In 2010, Nick was living in a condominium in Bandar Utama, Petaling Jaya, that had a long driveway supported by thick concrete pillars that went deep into the ground.

It was in the area under the driveway, amidst the pillars, red earth, foliage and rubbish, that Nick spotted a mother dog and a litter of puppies.

“The mum would go out and presumably look for food, while the little ones, who were curious and active by this point, would wander on their own, exploring,” he says, adding that there were about seven puppies.

Concerned for their wellbeing, Nick enlisted the help of his friend Nicole-Ann, and together they climbed down the quarry-like embankment and ventured amidst the foundation of the driveway.

They managed to rescue four of the pups – the rest either made themselves scarce or burrowed farther into the depths of the earth and foundation, making them unreachable – and Nicole-Ann decided to bring them to the vet for a checkup and eventual adoption.

But first, Nick decided to keep one of the two female rescues. And that is how he ended up with a lovely, rambunctious white pup of “local breed” that he named Ashley.

“She was the quietest of the four, and my mum fell in love with her immediately,” Nick recalls, explaining that Ashley would live in his parents’ house nearby as it was more conducive for a pet.

Nick moved back home not long thereafter, and there was an instant bond between him and Ashley. “I think she remembered I was the one who rescued her, so she latched on to me,” Nick says fondly.

And the feeling was mutual: Nick found himself pampering his precious pooch, allowing her to sleep in his bedroom and, yes, even in his bed.

Growing up, Ashley was a fit, active dog who ran circles around her humans, tore up the house, dug up the garden, and generally behaved the way a happy, adolescent dog would.

Nick recalls a time the family came home and found Ashley missing, while the sofa in the living room had a big hole in it, stuffing strewn everywhere.

“Ashley had burrowed her way into the couch!” Nick exclaims. “We found her literally inside the sofa. We didn’t know whether to be angry or amused!”

One of Ashley’s favourite pastimes in her younger years was to “play water”. Nick would fill up a tub, and she would jump in with two front paws and furiously “dig” away at the water, splashing it everywhere until she exhausted herself.

“She was certainly enamoured with water,” Nick says, recalling how she also loved it when her humans poured bucketsful to wash down the driveway, and she would run excitedly after the gushing streams.

After she was spayed, however, Ashley began to get less active as she began putting on weight. “The vet suggested it was due to hormones as some female dogs are apparently prone to weight gain after spaying,” Nick says.

Despite regular walks and healthy meals – Ashley eats two meals a day, of quality dry pet food and boiled or steamed chicken breast and veggies – she continued to put on the kilos.

These days, at the young age of 11, Ashley no longer runs – she does a trot at best – and has lost interest in “playing water”. She still goes for daily walks, but at a steady pace, and tends to draw looks and comments from passersby.

“Some people are drawn by Ashley’s cute roundness; others will say things like, ‘Aiyoh! So fat!’,” Nick says, adding that he wishes the concept of body positivity or neutrality would apply to animals, too.

Still, none of these comments seem to faze Ashley – partly because she obviously doesn’t understand them, and also because she doesn’t like strangers, for which Nick good-naturedly takes the blame.

He explains their close bond was cemented further when he previously underwent some personal difficulties that resulted in him confiding in his canine companion.

“Ashley was a constant, someone I could talk to, cry with and hug, and she served as my ‘therapy dog’,” Nick says in reflection.

“Whether it was during our walks, or just spending time in my room, her presence was definitely comforting and a big help during those difficult times.”

Their closeness has come with a setback – Ashley is fiercely protective of Nick and does not like others coming close to him. This includes her fellow four-legged friends – Kerbie, puppy Bailey and cat Tommy – and sometimes includes other family members, depending on her mood.

“I am undoubtedly her ‘territory’,” Nick laughs bashfully. “Don’t tell the others, but she’s secretly my favourite.

“I’ve made all the mistakes that the dog whisperer, Cesar Millan, would say ‘no’ to: letting the dog get too close, treating her like a person, and letting her be completely spoiled.”

Still, Nick wouldn’t have it any other way, and he says if there’s one good thing that has come out of the pandemic and being stuck at home, it’s that he has been able to spend a tremendous amount of time with Ashley in her golden years, as well as the other furkids.

“She’s getting on in age, so the time I get to spend with her is precious,” Nick says.

“Every day now is a pleasant routine of spending time with her and the other pets in the garden in the mornings, and taking them out in the evenings.

“Bailey and Kerbie will go for their round-the-neighbourhood sprints, while Ashley will take a nice, leisurely stroll around the block, ending up in the ‘lorong’ behind the house where we will both sit in companionable silence until the sun sets.”

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.