ALTER EGO

Lawyers' Best Friend
A professional pet-sitter? When I heard that my friend Benjamin's sister, Adeline Ang, runs a pet-sitter business, I quickly told my wife about it.

'So, can we get a dog now? We can get Adeline to help with our dog whilst we are out,' I asked eagerly. I love dogs. My wife does not. She thinks that a dog will not suit our busy lifestyles and will become depressed. And she is worried that like many children, I will get tired of the novelty of a pet in a short space of time and she will be burdened with the chore of looking after the dog. Although my various applications to her for a dog purchase have been dismissed so far, I have not given up and have been trying to slowly win over my wife to grant me 'orders-in-terms' to my application.

I pointed out to her that the housing estate we live in is dog friendly. The dogs hang out with their owners at the nearby eateries. The estate even has its own pet safari shop. Once I even suggested that we get a maid to baby-sit the dog. And I was quickly pointed to the number of maids who walk the dog by sitting in the park chatting with their friends or talking on the mobile.

'So, did Adeline say that a dog will fit in with our lifestyle?' my wife asked suddenly.
'Well, she says that we can work around it.' The fact is Adeline agrees with my wife. According to her, dogs don't do well if they are left alone a lot of the time. They love company and need lots of exercise and mental stimulation. When they are lonely or bored, they get stressed. They start chewing up your expensive shoes, destroying furniture, going on endless howling sessions and treating your living room carpet as their toilet. These are authorities that I did not want my wife to hear.

I quickly moved on and told her about Adeline's pet-sitting business. While she was working as Associate Director for Alumni Relations at the NUS Law Faculty a few years ago, Adeline started helping friends to look after their pets while they were away. Before she knew it, strangers were calling her to sit their pets. Not being able to cope, she went into full-time pet-sitting.

'She goes to her clients' homes and takes care of their pets for about an hour each time. She feeds and cleans them, gives them a lot of attention and 'sayangs' them. She takes the dogs on long walks and plays with the cats,' I tendered further evidence.

But my wife was not won over. I persisted. Adeline suggests cats as an alternative as they are apt at entertaining themselves. Or maybe even rabbits who are great companions. They are friendly if properly socialised and can be toilet-trained.

'CATS!' my wife shrieked.

I again changed course and shared about how lawyers waiting in the Courts would trade stories and information about their pets. Such conversations are often interlaced with broad smiles and laughter even on a Monday morning.

'I think dogs create a positive impact in lawyers' lives. Would you want me to be happy and less stressed or would you rather I burn out and quit law?'

I submitted further arguments by reminding her about how happy my lawyer friends who are great pet lovers are. One of them refers to her dogs as her 'children'. Another friend who is about to emigrate has made plans to return to Singapore regularly to check on her aged dogs.

The wife rolled her eyes. 'You are already so busy. You don't even have time for your newborn nephew,' she reminded me.

I ignored her and proceeded to tell her that Adeline says that dogs give us a lifetime of love and companionship. 'She says that there is nothing quite like the enthusiastic greeting you get from your dog, even if you have just gone downstairs to check the mailbox. Won't that be nice to come home to? And you will have company when I am out at work. Isn't that really nice?'

My wife must have heard enough arguments. She sat me down and told me what I had conveniently left out from my e-mail exchange with Adeline. A pet is a serious responsibility. Once you bring it home, you are responsible for its physical and emotional well-being until it passes away. And dogs are a good complement but not a substitute for people. Lastly, she asked me whether I was prepared to make a major lifestyle change so that we can fit a dog into our lives.

I just listened silently and sulked. That's what you do when an unfavourable judgment is delivered.

'So, tell me more about Adeline,' my wife asked, to fill in the awkward silence that arises during some unpleasant discussions that couples have. And also because she likes to hear me talk about the people I meet.

Adeline was a pupil of Sant Singh, SC. She describes him as a master of the art and craft of advocacy and an excellent teacher. She later worked with George Lim whom she says is a wonderful teacher and a shining example of how you can be a good person and a great lawyer at the same time. 'I always tell people that if I had stayed in practice, I would have gladly worked for George throughout my career.' She left law practice after two years. This was followed by a stint as Communications Director at the Law Society and then Associate Director for Alumni Relations at the NUS Law Faculty. And now, she is the owner of a busy pet-sitting business which has a predominant expatriate clientele.

Animals of all kinds are her passion in life. She has taken care of a guinea pig who only eats organic vegetables. He can even tell the difference between locally grown cucumbers from the expensive imported ones.

In the meantime, my interim solution is to have a huge stuffed dog which sits majestically on my daybed! I have named her after the wife, hoping that it will make her more dog-friendly. The dog wears a huge black t-shirt from Ireland. She is the last thing we see when we leave the house and the first thing we see when we get in. Sad, isn't it? But at least she doesn't need maintenance. I will not go into the details of our relationship.

And being a lawyer, I will not give up filing further dog purchase applications to my wife. It is all about filing at the opportune time. Till then, I shall take up Adeline's suggestion and do my research on dog training and behaviour.

Adeline's Tips for New Dog Owners
1. Buy a pet from an animal shelter or rescue group.

2. Do not buy a dog from the pet shop as they come from puppy mills.

3. Ensure that your pet has the same energy as you and fits into your lifestyle. If you are a Nintendo fan, don't get a Jack Russell who is also known as the energizer bunny of the dog world!

4. A dog obedience school is essential. Find a trainer who suits both your dog and you.

5. A good research book is Cesar Millan's, Cesar's Way.

6. After getting a dog, take two weeks off from work to train your dog intensively. Teach him your house rules and who is boss.

7. If you are away from home most of the day, give your dog a good long walk for about one hour in the morning and evening. Do brisk walking to work up a sweat and use up the dog's pent-up energy.

8. If a dog can speak, it may say: 'While we are a part of your world, you are the entire world to us. Please remember that we are sentient beings and not toys. All we want is for you to love us as much as we love you.'

9. Dogs don't really fancy the pet spa and pedicures. Forget expensive scented shampoo baths for your dogs. Replace it with yummy home cooked meals that are available at the pet cafes.

10. If you have children who are begging for a dog, send them to an animal shelter to volunteer during their school holidays. This will make them understand that keeping a dog is hard work and serious business. Then ask them whether they really want a dog afterall.

Rajan Chettiar
Rajan Chettiar & Co
E-mail: rajan@rajanchettiar.com