes, he hasn’t wandered out of Lohan’s neighbourhood since. Check out this video of Shuggie doing the deed:
Written with simple language to cater for young readers aged four to six, Rozario’s book is filled with endearing photographs of Shuggie, which were all taken by her.
“Like any proud parent, you want to share all the wonderful photos. But then you realise that over 70 pages for a children’s book may be a bit too much!” laughed Rozario, who is also the author of a children’s picturebook series called “The Adventures of Beebo & Friends!”
Even older readers will find themselves smiling and giggling at the charming narrative and photos of the intrepid escape artist in action. If you need some cheering up, this is definitely the book for you!
Shedding further insight into Shuggie’s larger-than-life personality, Rozario revealed that when it comes to travelling by car, comfort is key for the canine. Rozario and Lohan co-parent Shuggie, so he splits his time between both their homes.
“Once, he was in the car and the air-conditioner wasn’t working. The next day when I picked him up, he didn’t want to get in at all! Now, when the air-conditioner isn’t working, I need to get it fixed fast,” she said.
Despite all the good food Shuggie enjoys – “he thinks all the food in the house is his!” – Rozario shared that one neighbour even thought he was running away because he wasn’t being fed enough.
Rozario has her own theory for why he does this: “He escapes when Lohan is not at home. We think he’s not really running away – maybe he’s trying to find us.”
These days, however, Shuggie will find it just a bit harder to make a break for it as his humans have installed a new safety fence that effectively puts a stop to his escapades.
A paw-sitive message and a worthy cause
Shuggie, Rozario shared, is her first pet, and he has certainly been a source of joy for her. “Anytime I want to take a break from the computer, I’ll just look at him and he will make me smile and laugh.”
Through her book, Rozario also aims to encourage people to adopt, not shop. “Many kids have the perception that dogs from the streets will be wild and dangerous. But very often, if anything, they’re scared. They probably had some bad experiences.”
And apart from being a loving tribute to her rambunctious bundle of fur, she’s also helping a worthy cause: 100% of profits from sales of “Shuggie from the Streets” will be donated to Furry Friends Farm, an animal sanctuary in Rawang, Selangor.
“I chose this organisation because they do not just have dogs; they also have cats, goats, chickens and other animals,” she explained.
Asked about her wishes for everyone who reads her book, Rozario replied: “That they will look at stray animals differently. They’re not dangerous and uncontrollable, they’re just homeless. So, just be a bit more aware of them.”
And when you do, perhaps you, too, will find your own Shuggie.
‘Shuggie from the Streets’ can be purchased via BookXcess online or at its physical stores.
Brigitte Rozario will also be conducting a storytelling session on Oct 19 @ 1pm at MPH, The Exchange TRX, Kuala Lumpur. ‘Shuggie from the Streets’ will be available at MPH bookstores in the future.
