Favorite animal? I don’t have a specific favorite, but if I were to choose, it would be dogs. I remember we had a dog named POPPY when we were young. POPPY was a faithful companion who seemed to understand our language and had a great affection for us. It would even hunt down small animals that posed a threat to our crops and accompany my dad on hunting trips. Unfortunately, POPPY passed away around the age of 10 or 11.

After that, my parents couldn’t bring themselves to adopt another dog. Some dogs we had later either got lost at a young age or were unfortunately hit by vehicles, especially since we live near the National highway. I miss having such loyal friends around. I recall how, when POPPY was with us, I could confidently stay with my younger siblings in my parents’ absence at night. We knew that POPPY wouldn’t allow anyone to harm us. It used to sleep right outside our bedroom instead of its kennel when our parents were away, guarding us throughout the night without taking a nap. I wish I could meet a dog like POPPY again.