On my way home walking passing by the Show Ground, I saw a guy walking from the opposite, followed by a very fit dog. It’s a normal scene at this moment of the day. People like to choose 5-6pm walking their dogs and getting some exercise themselves. I had seen too many. So I didn’t have any other thoughts about it.

However, very soon I realised that I had to think as when I was crossing the little T intersection at the corner of Canberra Ave and Cameron Road, I found that dog, who I believed someone else’s pet, actually was following me. I looked back, hoping to see his master somewhere, but there was no one in my sight. Goodness me, this dog is a lost soul. And, he is walking with me side by side, as if I was his master, doing my dog-walking job.

The dog was actually testing on me. He walked about 5 meters ahead of me then turned his head back and looked at me to see if I was coming up, then he walked another 5 meters ahead of me again. He repeated this sort of movement at least 20 times, until we got to a residential building, where at the front door, a sexy young girl and her boyfriend sitting there chatting. When the girl saw the dog coming, she instantly shouted out “puppy….” and stood up from the ground, preparing to approach to this dog. I was surprised at her calling the dog “puppy” as in my opinion, I would never relate this dog to any size of puppy. He was so tall, strong and so muscular with dark brown very short hair skin that he could be some handyman’s dog being carried around in their utilities, but not a puppy to cuddle!!!!

Since I can see how enthusiastic the girl was toward this dog, I thought “okay, probably this dog will start to follow her”. But I was wrong. 20 seconds later, the dog ran and caught up with me and kept walking with me, until I got to the front door of our place. Well, here was a problem….what should I do now? Get him into house or ignore him, leaving him outside the door? I had no idea…..

This dog, apparently was very hungry, and needed some company. I supposed that he was also very depressed as for the time being with him, I didn’t hear him bark even once, even when that crazy mop dog (a dog I hate the most in this neighbourhood) hysterically barked to him with her out-of-tune voice at the other side of fence on the street (I am sure she is a bitch). He didn’t even bark back. Instead, he ran away joining me again, scared.

I decided to let him in. He got into the house, sniffed everywhere, but no signs of going to ruin anything. I was pleased. I thought it was the time to give him something to eat, so I opened the kitchen door, he walked in with me and then rushed to the basin bowl next to our wash machine in the laundry room. Poor thing, he must think that basin is his eating bowl. So I gave him a Madras Curry Sausage which I was going to cook for tonight’s dinner. He ate it up in a second. I knew that he would expect more, but I don’t think I can give away the rest of 5. Still, he didn’t bark to make me to give him more food. Good boy!

I took him leaving the kitchen, and now I lost my plot again. What am I going to do? I can’t keep him in this house tonight. My husband was not home and won’t be back until 2 hours later. I never had any experience with handling any dog. And I have no one can help. Suddenly I found myself stuck with a huge black dog in this house. I was sitting on a stool at the door watching him. I can’t leave, I can’t change my clothes, I can’t start to cook and I can’t even take things out of my handbag. The dog and I, sitting facing each other, and both of us, LOST!!!!!!!

I decided to take the next move. I can’t sit there until my husband back. I started to make phone call to Council’s Animal Pond. No one answered the phone. Of course, it was already 5:30pm. Then I rang council’s emergency phone, still there was no one answering the phone. The dog began to settle as he actually sat down and kind of ready to have a sleep. I stood up and changed my sitting position to the couch. The dog stood up as well and tried to climb on me by holding one of my legs really tightly, tails waving from one side to another.

I had no idea what that was supposed to mean. I couldn’t pick up the message he was trying to send to me. But he held tighter and tighter. The fear started to arise in my mind. “God, he is so strong. What if he bites me? What if he scratches me on my face with his paws? What if….? If he did, the chance for me to escape from him probably would be very slim. I kept trying the emergency phone. When I got to the fourth time, luckily, someone was speaking on the other end of line.

The guy said he will ring one of Council’s rangers to call me immediately. It was a good sign, at least I would have some professionals telling me what to do. I waited and waited. 5 minutes later, I stood up and started to wander in the living room. The dog followed me and soon I found myself being held again by his two front legs. He didn’t seem like a threat or had any intention to attack me, but he was so strong that I couldn’t move my leg. His eyes were full of plead, no barking, no pushing and no hitting. I wished I could understand what he wanted. But I couldn’t. My fear has turned to a deeper frustration.

Right this moment, the phone rang up. I struggled to pull my leg out and almost dragged myself and the dog to reach the handset. The guy said he couldn’t get hold of any ranger. I asked him what to do. He seemed having no idea just like me. However, when I pushed a little more, he suggested me to lock him out or in the laundry just to release my worry not being able to handle him.

I guess he was right and it’s wise to do so under the circumstances that I don’t know anything about this dog. But I didn’t like the second idea, so I let him go, hoping he would sniff his way to get home, hoping him meet friendly also dog-experienced people who can help him to find the way to go home. He walked out when I opened the door. He must have thought I was going to taking him outside to play with him. But I didn’t. I closed the door quickly. Now we were at two sides of the door, I saw him through the screen. He looked at me with something? Confusion? Disappointment?…I would never know. He stood there looking into the door for about 5 minutes, then he walked away.

God knows where he was heading to. This is the story how I had confronted a dog. And like all the other stories, it remains its ending a mystery, just like how it began.