Few things to consider before owning a dog

Ada beberapa hal yang perlu dipertimbangkan sebelum memiliki seekor anjing.

There are few things need to be consider before owning a dog.

Kenapa?

Why?

Karena anjing bukanlah benda mati.

Because a dog is not a thing.

Dari pada nantinya jadi kewalahan atau menyesal, perhatikanlah hal-hal di bawah ini.

Better pay attention to these points than to have things go wrong or bring regret in the future.

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Anjing hiasan atau Anjing penjaga

Anjing hiasan atau dalam istilah saya, anjing pajangan, contohnya adalah anjing pudel, pomeranian, shitzu, spaniel.

Sementara anjing penjaga contohnya anjing herder, pitbul, rottweiler, labrador. 

Gimana caranya supaya bisa tahu mana yang cocok untuk kamu?

Ah, harus lihat gimana tipe kepribadian kamu karena disadari atau tidak, disengaja atau tidak, kepribadian seseorang ikut berperan ketika dia memilih seekor anjing untuk dipeliharanya.

Kalau kamu seorang perempuan bertipe cewek banget alias feminin seratus persen, demen dengan segala sesuatu yang lucu dan imut.. nah, kamu lebih cocok memelihara anjing hiasan.

Tapi kalau kamu perempuan dan kamu tipe macho alias tomboy atau cowok yang maskulin banget.. anjing jenis penjaga pas buat kamu.

Trus kalau saya? Pilihan saya dari dulu sampai sekarang adalah anjing jenis macho tapi tidak terlalu gahar. Pitbul, herder dan rotweiler terlalu nakutin buat saya. Labrador dan golden retriever itu cucok buat saya.

Lap dog or Watch dog

The type of lap dogs for examples are poodle, pomeranian, shitzu, spaniel.

While german shepherd, pitbull, rottweiler, labrador are the types of watch dog.

So how would you know which dog suits you?

Now, you have to see your personality because a person's personality plays quite a big role in choosing a dog whether he/she awares of it or not. 

So if you are a very feminine female and you adore everything that small and cute.. lap dog suits you.

But if you are a tomboy female or a masculine man.. well, watch dog is definitely your kind of dog.

How about myself? Well, I like the macho dog but not the intimidating type such as german shepherd, pitbull and rottweiler. Labrador and golden retriever are my favorite.

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Anjing ras, campuran atau kampung

Anjing ras butuh makanan, perawatan dan lingkungan khusus yang biasanya tidak murah. Contoh, makanannya tidak boleh sembarangan. Harus dog food atau daging. Untuk seminggu saja budgetnya bisa ratusan ribu buat makanan. Belum lagi buat vitaminnya, sabun, shampo. Kalau ogah mandiin sendiri harus bawa ke pet shop buat dimandikan sekaligus bulu dan kuku kakinya dipotong. Nah, berapa itu biayanya? Bisa ratusan ribu lagi keluar dari dompet.

Anjing campuran (ras + kampung) biasanya yang paling enak untuk dipelihara. Penampilan dan ukurannya condong ke ras tapi badannya lebih tahan banting seperti anjing kampung. Itu yang bikin saya lebih suka memelihara anjing campuran.

One is a mongrel and two are mixed dogs

Anjing kampung adalah jenis yang paling gampang untuk dipelihara. Kesehatannya prima. Makannya apa saja bisa. Bahkan tulang ayam pun ok. Umurnya juga rata-rata lebih panjang dari anjing ras. Dan kalau dipelihara dengan baik, penampilannya bisa jadi mirip anjing ras atau campuran. 

Pedigree, mixed or mongrel dog

Pedigree dog needs special food, treatment and environment which is not cheap. For example, it can't have any kind of food. It must be dog food or meat. It costs hundreds of rupiah a week just for its food. Not to mention for the vitamin, soap, shampoo. If you don't want to bath it yourself then you have to bring it to pet shop to be bathed and groomed. How much will it cost? Will take another hundreds of rupiah.

Mixed breed dog (pedigree + mongrel) is the easiest one to care. Its appearance and size is more like a pedigree but it is stronger like mongrel. It is why I prefer this type of dog. 

Mongrel is the easiest to care. It has top health. It eats anything. Even chicken bone is ok for it. It can also live longer than other breed. And if it gets good care its appearance may look like a pedigree or mixed dog.

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Ukuran

Para penyuka anjing hiasan pasti memilih anjing berukuran kecil karena beberapa alasan kepraktisan seperti makannya tidak banyak, tidak butuh shampo atau sabun yang banyak, enteng buat digendong, tidak perlu kandang besar dan saking kecilnya malah bisa dimasukkan ke dalam tas.

Sementara mereka yang suka pada anjing penjaga pasti memilih anjing yang besar dan tinggi karena terlihat gagah dan bisa mengintimidasi orang sehingga cocok untuk berfungsi sebagai penjaga rumah dan pelindung pemiliknya.

Nah, kata orang nih, anjing berukuran kecil bisa bikin maling jiper karena bawel menggonggong tapi kalau buat saya anjing ukuran secuil gampang sekali untuk dilumpuhkan.

Soalnya gini, dulu saya pernah datang ke rumah seseorang yang memelihara anjing hiasan yang tidak henti-hentinya menggonggongi saya. Bener-bener bikin kesal dan kuping mau tuli rasanya jadi sewaktu pemiliknya tidak melihat, saya pukul pantat si kontet itu sekeras-kerasnya dengan memakai majalah yang saya gulung (ya, biar pun saya suka anjing tapi ada anjing tertentu yang menurut saya kurang didikan kesopanan atau kedisiplinan). Nah anyway, begitu pantatnya kena hajaran majalah, si kontet langsung menguik-nguik, buntutnya masuk ke selangkangan, dia lari dan ngumpet ke kolong meja. Jiah, pikir saya, payah lu. Bacot doang berisik, nyali lo segede ukuran badan lo. 

Tapi coba kalau yang menggongongi saya itu anjing berukuran besar apalagi kalau jenis yang gahar macam herder atau pitbull. Widih, bisa diterkam saya kalau saya berani mukul pantatnya. Hehe.

Size

Those who like lap dog are likely choosing small dog for few practical reasons such as it eats less, needs less shampo and soap, it is light so it gets easier to be carried, doesn't need big cage and it can even put into a handbag.

Others who opt for watch dog are surely pick bigger and taller dog because it looks tough and intimidating so it is perfect to be the house and master's guard.

It is said that small dog makes burglar nervous for its noisy barking but for me it is easy to KO small dog.

So I once visited somebody who has a small dog. It kept barking at me and it was really annoying and I couldn't even hear myself talking because of its loud barking so when the owner didn't see I smacked that dwarf dog's butt as hard as I could using a rolled magazine (ok, so I like dogs but there are few of them that I think don't receive proper education on manner and dicipline). Well anyway, after its butt got a real hard smack, it yelped, its tail was tucked, it ran off and hid under a table. Man, I thought to myself, you're pathetic. Your gut is exactly the size of your body.

But if it was a big dog that barked at me, I would think twice about whacking its butt fearing it would tear me into pieces. Lol.

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Kepribadian dan sifat anjing

Anjing itu mirip sama orang. Ada yang tenang, ada yang hiperaktif. Ada yang cuek, ada yang penuh rasa ingin tahu. Ada yang ramah, ada yang curigaan. Ada yang pendiam, ada yang bawel. Ada yang penurut, ada yang kepala batu. Ada yang manis, ada yang jahil. Ada yang nyantai, ada yang ngambekan. Ada yang malas makan, ada yang lapar mulu. Ada yang resik, ada yang doyan ngacak-ngacak.

Gimana kita tahu kepribadian dan sifat si anjing? Ya sebaiknya sih, kita harus tahu emak dan bapak dulu supaya kita bisa dapat bayangan kira-kira kepribadian dan sifat anak-anak mereka itu kayak apa.

Tapi kalau anjingnya kita beli atau nemu di jalan atau dikasih orang, yah, kita baru akan tahu kepribadian dan sifatnya setelah hidup bareng.

Gimana kalau tidak suka sama kepribadian atau sifat si anjing? Well, kalau dasarnya sayang, belajarlah untuk bisa menerima, memahami dan berkompromi satu dengan lainnya.

The dog's personality and characters

Dogs and human are alike. Some are calm, others are hyperactive. One is unbothered while another is full with curiosity. There are friendly type and suspicious ones. The quiet vs the noisy. Those who are obedient and those who are stubborn. The sweet, the rascal. Ones who are easy going and ones who have bad tantrum. The picky eaters while others have great appetite. The tidy type and the unneat type.

How do we know a dog's personality and character? It would be better to first know its mother and father so we could get a picture about their children's personality and characters.

However, if you bought that dog or  adopted a stray dog or got it from somebody then its personality and characters will be revealed after it stays with you.

How if you dislike its personality and characters? Well, if it is love that made you took it into your life then got to learn to accept, understand and compromise each other.

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Tempat tinggal

Kamu tinggal di mana? Rumah? Apartemen? Tempat kost? Asrama? Numpang? Ngontrak?

Kecuali rumahmu sendiri, tempat-tempat yang lain biasanya tidak mengijinkan penghuni atau penyewa untuk memelihara anjing.

Biar pun tinggal di rumah famili, jangan mikir yang punya rumah akan oke saja kamu punya atau mengadopsi anjing. 

Kalau bukan rumah sendiri, lebih baik tanya dulu sebelum membawa atau memelihara anjing. Dari pada nanti tidak boleh kan jadi bisa bahan bertengkar atau pikirkan bagaimana nasib si anjing, masa harus dikasih ke orang lain atau dibuang?

Living place

Are you living in a house? Apartment? Flat? Dormitory? Staying in other people's place? Rented house?

With the exception of your own house, other places usually don't allow tenants to have dogs.

Even if it is your own relative's place don't think they would be okay of having you keeping a dog.

So if it is not your own house it is better to ask first if it is allowed to bring or have a dog. It is to avoid quarrel or think what would happen to the dog, would you be forced to give it to somebody else or throw it to the street?

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Lingkungan

Kamu tinggal di lingkungan yang padatkah? Toleran atau anti pada anjing?

Kalau iya, bisa ada kemungkinan anjingmu berikut kamu dan seisi rumahmu dimusuhi orang sekampung, belum lagi resiko kamu diminta untuk pindah atau anjingmu diracun.

Neighborhood

Do you live in dense neighborhood? Does it have tolerant to dog or not?

If you do, there can be possibility your dog along with you and people who live with you get hostile respond from people from the neighborhood, not to mention the risk of you being asked to move to other place or your dog could be poisoned.

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Ruang Gerak

Setiap anjing butuh ruang gerak jadi kalau tempat tinggalmu ukurannya secuil tanpa teras depan atau belakang, si anjing bisa stress dan stress bisa bikin dia hilang selera makan atau jadi murung atau malah jadi nakal luar biasa.

So, dia harus diajak jalan keluar minimal sekali sehari supaya dia bisa pipis, pup, bergerak, dapat udara segar, ketemu banyak orang atau ketemu anjing-anjing lain. Dengan cara ini dia jadi sehat dan bahagia. Untuk anjing yang hiperaktif tentu saja jalan keluar ini berguna buat mengurangi enerjinya yang seabrek-abrek.

Bahkan sekali pun tempat tinggalmu besar tapi tetap saja anjingmu harus dibawa jalan keluar rumah supaya dia tidak bete terkurung di dalam rumah saja.

Space

Every dog needs space so if your living quarters are small without front or back yard, it can be stressfull for the dog and stress can make it lose its appetite or become depressed or become extremely naughty.

So it must be taken out for a walk so it can pee, poop, get some exercise, get fresh air, meet lots of people or meet other dogs. This makes it healthy and happy. For hyperactive dogs it's a way to burn its lots of energy.

Even if you live in a big place taking your dog for a walk is a must to prevent it from getting bored of having to stay home all the time.

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Pekerjaan

Ada jenis pekerjaan yang bikin orang harus sering keluar kota atau keluar negeri. Ada lagi pekerjaan yang bikin orang tidak bisa tinggal lama di satu kota atau negara.

Kalau punya pekerjaan seperti itu sebaiknya jangan punya anjing.

Soalnya, siapa yang mau mengurusi anjing itu kalau ditinggal pergi keluar kota atau keluar negeri selama berhari-hari? Mau dititipin ke orang lain? Bisa dipercayakah orang yang dititipi itu?

Mau dititipkan ke petshop atau ke tempat penitipan anjing? Ongkos penitipannya tidak murah lho.

Mau dibawa pulang? Kalau mau pakai jasa pengiriman hewan peliharaan, biayanya pasti juga tidak murah. 

Jadi ya.. pikir baik-baik deh kalau mau pelihara anjing dengan kondisi pekerjaan seperti itu.

Occupation

There are jobs that makes people have to frequently go out of town or go overseas. Other jobs makes people can't stay long in one city or in one country.

If you happen to have a job like this then don't have a dog.

The thing is who is going to take care the dog if you have to go out of town or go overseas for days? Do you want to leave it under someone's care? Can that person be trusted? 

You want to leave it in petshop or in dog's care service? It won't come cheap, you know.

You want to take it back home with you? Pet mover service is not cheap.

So yeah.. think twice before having a dog if you have this kind of job.

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Agama

Perlu diketahui bahwa ada agama tertentu yang menempatkan anjing dalam daftar hewan najis.

So, kalau kamu adalah penganut dari agama tersebut tapi kamu suka dan sayang banget sama anjing.. hmm.. kamu harus siap menerima komentar dan penilaian yang tidak enak dari sesama penganut agamamu.

Apalagi kalau kamu memutuskan untuk memelihara anjing. Kamu harus benar-benar siap mental karena itu artinya kamu berenang menentang arus. Siapkah menghadapi resiko dan konsekuensinya?

Religion

Please noted that there is a particular religion that puts dog in the list of impure animal.

So if you are a believer of that religion but you like and love dogs so much.. hmm.. you must prepare to get unpleasant comment and jugdgement from your fellow believers.

Especially if you decide to have a dog. You really have to be mentally prepared because it means you are going to swim against the current. Are you prepared to face the risk and consequencies?

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Biaya

Memelihara anjing perlu biaya yang tidak sedikit. Untuk makan misalnya, kalau lauknya adalah ayam maka diperlukan dana sekitar Rp.128.000,- sebulan kalau ayam itu bisa bertahan selama seminggu dan dengan asumsi harga sekilo ayam adalah Rp.32.000,-. 

Kalau makanan utamanya adalah dog food, yah, bersiaplah untuk merogoh kantong lebih dalam karena harga dog food termurah yang pernah saya beli adalah Rp.35.000 perkilo.

Lalu harus juga diperhitungkan biaya untuk perawatannya seperti sabun mandinya, shampo, vitamin, grooming (cukur), vaksin, steril, cemilan dan mainannya. Belum lagi kalau si anjing sakit. Ada biaya buat dokter, obat dan transport pulang pergi untuk membawa dia ke dokter.

=> The left is medicine receipt from the doctor to cure Billy & Bella's skin problem.
It's a part from doctor's bill & transportation fee.
=> The right is receipt from the hospital when Billy's spine was bend. Exclude round transportation fee.

Ada anjing-anjing jenis tertentu yang tidak neko-neko. Makannya gampang. Jarang sakit. Bulu pendek. Ini cocok untuk orang yang tidak mau ribet dan dana terbatas.

Cost

Having a dog can be costly. For its meal for example, it needs about Rp.128.000 a month if it has chicken as its main dish. Assuming it consumes a kilo of chicken a week and assuming a kilo of chicken is Rp.32.000,-.

If its main dish is dog food then it will cost you more because the cheapest dog food I ever bought is Rp.35.000 a kilo.

Another things that will cost you is for the dog's care such as the soap, shampoo, vitamin, grooming, vaccine, sterilize, snacks and toys. Not to mention if the dog is ill. There will be costs for doctors, medicine and round transportation to take it to the doctor.

There are types of dog which are easy going. It eats anything. Rarely get sick. Short fur. So they are suitable for those who want dog that needs simple care and inexpensive cost.

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Vaksin

Setiap anjing perlu divaksin. Kalau kamu tinggal di lingkungan yang padat penduduknya dan ada banyak anjing atau lingkungan rumahmu kurang bersih.. anjingmu rentan terkena virus-virus penyakit jadi vaksin itu mau tidak mau memang harus.

Source: www.caninejournal.com

Vaccine

Every dog needs to be vaccinated. If you live in dense neighborhood and there are many dogs or your house surrounding has poor hygiene.. it makes your dog vulnerable to viruses so vaccine is definitely a must.

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Steril

Punya anjing betina? Atau mungkin malah punya anjing sepasang jantan dan betina?

Kalau si betina atau si jantan tidak disteril bisa beranak pinak nantinya. Seekor anjing betina bisa melahirkan 2-7 anak anjing.

Anak anjing memang lucu, cyn, tapi buat memeliharanya tidak gampang dan tidak murah. Sanggupkah memelihara kalau anjingmu melahirkan misalnya 7 anak anjing berikut induk dan mungkin juga sekalian jantannya?

Sterile

Have a female dog? Or you probably even have a male and female dogs?

If you don't sterilize one of them, you'd be facing a possibility of them multiplaying. A female dog can give birth to 2-7 pups. 

Puppy is funny, no doubt about that, but it is not easy and cheap to care for it. If your dog give birth to, say, 7 pups then can you care for those pups, their mom and probably also their dad?

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Haid

Sama seperti manusia, anjing betina juga mengalami haid. Ada yang umur 6 bulan sudah haid. Ada yang baru haid pada umur 14 bulan.

Repotnya adalah tidak ada pembalut untuk anjing. Kalau pun ada, tidak semua petshop menjualnya jadi biasanya para pemilik anjing mengakalinya dengan memakaikan pampers anak. Kesulitan datang saat mencari pampers yang pas karena yang dijual umumnya berdasarkan umur, berat badan atau ukuran S-M-L-XL.

Kesulitan kedua adalah tidak semua anjing mau dipakaikan pampers.

Kalau dia menolak memakai pampers sementara dia bebas berkeliaran di dalam rumah dan tidur di kasur pemiliknya.. yah, itu artinya harus rajin mengepel lantai dan mengganti seprei.

Karena Bella ogah pakai pampers akhirnya kita sulap celana dalam bekas buat dia. Masih juga dia ga suka.
"Yuk sini.., makan biskuit, Bella" papa ngebujuk.
Bella refused to wear diaper so we came up with the idea of this pants for her. She still didn't like it.
"Come.., have some biscuits, Bella" my dad tried to soothe her.

Hal lain yang bisa bikin pusing kepala adalah selama haid si anjing bisa jadi malas, maunya tidur, lesu, hilang selera makan dan beberapa bahkan bisa jadi manja, galak atau ngambekan.

Periode haid ini berlangsung bisa sampai lebih dari 3 minggu. Kabar baiknya adalah ini tidak berlangsung setiap bulan. Setahun hanya sekali atau maksimal dua kali.

Haid

Just like human, female dog gets menstruation. Some gets it at 6 months old. Others have it for the first time at 14 months old.

The problem is there is not sanitary napkin for dog. If there is, not all pet shop sells it so dog's owner usually use baby or todler diaper. Now looking for the one that fits is quite challenging because diaper usually comes in size based on age, weigh or S-M-L-XL measurement. 

Another challange comes when the dog refuse to wear diaper.

If it gets in and out the house freely plus it sleeps in its owner's bed.. well, it means gotta mop the floor and change the bedsheet often.

One more thing to add diziness is facing the dog's change of behavior and mood. It becomes lazy, sleepy, moody, dependant of fierce.

This menstrual cycle can go for 3 weeks. The good news is it doesn't go monthly. It can go for once or twice at max in a year.

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Keamanan

Untuk pemilik anjing: ada resiko anggota tubuh bisa jadi lebam, lecet atau malah luka karena tergigit atau tercakar ketika sedang melakukan aktivitas bersama anjing itu.

Resiko lain yang harus dihadapi oleh pemilik anjing adalah menerima sikap antipati atau permusuhan dari anggota keluarganya sendiri atau dari lingkungannya tidak menyukai kehadiran si anjing.

Untuk si anjing: kemungkinan diracun, diculik, dilempari batu atau dibunuh oleh orang-orang di sekitar tempat tinggal pemiliknya atau oleh anggota keluarga atau kenalan dari pemiliknya sendiri.

Di dalam rumah pun seekor anjing belum tentu aman karena ada banyak benda-benda yang bisa membahayakan dirinya. Jadi letakkan benda-benda seperti kabel, kayu, bambu, plastik, kain, mainan dalam ukuran kecil, segala macam sabun, sabut pencuci piring, cairan pembersih, paku, peniti, jarum, gunting, oli dll di tempat yang aman yang tidak bisa dijangkau oleh anjingmu.

Safety

For the dog's owner: risks of getting bruises, scars or wounds from being bitten or scratched when interact with the dog.

For the dog: there are possibilities of being poisoned, abducted, thrown by stone or even killed by people around the neighborhood or by owner's family member or by owner's acquaintance.

Even in a house a dog is not completely safe because there are things that may bring harm to it. So put things like cable, wood, bamboo, plastick, cloth, small size of toys, all kinds of soap, washing sponge, cleaning liquids, nail, pin, needle, sccissors, oil in place that can't be reached by your dog.

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Kebersihan

Ada anjing di rumah berarti tidak boleh malas membersihkan rumah.  

Kenapa? Karena anjing tidak pakai celana, jadi bekas pipis atau pupnya bisa menetes atau menempel di lantai, di sofa, di seprei.

Bekas-bekas makanannya pun bisa berceceran di lantai. Kalau cuma remah-remah yang kering tidak masalah tapi kalau nasi atau daging tercecer di lantai dan terinjak bisa meninggalkan noda dan kalau sudah kering susah dibersihkan.

Bulu dan serpihan kulit anjing bisa berhamparan dimana-mana.

Habis hujan atau habis main di atas tanah? Hmm.. Masuk rumah, meninggalkan cap telapak kaki berlumpur dimana-mana.

Anjing tidak mandi setiap hari seperti manusia. Bau badannya bisa menempel dibagian mana pun di dalam rumah.

Intinya adalah punya anjing artinya rumah bisa jadi lebih kotor dan bau. Kalau ada tamu datang kan malu juga dia lihat rumah kotor dan hidungnya mencium bau tidak sedap.

Selain itu tentunya rumah yang bersih akan menghindarkan penghuninya (manusia dan hewan) dari berbagai penyakit.

Dan jangan lupa untuk menjaga kebersihan diri. Setelah bermain atau membersihkan hewan peliharaan serta sebelum makan, tangan tentunya harus selalu dicuci.

Hygiene

Having a dog at home means you must clean the house regularly.

Why? Because dog doesn't wear underwear so its pee or poop may spilled on the floor, on the sofa, on the bedsheet.

Food crumbs may also spilled on the floor. It's not a problem if it is dry crumbs but if it is rice or meat and someone stepped on it will leave stain and when it is dry it is really hard to come off.

Dog's fur and skin flakes are spreaded everywhere.

It is just rained or just played on the yard? Hmm.. once it gets into the house it left muddy paws marks everywhere.

Dog doesn't bath everyday. It leaves its body odor around the house.

The thing is having a dog can make the house dirty and smelly. It is quite a shame when a guest come and see how dirty and smelly the house is.

Apart from that, a clean house prevents people and pets who live there from illnesses.

And don't forget to keep self hygiene. Wash your hand after you play or clean your pet, also before eating.

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Ketika aku bukan anjing yang dulu lagi

Ketika tiba-tiba si anjing sakit atau terjadi kecelakaan yang membuat dia jadi cacat, lemah, tidak berdaya dan dia membutuhkan perawatan ekstra karena dia tidak bisa makan sendiri, tidak bisa berjalan untuk pipis dan pup di luar rumah.

Apa yang akan kamu lakukan? Akankah kasih sayangmu berkurang atau malah hilang? Bersediakah kamu tetap menerima keadaan anjingmu walau dia tidak lagi bisa menjadi anjing yang dulu sebelum dia sakit atau sebelum terjadi kecelakaan?

Hidup Billy dan juga hidup kami berubah sejak ruas tulang punggungnya terdeteksi turun pada tgl 3 Desember 2017. Billy berubah dari seekor anak anjing yang lincah menjadi anjing yang tidak bisa berjalan, dua bulan menangis kesakitan, jangankan untuk bergerak, disentuh saja sakit. Setengah tahun sudah lewat dan kondisinya sudah membaik tapi belum bisa berjalan. Itu artinya selama lebih dari enam bulan Billy hanya bisa berbaring dan merangkak di lantai. Masih panjang perjuangan untuk mengembalikan kemampuan Billy untuk bisa berjalan.

Billy's life and our lives as well changed since his spine was detected to have dislocated on 3 December 2017. Billy changed from a lively puppy to a dog that can't walk, spent two months crying in pain, it even hurt just to be touched. Half a year have passed and he is getting better now but still unable to walk. It means Billy can only lie and crawl on the floor for six months. It will take long road to get Billy back on his feet.

When I am not the dog I used to be

When the dog suddenly get sick or an accident occurs that left it disabled, weak, helpless and it needs extra care because it can't eat on its own, can't walk outside the house to pee and poop.

What will you do? Will your love for it become lessen or gone? Will you willing to accept the dog's condition though it can't be the same dog before it got sick or before the accident?

*  *  *  *  *

Anjing saya atau anjing kita

Kalau kamu hanya tinggal sendiri maka hal itu tidak akan jadi masalah karena dia akan menjadi seratus persen anjingmu.

Tapi kalau kamu tinggal bersama dengan orang lain entah itu orang tua, kakak adik, teman, suami, istri atau anak.. itu bisa jadi masalah.

Masalah apa?

Mempunyai anjing berarti memiliki tanggung jawab untuk memberinya makan dan minum, memandikannya, mengajaknya jalan, membersihkan pipis-pupnya, merapikan segala kekotoran atau kekacauan akibat ulahnya, merawat-mengobati-membawa ke dokter ketika dia sakit atau cedera, mengawasi dan menjauhkannya dari benda-benda yang bisa membahayakan dirinya, menjaga supaya dia jangan mencederai orang atau hewan milik orang lain, menjaga supaya dia jangan merusak barang milik orang lain dan menjaga supaya dia jangan lari keluar rumah.

Janganlah berpikir bahwa orang yang tinggal serumah dengan kamu akan secara otomatis dengan sukarela mau berbagi tanggung jawab itu.

Kalau dari awal kamu tidak memperhitungkan hal ini maka hari-hari selanjutnya kamu bisa jadi kesal, lelah atau terus menerus bertengkar dengan orang-orang yang tinggal serumah dengan kamu mengenai anjing yang kamu ingin pelihara ini.

My dog or our dog

If you live all alone then it won't be a probleme as the dog will be one hundred percent yours.

But if you live with other people whether they are your parents, brother sister, friend, husband, wife or children.. it may become a problem. 

What problem?

Having a dog means having responsibilities to give it food and drink, to bathe it, to take it for a walk, to clean its pee and poop, to clean the mess it created, to care-give medicine-taking to the vet when it's gets sick or hurt, keeping an eye and keep it away from harmful things, keeping it from hurting other people or other animal, keeping it from breaking people's stuff and keeping it from running away from home.

Don't assume people who live in the same house with you will automatically willing to share those responsibilities.

If you do not put this into your consideration then you may facing the incoming days by constantly upset, tired or having endless quarell with the people who live with you about the dog you want to keep.

*  *  *  *  *

Barang-barangmu adalah mainan untukku

Memiliki anjing berarti barang-barang kita tidak lagi aman.

Itu artinya kita harus menjaga barang-barang kita supaya tidak diacak-acak, dipecahkan, dipatahkan, dikunyah atau dirobek oleh si kaki empat.

Sudah terlalu sering saya membaca dan mendengar cerita (keluh kesah) pemilik anjing tentang sandal kesayangannya yang hancur dikunyah anjingnya, tempat sampah yang diberantakkan, gagang kaca mata yang dipatahkan, laporan kerja kantor yang dirobek-robek sampai ke uang kertas (dalam nominal besar) yang juga robek oleh anak bulu ini.

Jadi mulailah merapikan, menyimpan dan meletakkan barang-barang di rumah di tempat yang aman, jauh dari jangkauan atau dalam kontainer yang tidak bisa dibuka oleh si anjing.

Your stuff are my toys

Having a dog means our stuff are no longer safe.

It means we have to keep our stuff from not getting messed, broke, chewed or ripped by the four legged.

I have read and heard too many stories (complain) from dog owner about his sandals being chewed, dust bin being rampaged, broken glasses, office papers ripped up to money bills being torn by the fur baby.

So start cleaning, keeping and put the stuff at home in safe place, out of reach or in container that can't be open by the dog.

*  *  *  *  *

Kamu dimana?

Kamu dimana? Aku belum makan.

Kamu dimana? Aku kesepian.

Kamu dimana? Hari sudah malam. Aku khawatir.

Punya anjing berarti kita tidak lagi bebas keluyuran sepulang kerja atau sekolah.

Karena di rumah ada yang membutuhkan dan kangen sama kita.

Biar pun di rumah ada orang-orang lain tapi anjing kita akan tetap menunggu kita. Dia tidak hanya butuh diberi makan, minum dan dimandikan lalu setelah seluruh kebutuhannya terpenuhi dia lalu cuek ke kita. Tidak. Anjing tidak seperti itu. Anjing terikat emosi dengan pemiliknya karena ada jalinan kasih sayang.

Where are you?

Where are you? I haven't had any meals.

Where are you? I'm lonely.

Where are you? It's dark. I'm worried.

Having a dog means we no longer free to go hangout after work or after school.

Because at home there is a dog waiting and misses us.

Eventhough there are other people at home but our dog will still waiting for us to return. It doesn't just need food, drink and bathe and after all it gets what it needs then it turns ignorant to us. No. A dog is not like that. It is bound emotionally to its owner because of love.

*  *  *  *  *

Kamu adalah hidupku

Buat kita seekor anjing mungkin hanyalah satu aspek kecil dari sekian banyak aspek lain dalam hidup kita yang kita nilai jauh lebih penting dan besar.

Bella mengantar saya berangkat kerja sampai ke depan pintu pagar.
Setiap sore dia nunggu saya pulang kerja di depan pintu ini juga.
Kalau saya pulang malam dia gelisah. Cemas. Dia takut saya ga pulang.
Bella walks me to the gate every morning as I leave the house for work.
She waits for me by the gate in the afternoon knowing I'll return home from work.
It makes her restless when I get home after dark. She worries. She's afraid I won't be back.

Tapi untuk seekor anjing, kita adalah seluruh hidupnya.

Dia menggantungkan dirinya sepenuhnya kepada kita.

Dia mempercayai kita, membutuhkan kita, menyayangi kita dan ingin selalu membahagiakan kita.

Begitu berharganya kita ini dimatanya hingga dia mau mengorbankan nyawanya sendiri untuk membela kita.

Jadi hargailah dia. Sayangilah dia. Lindungilah dia. Rawatlah dia dengan baik sampai maut memisahkan kita dengan dia.

Dia memang tidak sempurna. Dia bisa bikin kita kesal dan marah dengan sifat atau perbuatannya. Tapi ingatlah, kita juga jauh dari sempurna. Memiliki anjing mengajari kita untuk mengasihi tanpa menuntut.

You are my life

For us a dog is probably is just a tiny aspect of other aspects in our life which we consider more important and bigger.

But for the dog, we are its whole life.

It completely depends itself on us.

It trusts us, needs us, loves us and always wants to please us.

We are so precious in its eyes that it willing to sacrifice its life for us.

So appreciate it. Love it. Protect it. Take good care of it until death do us apart.

It is not perfect. It can upset us with its characters or behavior. But remember we are far from perfect either. Having a dog makes us learn to love without demanding.

*  *  *  *  *

Sampai maut memisahkan kita

Siapa yang bisa mengetahui kapan dia akan hidup. 

Kalau anjing kita mati lebih dulu hal itu tidak akan menimbulkan kesukaran baginya.

Tapi kalau kita yang mati lebih dulu dari dia..

Siapa yang akan menjadi pengganti kita untuk merawat dan melindunginya?

Ada baiknya memikirkan hal ini biar pun saat ini kita dalam keadaan sehat, kuat dan muda.

Until death do us apart

Who can tell how long will one live.

If a dog dies before its master then there won't any trouble for it.

But how if we the one who dies before it..

Who will replace us to care and protect it?

Think about this though we are now living in our superb health, strength and youth.

*  *  *  *  *

Nah, jadi itu beberapa hal yang bisa saya susun dari pengalaman saya sebagai pemelihara anjing selama tiga puluh tahunan.

So those are some stuff I collect as dog owner for nearly thirty years.

An Interview With Billy and Bella

Hai, ini wawancara imajiner berdasarkan fakta kepada teman-teman kita, Billy dan Bella.

Hi guys, this is an imaginer interview based on fact to our friends, Billy and Bella.

Wawancara ini dimaksudkan supaya kalian bisa lebih mengenal Billy dan Bella lebih dekat.

This interview is meant to bring you to get to know Billy and Bella more personally.

Jadi marilah kita memulai wawancara ini.

So let's start this interview.

*  *  *  *  *

Pembaca, hari ini saya ada bersama dengan Billy dan Bella. Hai Billy, hai Bella, senang deh bisa bertemu dengan kalian.

Readers, I am with Billy and Bella today. Hi Billy, hi Bella, it is a pleasure to meet you guys.

Bella tersenyum. Billy tersipu malu.

Bella smiles. Billy blushes shyly.

So, apa kabarnya, Billy? Bella?

So, what's up, Billy? Bella?

Baik, Bella menjawab sambil mengibaskan ekornya penuh semangat sementara Billy cuma tersenyum kecil.

Good, Bella answered as she wagged her tail excitedly while Billy just smiled slightly.

Tapi sebelum kita mulai wawancara, tolong dong perkenalkan diri kalian. Yang mana Billy, yang mana Bella ya? Mungkin ada yang belum bisa membedakan. Saya sendiri juga masih agak bingung nih.

But before we start our interview, could you please introduce yourself. Which one of you is Billy, which one is Bella? Some probably still can't tell it. I myself am a bit confuse.

Yang di kiri ini aku, Bella, jawab Bella. 

I am at the left, said Bella.

Yang burik itu si Billy.

The mottled one is Billy.

Bella melirik Billy. Yang dilirik cuek saja.

Bella glanced at Billy who looked unbothered.

Kalian kelihatan hampir sama ya.

You guys look almost same.

Beda dong, kata Bella.

Certainly not, said Bella.

Maksudnya kita sama hitamnya, Billy nyengir.

He meant we both are black, Billy grinned.

Ga juga, Bill, Bella melirik Billy. Aku ga burik dan kaki depanku warnanya coklat susu terang.

No really, Bill, Bella glanced at Billy. I'm not mottled and my front feet are bright beige.

Ah, jadi sekarang saya sudah mulai bisa membedakan antara Billy dan Bella.

Ah, so now I can tell the difference between Billy and Bella.

Bella dan Billy sama-sama mengibaskan ekor mereka.

Bella and Billy wagged their tails.

Ok, pertanyaan berikutnya.. kalian umur berapa sih?

Ok, next question.. how old are you guys?

Kata mama Keke, kita lahir tanggal 12 Agustus 2017, Bella mengingat-ingat. Jadi bulan ini umur kita kira-kira 6 bulan.

According to mama Keke, we were born on 12 August 2017, Bella recalled. So this month we are about 7 months old.

Wah, kalian masih bayi.

Oh, you're still babies.

Bella dan Billy kembali mengibaskan ekor mereka.

Once again Bella and Billy wagged their tails.

Pewawancara tertawa melihatnya.

This made the interviewer laughed.

Mau nanya nih, kalian tahu siapa nama orang tua kalian?

I want to ask you this, do you know your parents' names?

Bella dan Billy saling berpandangan.

Bella and Billy exchanged glance.

Mama Keke, Billy menjawab.

Mama Keke, Billy answered.

Dulu sebelum ada mama Keke kita dirawat sama mama Grace, Bella mengingat-ingat.

Before mama Keke we were cared by mama Grace, Bella recalled.

Kapan itu?, tanya Billy, aku kok ga ingat ya.

When was that?, asked Billy, I don't remember.

Sudah lama, jawab Bella, kita masih bayi banget waktu itu.

It was a long time ago, said Bella, we were small babies at that time.

Pewawancara mendehem pelan.

The interviewer cleared his throat softly.

Maksud saya tadi, orang tua kandung kalian.

I meant, your biological parents.

Bella dan Billy kembali saling berpandangan.

Once again Bella and Billy exchanged glance.

Mama kandung kalian namanya Oneng. Papa kandung kalian namanya Sapi.

Your biological mother's name is Oneng. Your biological father's name is Sapi.

Mama Oneng dan papa Sapi, Bella menggumam.

Mama Oneng and papa Sapi, Bella murmured.

Seperti apa mereka?, tanya Billy.

What do they look like?, asked Billy.

Kalian tidak ingat?

You don't remember?

Bella dan Billy menggeleng.

Bella and Billy shook their heads.

Saya punya foto mama Oneng. 

I have a picture of mama Oneng.

Bella dan Billy mengamati foto itu.

Bella and Billy stared at that photo.

Cantik, Bella menggumam.

Pretty, Bella murmured.

Billy mengibaskan ekornya tanda setuju.

Billy agreed by wagging his tail.

Dari mana dapat foto ini?, tanya Bella.

Where do you get this photo?, asked Bella.

Dari mama Grace.

From mama Grace.

Apa dia punya foto papa kami?, tanya Billy.

Does she have our papa's photo?, asked Billy.

Pewawancara menunjukkan sebuah foto.

The interviewer showed a photo.

Fotonya tidak terlalu bagus. Kabur

It is not a good photo. It's blur.

Jadi ini papa kita?, tanya Bella.

So this is our papa?, asked Bella.

Dia hitam, gumam Billy.

He is black, Billy murmured.

Dan kecil, Bella tersenyum. Dia mirip kamu, Bill.

And small, Bella smiled. He looks like you, Bill.

Apa anak mereka cuma kita?, tanya Billy.

Are we their only children?, Billy asked.

Oh tidak, pewawancara menunjukkan sebuah foto lagi, semua ada tujuh.

No, the interviewer showed another photo, there are seven.

Kemana yang lima?, Bella memperhatikan foto itu.

Where are the other five?, Bella stared at that photo

Tinggal kalian dan satu lagi yang masih hidup, pewawancara berkata pelan.

Only the two of you and another one who are alive, the interviewer spoke softly.

Billy dan Bella menatap tak percaya.

Billy and Bella stared in disbelief.

Ini saudara kalian satu-satunya yang masih hidup, pewawancara menunjukkan sebuah foto.

This is your only surviving sister, the interviewer showed a photo.

Dia kurus dan kecil, gumam Billy beberapa saat kemudian.

She is skinny and small, Billy muttered a short while later.

Dia dirantai, Bella menggigil. Ngeri. Dia tidak bisa kemana-mana. Kasihan dia. Opa dan mama tidak pernah merantai kami.

She is chained, Bella shivered. Horrified. She can't go anywhere. Poor little thing. Opa and mama never chained us.

Apa dia bahagia?, bisik Billy.

Is she happy?, Billy whispered.

Bella lalu menatap pewawancara.

Bella looked at the interviewer.

Terima kasih sudah menunjukkan kepada kami foto papa dan mama kandung serta saudara-saudara kami, katanya. Tapi buat kami, mama kami adalah mama Keke dan papa kami adalah opa. Mereka keluarga kami. Kami bahagia hidup dengan mereka.

Thank you to show us photos of our biological papa and mama along with photos of our siblings, she said. But to us, our mama is mama Keke and our papa is opa. They are our family. We live happily with them.

Billy mengibaskan ekornya tanda setuju.

Billy agreed by wagging his tail.

Kalian sayang banget ya ke mama Keke dan opa?

You guys love mama Keke and opa very much, don't you?

Bella dan Billy mengibaskan ekor mereka dengan penuh semangat.

Bella and Billy wagged their tails excitedly.

Mama Keke dan opa sayang ke kami, mau terima kami apa adanya, Billy menengok ke arah Bella yang mengiyakan. Bahkan waktu aku sakit dan hampir mati, mama Keke dan opa tetap merawat aku. Berdoa sungguh-sungguh buat kesembuhan aku. Sabar menghadapi aku bahkan ketika beberapa bulan lalu tulang punggungku sakit sekali dan setiap hari aku nangis kesakitan. Suaraku melengking-lengking sampai kedengaran ke tetangga yang rumahnya paling ujung. Sejak itu juga aku tidak bisa jalan. Aku pipis, pup, makan, tidur dan main cuma bisa sambil merangkak-rangkak di lantai. Mama Keke atau opa yang membersihkan aku kalau aku pipis dan pup. Mama Keke harus kerja ekstra berat buat bersihin lantai.

Mama Keke and opa love us, they accept us just the way we are, Billy turned to Bella who quietly nodded. Even when I was ill and nearly died, mama Keke and opa take care of me. They pray with all their hearts for my healing. They are patient to me even at hard times when few months ago my back hurt so much and I cried everyday. My crying was so loud it could be heard by neighbors who lives down the road. Eversince that I can't walk. I pee, poop, eat, sleep and play by crawling on the floor. Mama Keke or opa clean me when I pee and poop. Mama Keke must work extra hard to clean the floor.

Ya, mama Keke sudah menceritakannya, pewawancara mengelus-elus kepala Billy.

Yes, mama Keke has told me about it, the interviewer caressed Billy's head.

Aku kepingin cepat bisa jalan lagi, Billy menunduk. Selama ini aku ngerepotin mama Keke dan opa.

I wish I could walk again soon, Billy looked down. I have been giving trouble to mama Keke and opa.

Jangan berpikir begitu, Billy. Pewawancara spontan merangkul Billy.

Don't think like that, Billy. The interviewer embraced Billy spontaneously.

Kita semua sayang kamu, Bill. Bella menciumi muka adiknya. Kamu pasti akan bisa berjalan lagi. Kan kita sudah mulai latihan jalan.

We all love you, Bill. Bella kissed her brother's face. You'll be able to walk again. We have started giving you walking physiotheraphy, right?

Dan kata mama Keke, ada banyak kemajuan baik. Pewawancara teringat pada cerita Keke kalau tanggal 14 April Billy sudah bisa digendong. Dia ditaruh di atas tempat tidur Keke dan bisa bermain-main dengan Bella di sana. Lalu siangnya dia digendong ke dapur untuk dimandikan.

And mama Keke said there are many good progress. The interviewer remembered Keke said Billy could be carried on 14 April. He was then put on Keke's bed where he and Bella happily played. Later on the afternoon he was carried to the kitchen to be bathed.

Tapi aku senewenan. Aku gampang panik, gumam Billy. Semua karena aku takut sakit.

But I'm jumpy. I am easily panicked, Billy murmured. All because I fear pain.

Pewawancara dan Bella bertukar pandang.

The interviewer and Bella exchanged glances.

Pewawancara teringat Keke pernah mengatakan tentang hal yang sama. Penghalang terbesar untuk Billy bisa berjalan adalah bukan kaki-kaki atau otot-ototnya tapi pada mentalitasnya. Itu yang bikin Keke dan opa jadi frustrasi dan kesal.

The interviewer remembered Keke has mentioned the same thing. The biggest obstacle to make Billy walks again is not on his feet nor his muscles but it is on his mentality. It is what frustrates and upset both Keke and opa.

Pewawancara melihat Bella memberi isyarat lewat tatapan matanya. Pindah topik. Cepat.

The interviewer saw Bella gave him a sign through her eyes. Change the topic. Quick.

Kalian sayang banget ya ke mama Keke?

You guys love mama Keke very much, don't you?

Bella dan Billy langsung mengibaskan ekor mereka.

Bella and Billy quickly wagged their tails.

Kalau gitu suka bantuin mama Keke ga?

Then anyone ever helps mama Keke?

Bantuin ngegerecokin sih iya, Billy tersenyum.

Giving her messy things for sure, Billy smiled.

Ah nggak, Bella menyundul kepala adiknya, aku suka bantuin mama kok. Dari masih kecil.

No, Bella poked her brother's head, I like helping mama. I have even been doing it since I was younger.

Ah, ada foto-fotonya nih dari mama Keke.

Ah, there are photos from mama Keke.

Pewawancara menunjukkan sederetan foto.

Mau diapain brokolinya, mama? / What do you want me to do with the broccoli, mama?

The interviewer showed some photos.

Aku bantuin ya, mama? / Can I help you, mama?

Tuh kan, Bella nyengir.

You see, Bella grinned.

Oh, dia sih demennya gangguin mama, Billy terkekeh.

Oh, she likes to annoy mama, Billy gigled.

Kata siapa?, Bella menyenggol pipi adiknya.

Says who?, Bella touched her brother's cheek.

Aku suka dengar mama ngomelin kamu, Billy menjulurkan lidahnya.

I heard mama yelled at you, Billy sticked out his tongue.

Nggak, Bella melotot.

Nope, Bella glared.

Hai, sudah.. sudah. Jangan berantem, pewawancara melerai sambil tersenyum geli, Ini yuk, kita lihat foto yang lain.

Hey, come on. Knock it off, the interviewer interrupted as he couldn't help not not to smile, Here let's see other photo.

Keke: Bell, tolong lipatin seprei ya / Bell, could you fold the bedsheet please.
Bella: ya mama / yes mama
Billy: sepreinya jangan diacak-acak, Bella / don't messed the bedsheet, Bella
Bella: siapa yang ngacak-ngacak? aku malah ga bisa keluar. tolongin dong, Bill / who is making a mess?
I don't even know how to get this thing off me, give me a hand, Bill

Bella dan Billy mengamati foto tersebut lalu terkekeh.

Bella and Billy stared at that photo and they gigled.

Kalian berdua ini memang seperti Bonnie dan Clyde, pewawancara nyengir.

You two are just like Bonnie and Clyde, the interviewer grinned.

Siapa?, Bella memiringkan kepalanya.

Who?, Bella tilt her head.

Dua orang yang bikin pusing banyak orang.

Two people who brought headache to many people.

Yah begitulah kita berdua, Billy nyengir.

Yeah we do, Billy grinned.

Kata mama Keke kalian kompak dalam beberapa hal. Sampai seperti kembar.

Mama Keke said the two of you are so alike in few things. Almost like twins.

Seperti..., Bella melirik Billy.

Such as..., Bella glanced at Billy.

Kita suka nyemil, Billy menjawab dengan cepat.

We like snacking, Billy quickly answered.

Pewawancara tertawa lalu menunjukkan sebuah foto.

Bella: mmm... baunya enak. Kamu suka yang mana, Bill? / mmm.. it smells yummy. Which one do you like, Bill?
Billy: yang putih / the white one

The interviewer laughed and then showed them a photo.

Bella dan Billy mengibaskan ekor mereka dengan penuh semangat membuat pewawancara kembali tertawa.

Bella and Billy wagged their tails excitedly making the interviewer laughed again.

Nah, selain ngemil, apa lagi yang kalian berdua suka? pewawancara tersenyum sambil menatap keduanya.

So, beside snacking, what else do you guys like? the interviewer smiled as he looked at them.

Mandi, kata Billy bersamaan dengan Bella yang menjawab, dandan.

Bathing, Billy answered at the same time with Bella who answered, putting on the makeup. 

Pewawancara tertawa, nah, yang satu suka mandi, yang satu lagi suka dandan.

The interviewer laughed, now, one likes bathing, the other likes putting on the makeup.

Aku ga suka mandi, kata Bella.

I don't like bathing, said Bella.

Mandi itu enak, tau, seger. Bersih. Wangi. Apalagi kalau pakai air yang panas. Aku ga suka air hangat. Billy memejamkan mata.

Bathing is fun, you know, it's freshing. Clean. Smells good. Especially with hot water. I don't like warm water. Billy closed his eyes.

Kenapa kamu tidak suka mandi? Pewawancara menatap Bella.

Why do you dislike bathing? The interviewer looked at Bella.

Dia takut air, ledek Billy, mama mesti kejar-kejar dia dulu dan lagi mandi maunya kabur-kaburan aja.

She's afraid of water, Billy teased, mama must chase her around and she always wants to run away when mama's bathing her.

Aku cuma ga suka aja diguyur sama air, Bella melengos, bukan karena takut air. Mama juga rajin banget sih. Ga pernah lupa mandiin kita seminggu sekali.

I just don't like being showered with water, said Bella, not because I'm afraid of water. Mama never forgets to bath us once a week.

Aku malah pengen mandi tiap hari, Billy menghela napas, tapi mama tidak punya waktu. 

I wish I could bath everyday, Billy sighed, but mama don't have the time to do that.

Enakan juga dandan, kata Bella, tiap pagi aku nemenin mama dandan.

Aku cantik ga, mama? / Am I pretty, mama?

It's better to put on the makeup, said Bella, I do that every morning with mama.

Billy mendengus, itu sih buat perempuan.

Billy snorted, that's a girl thing.

Pewawancara tertawa mendengar perdebatan kakak beradik itu.

The interviewer laughed on hearing the brother and sister debating on each other.

Nah, kalian berdua sama nakalnya, sama-sama suka nyemil dan kalau muntah bisa berbarengan juga kata mama Keke, pewawancara menatap Billy dan Bella sambil tersenyum.

So, the two of you are naughty, like snacking and according to mama Keke, you two could vomit at the same time too, the interviewer smiled as he looked at Billy and Bella. 

Bella yang lebih sering muntah, Billy melirik Bella.

Bella is the one who vomits oftenly, Billy glanced at Bella.

Kenapa bisa gitu?, tanya pewawancara.

Why?, asked the interviewer.

Bella mengangkat bahu, ga tahu kenapa. Kadang-kadang aku mual. Kadang-kadang perut berasa ga enak karena mau pup.. eh, trus jadi mual. Kadang-kadang aku muntah habis makan rumput.. jadi mama dan opa suka ngomel kalau lihat aku makan rumput.

Bella shrugged, I don't know. Sometimes I feel sick. Sometimes my stomach doesn't feel good as I want to poop.. but then it makes me feel sick. Sometimes I threw up after I ate grass.. mama and opa would grunt if they saw me ate grass.

Lantas dikasih obat?, tanya pewawancara.

Are you given medicine for that?, asked the interviewer.

Ya, obat anti mual, Bella mengangguk.

Yes, a medicine to get rid the sickness, Bella nodded.

Lantas kita dikasih makan bubur ya, Bell?, Billy menjilat bibirnya.

After that we would get some porridge, right, Bell? Billy licked his lips.

Iya, bubur hangat. Enak deh, Bella mengibaskan ekornya.

Yes, warm porridge. It's so yummy, Bella wagged her tail.

Kalian cuma makan bubur?, tanya pewawancara.

Do you only have porridge?, asked the interviewer.

Billy menggeleng, kita makan nasi pakai ayam rebus atau ayam semur, suka juga pakai usus, ati, ampela. Kalau mama atau opa lagi masak mie goreng kita makan nasinya pakai mie. Pernah juga pakai baso dan sosis.

Billy shook his head, we have rice with boiled chicken or chicken stew, sometimes we get intestine, liver, giblets. When mama or opa cook fried noodle, we have rice with fried noodle. Sometimes meatball and sausage.

Dog food? tanya pewawancara.

Dog food? the interviewer asked.

Cuma buat cemilan, jawab Bella.

Only for snack, said Bella.

Keras, Billy nyengir, capek makannya. Pegel rahang aku. Jadi aku telen aja ga dikunyah lagi.

Aduh lihat, mama beliin kita apa aja dari Happy Pets? / Gosh, look what mama got for us from Happy Pets

It's hard, Billy grinned, needs to chew hard. My jaw got tired. So I just swallowed it without chewing.

Enak sih, Bella memandang Billy, tapi malamnya aku muntah.

It's quite yummy, Bella looked at Billy, but later at night it made me vomit.

Waduh.. pewawancara geleng-geleng kepala prihatin tapi tidak bisa menahan senyum.

Oh man.. the interviewer shook his head but couldn't help not to smile.

Eh, itu foto waktu mama dan opa pulang dari petshop. Kita dapat mainan, Billy mengibaskan ekornya dengan semangat ketika melihat foto yang ditunjukkan oleh pewawancara.

Wait, that's a photo when mama and opa just got home from petshop. We've got toys, Billy wagged his tail excitedly when he saw the photo showed by the interviewer.

Ya, aku suka sama tulang-tulangan dan bolanya, Bella ikut mengibaskan ekor.

Yes, I love the bone and the ball, Bella wagged her tail too.

Kalian suka main?, pewawancara mengelus kepala Bella dan Billy.

You like playing?, the interviewer caressed Bella and Billy's heads.

Kita selalu main berdua, Billy menjilat tangan pewawancara dengan lembut.

We always play together, Billy gently licked the interviewer's hand.

Paling enak main sama mama, Bella melompat-lompat, lari berputar-putar, mama bisa bikin permainan yang asyik. Aku juga suka gelitikin mama.

It's more fun playing with mama, Bella jumped around, ran in circle, mama could come up with fun play. I also love tickling mama.

Mama ga pernah marah kalau tangannya kita gigit-gigit. Sampai biru-biru dan merah, Billy tersenyum, kalau opa ga mau.

Mama never got upset when we bite her hand. It gives bruishes, Billy smiled, opa, on the contrary, dislike it.

Aku malah pernah bikin kaki mama luka, Bella nyengir.

I have even hurt mama's leg, Bella grinned.

Kok bisa? pewawancara kaget.

How did you do that? the interviewer startled.

Aku lompat-lompat. Kaki mama kena kuku aku, jawab Bella kelihatan menyesali peristiwa itu.

I was jumping. My nail scratched mama's leg, Bella looked sorry for that incident.

Aduh! Pasti sakit. Mama marah ke kamu ga?, pewawancara kaget.

Ouch! It must be hurt. Did mama angry to you?, the interviewer looked startled

Kalau soal bercanda sih mama ga pernah marah, kata Bella, biar pun tangannya jadi biru-biru, lecet atau bibirnya berdarah..

It never upset mama when it comes to playing, said Bella, eventhough it gives bruishes to her hands, scratch or made her lip bled..

Tunggu! Bibir mama kenapa?, pewawancara kaget.

Wait! What happens to mama's lip?, it shocked the interviewer.

Bibir mama kegigit aku, Bella menunduk, tapi itu ga sengaja. Bener. Aku ga akan mau sengaja gigit mama.

I bit mama's lip, Bella bowed her head, but it was an accident. It really was an accident. I wouldn't deliberately bite mama.

Terlalu semangat main, kata Billy, Bella juga pernah ga sengaja gigit, nginjak dan jatuh di atas aku.

Got too excited when playing, said Billy, Bella has accidentally bit, stepped and fell on me.

Bella mengibaskan ekornya dengan pelan, kasihan mama. Bibirnya bengkak.

Bella wagged her tail slowly, poor mama. Her lip swelled.

Harus hati-hati kalau bermain, pewawancara mengelus kepala Bella, untung lukanya cuma kecil. Untung juga mama ga marah.

Gotta be careful when you are playing, the interviewer caressed Bella's head. Luckily it was just a small wound. And luckily too it didn't make mama angry at you.

Mama cuma marah kalau dia lagi nyapu atau ngepel dan kita gangguin, Billy nyengir, atau kalau kita ngacak-ngacak.

Bella, jangan mainin sapunya dong! / Bella stop playing with the broom!

Mama gets angry when we disturb her while she is sweeping or mopping the floor, Billy grinned, or when we made a mess.

Nakal juga kalian ya, pewawancara tertawa, pernah dihukum dong?

You two are naughty, aren't you?, the interviewer laughed, have you got punishment?

Yang paling sering kena omel sih si Bella, Billy terkekeh, tapi aku juga pernah kena sentil.

Bella gets yelled often, Billy giggled, but I was flicked once.

Hukumannya cuma disentil? tanya pewawancara

Flicking is the only punishment? asked the interviewer.

Bella menggeleng, pantat dipukul.

Tidur pulas setelah ngacak-ngacak kardus / Slept peacefully after messing up the box

Bella shook her head, got smack on the butt.

Pewawancara tertawa.

The interviewer laughed.

Tapi mama ga pernah lama kalau marah, kata Billy.

But mama never keeps her anger for long, said Billy.

Bella mengangguk, sedih sih kalau mama marah tapi aku malah lebih sedih kalau mama harus pergi kerja.

Bella nodded, it upset me when mama got angry but it upset me more when she has to go to work.

Billy mengibaskan ekornya, iya. Tapi mama suka pulang siang atau malah ada yang seharian di rumah.

Billy wagged his tail, yes. But sometimes mama gets home in the afternoon or even stay the whole day at home.

Oh, itu di hari liburnya, kata pewawancara, tapi kan masih ada opa yang setiap hari ada di rumah.

Oh, it is on her day off, said the interviewer, but there is opa who stays home everyday.

Pengen mama tiap hari ada di rumah, Bella menghela napas, aku dan Billy sayang opa tapi kalau mama ga ada di rumah rasanya sedih. 

I wish mama stay home every day, Bella sighed, Billy and I love opa but without mama at home it feels sad.

Billy mengibaskan ekornya.

Billy wagged his tail.

Mama kan harus kerja, pewawancara tersenyum.

Mama, jemputannya datang / Mama, your ride is here

Mama has to work, the interviewer smiled.

Nanti kalau mama ada di rumah, datang ya?, Bella mengibaskan ekornya dengan semangat.

Would you come when mama is at home?, Bella wagged her tail excitedly.

Pewawancara mengangguk, tentu.

The interviewer nodded, sure.

*  *  *  *  * 

Nah, seandainya hewan peliharaanmu bisa bicara.. apakah yang akan diceritakannya tentang dirinya, tentang hidupnya, tentang kamu..?

So, if your pet could talk.. what would it say about itself, about his/her life, about you..?