Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
Dictated to Sarah Clarke by Pearl and Maximus, the salukis ...
“Pearl?”
“Yes Max?”
“Have you noticed there’s something weird going on at home?”
“Yes, I have Max. There’s a crazy number of boxes, stuff in piles everywhere and things keep disappearing. You know my favourite sofa? Some lady turned up yesterday and just took it. I mean right in front of Mum’s nose! It’s outrageous! What is she thinking? I’ve been having tummy rubs on that sofa for three years. Now what am I going to do?”
“I know what you mean Pearl. I’ve noticed she’s been posting a lot of our stuff online. Not sure what that’s all about but she lets out a big cheer when someone says they want to buy something. Have you noticed she’s put us on a diet too?”
“Diet? She usually ignores the vet’s advice to put me on a diet. Is that why my belly’s grumbling and we have to go on even longer walks than normal? I think we should protest!”
What is going on in Pearl and Max’s life to cause such turmoil? Well, a few months ago their owners got the news that they were to be relocated to Japan and lock, stock and barrel, including two very large salukis, had to be shipped to the other side of the world.
And that meant mega bucks for the dogs’ shipment alone.
Rabies testing. Ka-ching!
Documentation. Ka-ching!
Airline tickets. Ka-ching!
Travel crates. Ka-ching!
Quarantine in Japan. Ka-ching!
Dog boarding. Ka-ching!
Veterinary fees. Ka-ching!
The list goes on and totals a cool BD3,500 or thereabouts; it’s enough to send even the calmest of people into panic mode.
“I don’t think a protest is going to work Pearl. She seems very determined that we’re going too. When she adopted us from the BSPCA she said we were her ‘forever dogs’ and she meant it.
“Do you think we can lend a paw and raise some money? We could do a moon howl chorus and pass round our dog bowl for donations from our fellow four-legged friends …”
“Actually Max, I think she’s already got it covered. That’s what all the selling is about. She’s filling the Classified pages with many of the family’s pre-owned, dearly loved things – toys, books, clothes, furniture, crockery, appliances and what not - and through those sales gradually eating away at the BD3,500 target.
“Though you’ll be pleased to hear that I snatched Norbut the Duck from Mum’s clutches last night. We can have one last tug-of-war with him before we leave. I’d rather that than he went to some stranger.”
But the kindness of strangers is helping greatly to save the day for Pearl and Max’s owner.
Pearl and Max have their own Facebook page Pearl Iris with more than 1,200 friends.
Through this page, they’ve been speaking in ‘doglish’ to people around the world for months, charting their life in Bahrain since first Pearl was adopted in August 2013 and then Maximus joined the family in August 2014.
What’s more, strong friendships have blossomed between Pearl and Max and dogs and their owners in places as far flung as the United Kingdom, South Africa, Belgium, France, Qatar, Spain, the United States and other locations.
And, it’s these virtual friends, people who have never met Pearl or Max except through their online persona, who have stepped up to the plate to help a fellow dog-owner in need as they have done so many times in the past for others.
Astonishingly, when some of the Facebook friends of Pearl and Maximus heard how much money was required to ship the dogs to Japan, without hesitation and unasked, three of them -Wayne D’Grey from the Rainbow Bridge, an Angel, and Pete Nutter an amazing Dachshund - set up a fundraising event page and then an online fundraising auction.
Many other friends and their friends donated to the event page and the online auction. Items were donated by people and dogs whose only concern is to make sure that Pearl and Max make it to Japan and remain with their forever family.
Some items were also donated or bid on by people and dogs that their mum had helped in the past through other online auctions or events for others.
From artwork to dog treats, jewellery to T-shirts, dog collars to fridge magnets, you name it, it’s been put up for auction.
Many items were also handmade, crafted and cooked by people who donated them to the auction. When time was called on the auction on September 10 the total raised via the auction was approximately BD1,130 and that in less than two weeks!
“It’s completely overwhelming to know that so many people love us, isn’t it Max?”
“Yes Pearl, I never knew we had so many beautiful friends who just wanted to help our mum. We must send them postcards when we arrive in Japan and keep them updated on our life there. I’m sure it’s gonna be a blast! And, I think what it shows is that there can be no excuses when it comes to taking your dog with you when you leave.
“There’s always a way to raise the money – be it online, as in our case, or through garage sales, car washing, selling dog treats or doing chores for a small charge.
“There just has to be the will because for sure there is a way!
