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The Affectionate Hound

Single or double-storey terrace houses characteristically bound the precincts of Chapel Close, Joo Chiat Rd/ Lane and Koon Seng Rd with narrow lanes separating them. This is a gazetted area where no high-rise is allowed and hence the en-bloc sale of the walk-up apartment I was living in never materialized.

Recently, when I revisited the locality I formerly lived at, I was literally taking a walk down memory lane. Instead of taking the main road, it is not unusual for residents living here to take short-cuts through any of those back alleys to get to their abode.

I had agreed to drop in on my old neighbour who, having sold his flat, would be moving out. To get to his place from the main road, there was no reason why I shouldn’t do what I had customarily done, i.e. I took a short cut through the maze of 5-foot like back lanes.

I had barely set foot on one end of one of the alleys when what appeared to be dog-like form at the other end broke into a run, apparently having caught sight of me. Whatever that creature was in the engulfing hazy twilight, I had only a few seconds to hazard a decision whether to hold my ground or flee. To flee would trigger more strongly the animal’s instinct to give chase and so I squatted as if to pick up an object to throw at the animal. That was when I noticed the canine was wagging it tail.

It's body language was a relief to me as great a rescue ship would be in a stormy sea.

To my amazement, the dog raised itself and placed it front paws on my chest. I wasn't taken aback by its action and responded by gently stroking his forehead. The animal rolled back its ears in acknowledgement and wagged its tail even more vigorously.

I asked myself now what I must do to get myself out of that situation. I couldn’t possibly be patting the dog on and on. Before long, another dog was sighted in a distance strolling nonchalantly up the alley towards us. Apparently more mature, it walked past us and then turned her head to steal a glance at me. For that brief moment, a lump formed in my throat not knowing what to expect from that glance. There certainly hadn't been any welcome gesture from her.

Fortunately for me, she continued her way. Seeing that, the other dog disengaged itself and went in the same direction.

The encounter raised interesting questions on animal behaviour. Why was the dog amicable to a stranger as if unable to discern between its master and a stranger. (It certainly can't be a good watchdog). Could it have been deprived of affection by its owner? Was affection all it wanted?

So much for The (affectionate) Hound of the Baskerville.

posted by Victor Lai @ 10:46 PM