Three years ago, while going on his morning walk, Krishna Rao spotted a dog loitering in the vicinity of an empty house next door. Each time he tried to approach her, she would run away.
Then one day, he saw the dog in a drain. With his wife’s help Krishna attempted to rescue the poor pooch, only for her to hide deeper in the drain, nervous at having seen another unfamiliar human.
Finally, he roped in his daughter, a veterinary student. This time, their efforts were successful – the shy mixed-breed came out from her hiding place and was taken home.
Today, the sweet dog named Hazel is four years old. Despite her initial reticence, she has developed a close relationship with Krishna and his family.
“She is very affectionate, loving, and absolutely loves receiving cuddles and kisses,” Krishna, the manager of Leo’s Pets Cremation and Memorial, told FMT.
Hazel is so attached to them that whenever they go out, she doesn’t hesitate to let her displeasure be known!
“When we get back, she makes sounds as though she is grumbling, asking us, ‘Where did you go?'” he shared with a laugh.
When Krishna and his wife went on vacation once, their daughter informed them that Hazel seemed sad and wasn’t acting like her usual self. She even refused to eat.
“My daughter believes I am a form of security for Hazel,” he said in reflection.
He also describes his pet as “dramatic” – after all, when her food is served late, she sits poutfully in a corner. “But she knows how to be ‘manja’ when she wants dog treats,” the 66-year-old added fondly.
When it comes to pet peeves, Hazel doesn’t fancy taking baths or going to the vet. “Once, my daughter brought her to the vet for dental scaling. She evidently didn’t like it because when she came home, she ignored her for almost two days!”
Hazel also shares her furever home with a feline named Ashley. How do they get along?
“They seem to have a love-hate relationship,” Krishna revealed. “One minute they’re chasing each other, the next minute they’re okay.”
Hazel, he added, “lives like a human being” as she spends most of her time inside the house. But she does enjoy heading outdoors for her favourite activity: sunbathing!
Krishna also describes his pet as being very good at obeying commands. “When I ask her to go into her cage, she’ll listen to me. In fact, my children get annoyed because I’m always saying she is the most obedient person in the house!” he said with a laugh.
“For me, Hazel is like a family member. I am very glad we rescued her from the streets.”
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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.