(MY) faithful dogs

[Guest guest]

Master's gone but his beloved dogs keep watch-New Straits Times

24 Jan 2007

 

 

IPOH: It's been three months since Sir Norman Frank Sisson died, but

his two faithful companions are still guarding his Canning Garden

home.

 

Sassy and Watch have to rough it out, sleeping on the porch, but come

rain or shine the two dogs patrol the garden of the semi-detached

house and chase off strangers.

 

Sassy, a seven-year-old Dachshund, and Watch, a five-year-old mongrel,

sleep on one of the towels their late master used.

 

Sir Norman died a bachelor and ever since his death the house has been

locked up. His wife died in 1984 while his three children live in

Australia with their own families.

 

 

 

The 75-year-old Australian's close friends and immediate neighbour

feed the dogs in the mornings and take them for evening walks.

 

" The first few days after Sir Norman's death Sassy was really

devastated. It's as if she knew. She would just lie down quietly on

the sofa atop her favourite pillow.

 

" She even refused to eat. That was when we decided that something must

be done to cheer them up, " said Corinne Lee, a close friend of Sir

Norman.

 

She said that they decided not to put up the dogs for adoption for

fear that they might die if they are separated.

 

" These two are inseparable, " she said.

 

Sir Norman died on Sept 27 last year from lung and kidney problems. He

was admitted to Ipoh Hospital in July and died about two weeks after

he slipped into a coma.

 

He made headlines with his ardent wish to become a permanent resident

here. He was granted PR about 10 minutes after he was pronounced dead

on Sept 27.

 

He came to Malaysia in 1989 on a work permit to manage a joint venture

marble factory. He stayed on after it closed in 1996.

 

Lee said the house owner, identified only as Ms Ooi, has agreed to

allow the dogs to stay there.

 

" The saddest part was that Norman did not have the chance to bid them

farewell when he left for the hospital. He thought he was coming

back, " she said.