I learned this was taken from a page of Little Critter children’s book and someone rewrote it. Although I have no idea what the whole story is, I find this nice. It’s about acknowledging your feelings, that negative feelings aren’t there to make you feel bad and weak but to remind you that you are human and alive and here on earth on a journey. That life is filled with ups and downs and you just got to keep hanging on.

Source: The Beautiful Kingdom Warriors

Ever since we adopted Big Puppy, we stopped giving food to the stray dogs, particularly Dog Marga and Survivor Dog.

Big Puppy was sick because of his swollen balls when we adopted him so a portion of our house budget was to help him heal and also to protect our senior dog, Bea, from having it. Whatever that was.

Despite being sick, Big Puppy was a voracious eater, a good sign that his ailment has not affected his appetite, at least not yet. But we know if it worsens, it will. So we need to bring him to a veterinarian.

Fast forward to now, Big Puppy has grown tall and healthy and handsome that kids outside, including those who were supposed to be his family, would call him by his original name, Balmond. Excited to play with him. When before he was treated like nothing.

We were only able to share food with the stray dogs before because of Bea, who always have a leftover. Now that we got two dogs, the food is just enough for them. Sometimes not enough for Big Puppy who has unlimited appetite. We devoted our money, time, and attention in making our dogs healthy, a way to protect us their human family as well.

It was not easy to forget dog Marga and Survivor Dog, especially Marga. Last time I saw them, last year, they have become so thin and had galis, especially Marga. I could see her spine protruding at her back. She looked dirty. They have been neglected by the owners. Dog Marga is the biological mom of Big Puppy while Survivor Dog is Big Puppy’s half-brother. I came up with the name “Survivor Dog” because most of his younger siblings weren’t able to dodge death.

New year.

On 7 January 2023, a Saturday, I found in our mailbox two water bills. I was surprised why there were two bills and when I checked that the other one was supposed to be for the house behind us, located at the next street, since I was off to go somewhere, I took it with me to deliver it to the house behind our house.

While trekking the rough road to go to the other street, I passed by the house of one of our neighbors. And there, at this what seemed like a cottage in front of their house, I saw them, Marga and Survivor Dog. I quickly thought of taking a picture of them but when Marga saw me, she rushed to approach me. That is why in this picture, you can see Survivor Dog and only Marga’s tail at the foreground.

That’s Marga’s white tail.

So happy to know that they are alright and alive! And okay with my neighbor.

As I proceed with my trekking because of the rough road, the two followed me. They were my companions as I go to this address of the water bill.

Reached the house, no one was there, but there were two construction workers I saw working along the road, across the house, I asked where the owner is, told them their water bill was put in our mailbox.

This is a pet peeve, I am guessing the mailman went to that house as well but because there was no one, he left the bill at, unfortunately, our house. (Update: I have discovered the reason why. It is because the water meter of the neighbor was installed at the front of our house, beside our water meter. I recalled a man asking permission if they could put their water supply near us, I realized too late that he was referring to their water meter.)

Not the first time this happened. The first time it happened that I have received a billing of another neighbor, I paid for it. I did not look at the name, that’s why.

One of the construction workers replied that they do not know the owner of the house. They requested me to just insert it by the gate.

Dog Marga and Survivor Dog still went with me to where I needed to go. So I had the time to stop and greet them again.

I was so happy that dog Marga has put on weight. They are probably being fed now by people who are supposed to be their family. If not, a neighbor might be feeding them well. Dog Marga remains unbathed but I am happy to see her well.

Survivor Dog who used to be aloof around me now lets me rub his head. Does “absence makes the heart grow fonder” the message here? I do not know but I was happy Survivor Dog was warm to me. It has been a long time.