So he bought a Siberian Husky puppy one day and told his family it belonged to a friend. His mother, despite not buying his story, agreed to give the little pooch a fur-ever home.
The pup was lovingly named after everyone’s favourite friendly ghost. And friendly this little guy certainly is!
“He simply loves attention from strangers,” Tan says of Casper, who is three years old this year.
“In fact, when my brother went to the breeder to buy him, there were two puppies. Casper ran up to my brother. That’s why my brother chose him.”
Casper’s overly friendly demeanour has sometimes come at a price. “Once my father took him out for a walk. A dog ran out of another house and wanted to bite Casper.
“My father tried to protect him and got bitten instead, while Casper sat there happily. My father was really annoyed because he thought Casper would chase the other dog away!” Tan laughs.
These days, her father wisely brings along a stick whenever he takes the unapologetically amicable Casper out for a walk.
BFFs
Whenever his humans take him to a dog-friendly park, Casper loves making new friends and playing with the other puppies. He even has two inseparable besties.
“He won’t leave the park if his friends have not arrived. Once, the other dogs’ owner went on a holiday and Casper got really depressed because he could not meet them,” Tan recalls.
Shortly after, Casper, who was already a picky eater, completely lost his appetite and became inactive. It was only after his friends returned that he went back to his normal, happy self.
Casper also has a competitive streak – he doesn’t like it when someone runs more quickly than he does.
“Once, my sister and I took him for a run. When he saw my sister running faster than him, he jumped up and nipped her hand so she wouldn’t overtake him,” she chuckles.
The husky has also shown his resilient side. “When he was only four months old, Casper jumped through the railing of our first-floor stairs. At that time, he didn’t know how to climb down the steps, and I guess he decided to take a shortcut.”
Although he was initially shaken, he was thankfully back to his usual self within a few hours.
While most dogs are afraid of the vet, Casper is an exception: he gets protective and growls whenever the vet assistant goes near the doggy doctor.
“I believe it’s simply because he loves anyone who has known him since he was a puppy,” Tan reflects fondly.
She also tells this amusing story: “Once, he spotted a frog at the park. However, instead of leaping away, the frog stood still.”
Casper curiously crept closer and was caught by surprise when the frog unexpectedly jumped at him. “It was so comical to watch Casper’s reaction!”
This canine with a colourful personality has certainly made an impact on his human family. “He is entertaining company for my parents who spend most of their time at home. In fact, he has become their ‘favourite child’,” she laughs.
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.