Old Yeller

Recently a friend of mine from the States told me that her beloved family dog passed away. It’s very sad, I knew this wonderful guy, and he had a very pleasant disposition. You develop attachments to your pets for so many different reasons, they’re a part of your family, they are friends to you when you are alone, and you’ve put a great deal into their life as well, so there’s an investment of time and money. Attachment to an animal like that doesn’t happen here often, and I’ve tried to follow suit for the most part.

I’m worried about my dog. Sini’s leg has had a nasty open spot on her front leg; I guess it’s her elbow. It’s been there for months and it doesn’t really look infected I guess, but it’s not looking any better either. I’ve tried helping her by taking her to the ocean and cleaning it out with salt water, I even tried wrapping it a couple of times with ointment on it, but she always takes the wrap off…silly Sini. So the ugly open flesh is still exposed to the dirt and flies.

She doesn’t seem to be in pain or favor the leg, I just see her lick it and clean it now and then. I’m at the point that I hope she’ll be fine, but there’s not much I can do beyond that outside of flying her to Tongatapu or something, but I’m afraid my living allowance doesn’t cover those kinds of expenses. I just have to remember she’s a dog; a living being that, like all living beings, will cease to live eventually. She’s had a good life for a dog in Tonga, better than most dogs; I’m sure I’ve explained the normal standard of living for dogs here before.

As hard as I try to not be too attached or too ‘palangi’ over her…I don’t want my dog to be in pain, let alone die. I find her very annoying some days and I forget how great she is, how smart she is, and how much she enriches my life here. Sini is the first dog I’ve ever had that does what she’s told (excluding when she’s told not to chase pigs, cats, and horses), but she sits, stays, fetches, and most importantly she takes her duty of protecting me and my house very seriously. I will never feel unsafe when she is around. Sini is as faithful as Old Yeller, and I only hope things work out better than him and his owner.

I’m especially concerned with leaving her for almost a month while I’m in America. I’m not so much concerned that something will happen because I’m not here; I feel that if something did go wrong with her leg or something it would happen whether I’m here or not. I just don’t want anything to happen and not be here for her, does make sense...sigh, life is life.
Pretty sure there’s another rat in my house again too, butt hole.