Enough about imported and international breeds like the forever-famous Huskies or beautiful Poodles.
Shankar, the proud human of Penny Wong, makes a really good case on how local and Malaysian breeds can be stunning too.
According to Shankar, Penny is a natural Malaysian beauty through and through despite her being a “tripod”, as her right hind leg had a severely dislocated Patella.
He tells FMT the story of how they met; it was when Shankar’s wife, Dr Susanna, had completed her veterinary acupuncture course and began treating dogs at PAWS on a pro-bono basis.
This is where she became close to Penny as one of her first “patients”, and eventually brought her home to live with them.
Apart from being disabled, Penny is also a Hashimoto syndrome sufferer, but Shankar says that she is “tough as nails”, always coming out on top from the multiple surgeries she’s had.
“She’s a terribly brave lass unless it’s thundering,” says Shankar. “She is a specialist guard dog for my personal property, and takes a keen interest in my home office.”
In fact, Penny takes her job very seriously to the point where Shankar’s staff fear her, as she personally guards his room with “claws and teeth”.
As if knowing the charming effect she has on people and dogs, pretty Penny loves teasing other dogs behind the gates that she and Shankar pass by during their walks.
“If any gate opens suddenly, and there’s an ensuing skirmish, she relies heavily on the brute strength of her companion ‘Fringe’, who is known by the guards around our neighbourhood as Penny’s “husband”,” laughs Shankar.
But Penny doesn’t enjoy fighting at all; she would much rather take a solid hour to make a 500-metre journey around the house to relish her surroundings.
According to Shankar, Penny simply revels in the fine art of sniffing deeply and meaningfully.
Penny is extremely loyal to Shankar, and makes it clear that she’s the number one and that nothing should ever come between them.
However, as much as it irks her, Shankar says that she has been warned and severely reprimanded to tolerate their nine cats and two guinea pigs at home.
Despite all the groaning and moaning about having to make peace with “the others”, Penny does indeed have a very soft heart, attested by her special interest in soft toys that squish and squeak – which she never shares with any other animals at home!
“She’s a bit of a foodie, like me,” says Shankar, who elaborates that Penny’s favourite meals come from Dr Susanna’s FeedLOVE range.
“But she’s known to occasionally devour a banana leaf meal with me. The following loose stool saga, I usually leave to my wife.”
While on the subject of food, Shankar adds that he often catches Penny looking longingly at cream cheese and Hup Seng cream crackers.
“I say she’s just an easy, cheap date! My wife disagrees.”
Sleep-wise, Penny is instructed to sleep either on the sofa in front or on the daybed in the garden, due to the incessant “pitter-patter” of her tiny feet.
Penny has learnt to break all the rules, though.
“She would open our bedroom door, sneak in like a cat burglar and find a cosy nook to sleep.
“She’ll be found out, usually at 4.30am when she, like all older humans, desperately needs a pee!”
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.