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Published on October 20, 2007

The cause of this unhappiness has been the doggie next door. Mee, who, my vet suspects, is part-chow with maybe some German shepherd thrown in, is now four months old, a few months younger than my eight-month-old poodle pup Wan-Wan.

Mee, however, is already three times Wan's size, a very pretty pup with burnt umber colouring and a very kind face.

As soon as Mee moved in next door, Angel was entranced. "O-o-h! A baby!" I think she said. Mee wasn't (and still isn't) too happy about being left alone while her owner, Khun J, is at work. The dog howls mournfully, and Angel, on top of a fish tank on our side of the fence, calls to her as in, "It's all right, child."

So far, Mee has ignored Angel's cries of encouragement. The dog apparently doesn't speak Feline, but gradually, she has responded to me. Every morning, I call out to her. She wags her tail, and, I swear, she smiles back.

Meanwhile, I've been growing a bit concerned. Who wants a lonely, aggressive, noisy dog next door? Visions of Mee at a mature age breaking into my house and killing every creature in sight danced before my eyes.

I've heard of feral soi dogs breaking into people's gardens and killing pet birds and cats. You want fences not only to keep your pets safely inside but also to prevent any unwanted animal from getting in.

Readers assure me that although their cats/dogs wander the street, the animals don't go far and always come home for meals. Yeah, well, it takes only one aggressive dog or one careless driver, don't you think?

Even when you keep them safely inside, they may not be safe. Wan might be small, but she's unbelievably fast. Let my gate open a crack, and she darts into the street. She knows "stay" and "sit", but the excitement of freedom is too much for her. She streaks down the street, where the soi's Top Dog waits for her. So far, he's been locked up on his patio, but as the friendly pup races towards him, he makes no secret of what he'd do to her should they meet nose to nose.

Mee, J tells me, is just as bad. The lure of the soi is too much for the pup, who doesn't listen to any command in her dash for freedom.

This morning, I realised how fast she is. J opened her gate just as I opened mine, and without warning Mee was in my house. Wan was ecstatic, dancing around Mee and touching noses with her.

Suddenly, Mee froze. Angel was on the floor. The two animals stared at each other. I tried to grab Mee, but I was too slow. She lunged at Angel, who held her ground.

And then the two creatures touched noses in greeting. Imagine that. Mee had known all along what Angel had been saying to her.

By Laurie rosenthal

The Nation