In 2020, Kamini Manikam watched the well-known true story about a faithful dog named Hachiko.
The canine, of the Akita breed, would wait at the Shibuya Station in Japan for his master to come home from work. Sadly, his human died at work without the chance to say a final goodbye to his pet – but the loyal Hachiko continued to wait at the station for years until his own death.
It left Kamini feeling touched, and she longed to have a dog like that. More specifically, she desired to have a small pooch that she could bring into her room and cuddle in bed.
Her wish came true on the eve of Deepavali that year, when a breeder introduced her to two adorable Shih Tzus, both less than two months old. It left Kamini with a difficult choice: which one should she pick?
The answer came when one of the puppies caught her attention – and her heart. “He was very friendly. When I carried him, he started licking me,” she told FMT. And Kamini was smitten!
The puppy subsequently had a furever home and was named Hachiko.
Hachiko’s arrival proved to be timely as, a week later, Kamini fell in the bathroom and hurt her back.
“I ended up having to go for treatments. During that time, Hachiko kept me company. It was helpful because a person’s mind can wander when they are alone, and he distracted me. He was also my stress reliever,” she said, adding that he sleeps in her room.
Hachiko, who turned two years old last month, has developed a special relationship with his human – or “fur mum”, as Kamini describes herself.
“When my fiancé once said ‘go call mummy’, he went looking for me,” she shared proudly.
“He always wants me to follow me wherever I go. When I start my car, he gets upset if I don’t bring him along on rides. He will be yelping and crying, and it makes me uneasy.
“In fact, these days, when I am out, I tend to think I have to go back because Hachiko will be waiting for me, like a child.”
If you’re wondering why Hachiko wears many beautiful ribbons, “it’s because I’ve always wanted a female dog”, Kamini said, laughing.
When it comes to mealtimes, the sweet Shih Tzu’s favourite foods are cheese and chicken. He also enjoys receiving belly rubs, and playing in the rain – leaving his fur mum no choice but to bathe him when he gets wet and messy!
Kamini also describes her pet as being very curious and brave. When she brings him to dog parks, Hachiko approaches other canines – even those bigger than him – with no fear.
“He sniffs them and wants to be friends with them. He doesn’t see himself as a small dog,” she said fondly.
Once, his sense of curiosity left her in a state of panic when he ran out of the house compound and went missing.
“No one realised the gate had been left open. When we discovered he was missing, we went around looking for him. We found him five hours later, and it was a big relief. For me, it was five hours of anxiety.”
Looking back over the past two years, Kamini said in reflection: “Humans may judge a person based on their outward appearance, but dogs don’t care about how you look or dress. They adore you for who you are.
“Through Hachiko, I have learnt about unconditional love.”
Follow Hachiko’s adventures via his Instagram profile.
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.