Our Cinderella Boy ❤

The Saturday started ordinarily enough with the skies threatening to pour, and dampening our chance of walking the lovely canine friends at Gentle Paws. It was my first opportunity to volunteer at the shelter, and rain isn’t going to cut it! Determined, ST and myself went down to the shelter that came with treasure hunting instructions to find it (“Look for the row of really expensive bonsai plants and a pile of chairs and tables, locate the gate that is unlocked, and go past a water point to another gate with the logo, Gentle Paws!”).

Many curious barks ensued as we entered. We were given a tour by an experienced volunteer, Joey, and took a peek at a litter of very cute wriggly puppies right at the end of the row. Not quite tiny as to fit on a hand, but diminutive enough to look like a pea compared to the other friends in the kennel, the puppies moved around sluggishly in the humid heat that we are so acquainted with in binary weather Singapore (Rain / Scorching).

ST wanted to help bath the puppies after our short stint in bathing Rosie, and I tagged along as well. Upon entering, the puppies looked up at us with eyes like this:

We had a very fun task ahead of us : Grabbing the little furries for a bath! They weren’t very fast moving, and are grudgingly obliging as you hold them still and soap them proper.

Daro was the first puppy I bathed, and I stared at wonderment at his sweet friendly nature as he licked my face in pure joy as I towel him dry.

We ended up spending the rest of the day with the puppies till the shelter was closed — The time flew by as the little cuties surround us!

In particular, one of them stood out with his impossibly inquisitive nature and sweetness:

As I have never taken care of a puppy before, I was hesitant as I am unsure if we could provide him with adequate care he needs. Over the next few days, I peppered Daro in all my conversations with family and friends, and discussed extensively on how we could have him as the newest addition to our family.

A few days later, I rang up to enquire if Daro has been adopted, secretly hoping that he hadn’t (haha, evil me, i know). Unsurprisingly, Gentle Paws had a few enquiries about Daro, having organized an adoption drive that week. I asked if I could bring Oats to the shelter and see Daro again the same week, and bring him home for the homestay. Confident that Oats would love this little friend as much as I did when I first saw him, we were set on inviting Daro into our lives. :D

The night before, I customized a shoulder carry bag to bring Daro home, so that he could fit snugly in his new towel as we travel to his new home and was so excited I couldn’t sleep!

On that day, all the volunteers came out to see Daro off, and many good bye kisses and hugs ensued — Daro is clearly a darling to everyone who is there. ❤

As i write this, i wryly noted that Daro has outgrown his first carrier bag (<2 weeks after I first picked him up in my shoulder bag). :P

Daro’s Unusual Introduction to Home

Daro was nothing like what you would imagine a puppy to be. One, he is extremely obedient, almost to a fault. We were worried when he moved around the house with the same big curious eyes, dead quiet — no whining, no barking, whatsoever. He would then move back to his little bed and snuggle within the soft folds of his towel and slip into lala dreamland.

After some hits and misses, we finally understood his preferred potty training method, and Daro became potty trained in 1 day. Yes. No kidding. He doesn’t bite furniture like we would expect him to, instead preferring to chew his soft rocket toy, and his favorite dried pig’s ear. What are the chances! (For puppy owners, this might be the equivalent of striking lottery, i know ;))

Daro worked his charm around the family and had everyone cooing him as the ultimate “hansum sweetie” — As he magically grows out of his tub bed that he first came in a matter of days, we look on and find ourselves grinning silly every time he twitch his nose in mid-dream, and count our lucky stars to have him in our lives.

The volunteers at Gentle Paws wrote about Daro’s adoption as a Cinderella story as he gets a new family and safe loving home — To us, our fairytale have just begun with him, and we hope to give him all our love for the rest of his life. ❤

Love to have a canine friend like Daro? Adopt, Don’t Buy. :)