“I don’t sleep in my room. I sleep in the hall with them, on the sofa,” Low told FMT Lifestyle.
“If I go upstairs to my room, the dogs get scared, and I just can’t do that to them. Most of the time, I’m in the hall watching TV while doing my other work. They always hear sounds and know I’m around. It helps them feel less jittery and anxious.”
With such dedication, it’s no surprise that dog owners from as far as Gombak and Shah Alam happily board their pups at Low’s Desa Park City home.
A seamstress and food caterer by trade, Low ventured into pet boarding in 2019. Over the past five years, she’s built a loyal customer base with her unique and heartfelt approach.
“Before I take them in, we have a meet-and-greet,” she explained. “The dog gets to run freely around my house to see if they’re happy here. If the dog is happy with me, and I’m happy with them, then it’s a yes. But either of us can say no, too.”
Low also goes the extra mile to ease the separation anxiety some dogs experience. “If a dog is especially attached to their owner, I’ll ask for a piece of their clothing. Dogs rely on scent, so having something familiar, like a shirt, helps them feel more at home.”
Low’s love for dogs runs deep, shaped by a lifetime of furry friendships.
“All my life, I’ve had dogs,” she shared. “It started with my dad, another dog lover, who brought home a dog when I was young. My parents were always busy with work, so I spent most of my time with the dog.”
The dog became Low’s study buddy, “teaching” him her school subjects just so that she could remember them better. “He was such a good boy, sitting there and ‘listening’ to every word!”
Her passion for pets grew stronger over the years. When her niece adopted a puppy but couldn’t keep it, Low stepped in. “That dog came back to me, and over time, we ended up with more dogs because we didn’t spay him,” she laughed. “It’s been a constant ever since – dogs have always been part of my life.”
Even after her last personal dog, an abused schnauzer she rescued, passed away, Low couldn’t imagine life without canine companionship. “My husband and I argued about getting another dog. He worried about the long-term commitment, especially when it came to travel,” she explained.
“That’s when my daughter suggested pet boarding. She said, ‘Why not have dogs around without the full-time responsibility? You can decide when you want to take them in.’ It was the perfect solution!”
For Low, pet boarding is more than just a job – it’s a way of life. “Dogs are incredibly loyal. They sense when you’re upset and somehow make it all better,” she said.
“At 67, life has its ups and downs, but these dogs uplift me. They make my life more fulfilling. They nudge me, cuddle up, and I won’t feel upset anymore. I cannot not have that.”
Her bond with the dogs is so strong that some don’t want to leave. “I’ve had dogs refuse to go home when their owners come to pick them up,” she chuckled. “The owners joke that their dogs love me more!”
As for the future, Low doesn’t see herself stopping anytime soon. “I can’t imagine life without dogs. When there’s a quiet spell with no dogs in the house, it feels so empty. As long as they come, I’ll keep taking them in.”