When her precious pet dog passed away last year, Thenmoly Raman was devastated. But she had to quickly overcome her grief because her canine left something precious: five newborn puppies who needed a mother’s care.
“She gave birth to them on Sept 1. The following day, she died,” the 36-year-old told FMT.
Despite her sadness, Thenmoly knew she had to step in quickly. “I fed them milk six times a day and would wake up in the wee hours of the morning for their feeding.”
The puppies, who could not even open their eyes, certainly kept her busy. “One of them would cry and I would feed it. Just when that puppy settled down, another one would start crying,” she recalled.
“Still, I didn’t find it difficult because I saw them as my own children.”
The puppies flourished under their human’s tender care. But the time soon came for Thenmoly to find them forever families as she was unable to keep them all.
“They were about three months old, and I made sure I found good homes for them. Until today, I really miss them.”
Thenmoly gave away all the puppies – except one. She decided to keep the pup because it so closely resembled its mother, right down to the facial features and colouring.
She named the little one after its dearly beloved mum – Maxi.
Today, Maxi is a happy seven-month-old who keeps her humans on their toes.
“If my husband and I use our phones around her, she would push our phones away. She also brings us her squeaky toy to alert us that it’s time to pay attention to her,” Thenmoly shared, laughing.
Whenever her humans are in the shower, the adorable pup waits outside the bathroom door.
“But, for some reason, she runs away when I come out – probably thinking I would scold her,” Thenmoly added affectionately.
Perhaps it’s simply because the pooch doesn’t like water. After all, whenever bathtime comes around – which is usually once a week – the cheeky canine tries to run away.
When it comes to meals, Maxi enjoys fried fish with rice. “And because she is teething now, she also likes gnawing on chicken bones,” Thenmoly added, although she knows it is not safe for the pup.
As for bedtimes, unsurprisingly, Maxi sleeps with her humans.
“She wakes at about four or five in the morning and plays with her toys. When she is bored being on her own, she scratches my hands or legs to wake me so I can play with her,” Thenmoly said fondly.
The precocious pupper has already learnt to differentiate between her humans and strangers.
“When my husband arrives at the door, she makes an affectionate sound. But when it’s a stranger, she starts barking to alert us,” Thenmoly explained.
“I feel happy that I have her in my life. Maxi is like my child.”
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.