My world is shaped by you, and by your love, I live, love and die. I am totally dependent on you for food, water, shelter, health and love and through my unconditional love, I hope that you will care and love me as one of your own, just as I have and always will love you. In my prime, I am the joy of your life, you pamper me and loving me was so easy, but as life takes its toll, and my world closes in on me, please do not forsake me, for my world has become a dark and frightening one  ...    

If we can hear their thoughts, this will be the plea and prayer of every dog, as we humans play God and decide how their lives will pan out. And fate was not kind to this tiny little pomeranian we named Flora. A lady had called us horrified to have witnessed a car slowing down along St Michael's Road, and the occupants opening the door and heartlessly throwing poor little Flora out !

She could not believe her eyes and in her state of shock could only watch as Flora stumbled blindly in a confused state, panicked and shocked by the roar of traffic and the sudden turn of events . It was moments after she composed herself that she scooped Flora to safety and realized that she was totally blind as both her eyes were opaque, overwhelmed by glaucoma

It is hard to imagine people as cruel as that, to carelessly toss a totally blind dog out of a moving car,  discarded like piece of rubbish. Is there such a thing as conscience and compassion in today's pragmatic society where a dog's life is measured by beauty, convenience and status ?

When we took Flora in, she was shivering with fear, not knowing what was happening, unable to see, unable to comprehend the blow that fate dealt her. At the vet, she was assessed to be at least 10 to 12 years old, totally blind, had gum infection from her rotting teeth and what was worse, she had 2 cancerous growths in her mammary glands.

Then came the dilemma of whether to put her through the trauma of a major operation at that age and whether her heart could take it or to simply let nature take its course. In consultation with the vet, we decided to take that chance to give Flora that second chance at life as her heart was strong.

On surgery day, we willed Flora to be strong and for the operation to be a success and left the rest to the higher powers that be. After an intense surgery, we were extremely relieved when she emerged well and received the thumbs up for a successful operation. But poor Flora still had to undergo another surgery again to remove the other growth and to rectify her horrendous oral infection

Spunky as she is, Flora went on to recover completely, but the question of whether the cancer had spread to other areas continued to loom over our heads. Despite this, Flora lived her life in the present and cherished her new found life with her dedicated and loving fosterer. She taught us not to worry too much about the future, to live your life in the present and to the fullest and the future will take care of itself

Flora may be completely blind, but she learnt to adapt and not succumb to her handicap. Feisty like the survivor she is, we say she can hear like a bloodhound, for she knows when there are strangers around and she will give a warning growl in that direction. Highly independent , she feels her way around and can eat and drink on her own and is undemanding and easy going

Flora may be physically blind, but she is not blinded by hate, bitterness or betrayal and still gives of her love unconditionally and that is a mighty big lesson that this tiny 2 kg ball of fur have taught all of us