30 Responses to Martin’s dog

1. 

   Tsa Tsa Anne on Jun 27, 2021 at 3:16 pm

   Thank you Rinpoche and Su Ming for sharing this short write up on Martin’s cute and lovely dog. Hope she gets a good rebirth by now. 🙏

   Reply
2. 

   Samfoonheei on Jul 25, 2020 at 1:47 pm

   Coco….cute and adorable dog that belongs to Martin. Looking at the pictures tells us all. Even though blind yet Martin have shown so much love to this cute dog. Dogs are human’s best friends, will be our best friend no matter what.
   Thank you Rinpoche for this sharing.

   Reply
3. 

   sweekeong on Nov 11, 2013 at 3:59 pm

   Martin has a few dogs he took care of. Only recently have I met Coco for the first time in Manjushri Hill at Kechara Forest Retreat, Bentong. Her look is just like a dog in a cartoon.

   This year makes Coco 10 years old. She’s a quite a good temper dog. Very pity she lost her eyes but I don’t feel that she’s depressed, perhaps she has move on. Definitely much better than us human here.

   Reply
4. 

   beatrix ooi on Jan 2, 2013 at 8:23 pm

   Mumu is so cute! Coco is so lucky to have a master like uncle Martin that loves her with all his heart. Uncle Martin is a very kind person, he treats animals very well. On the other hand, it’s very sad that Coco is blinded. I really cannot imagine living my life in completely darkness..
   Thank You for sharing Rinpoche.
   Love, beatrix.

   Reply
5. 

   edward ooi on Nov 18, 2012 at 8:58 pm

   Thank you Martin for taking good care of your blind dog. I wish you have a good health and long life.
   PS: She is very cute!

   Reply
6. 

   Sheryl KH (JB) on Jul 16, 2012 at 11:49 pm

   Dogs are human’s best friends. We read of this from many stories around the world.

   While they cannot speak our language and we cannot understand theirs, they stay faithful to us no matter what, even if the owners don’t really take good care of them. They don’t seem to have hatred in their hearts. They have unshakable loyalty towards whoever they see as their owners.

   Thank you Martin for taking so good care of Coco. She is really very lucky to have met you. While it has been said that dogs can still manage their lives well even without perfect eyesight, still, things are not the same again and they must know it.

   Dogs are animals, but they can teach us many lessons in life.

   I wish Coco the best. May she have great health always and enjoy every single day of her life happily!!

   Reply
7. 

   Uncle Eddie on Sep 8, 2010 at 4:48 pm

   Coco, martin’s dog brings back mememory of a similar stray dog we had many years ago. But unlike coco, this dog which also had fluffy hair was blinded in one eye, the cause of which we had no way to know or find out. He was actually a stray found waiting by the gate of my father-in-law’s house, badly injured, with one of his eyeballs hanging out. Immediately we took him to the vet to try to repair him but the vet declared the there was no way to save it(the eyeball). So the vet medicately treated, washed, and bandaged him up up and sedatively put him to rest until next day. It was a real cruel fate for such a pretty small animal to experience. We took care of him for the next few days until he became stronger, we decided to take him round to the neighbour hood to be identified and vice-versa. No one seemed to know him or he of anybody. So by fate’s choice, we were chosen to house him and make him a new addition to the family. Fortunately, the children seemed to feel attracted to him, and took to him like a fish in the water, and the “fluffy doggy” to my children too! So we kept this doggyfluffy with us for quite a few long years until he passed away.

   Reply
8. 

   mayy on Aug 23, 2010 at 5:57 pm

   What a cute and adorable dog. Thank you Martin for sharing the story on Coco.
   It is such a wonderful lesson to learn from Coco to accept what life has in store for us without complaining. If within our heart we are able to accept and be grateful for what we have our life will change.

   I suppose because Coco has such noble character and a positive attitude in life, she has found a kind soul like Martin to take care of her.

   Reply
9. 

   Anila on Aug 13, 2010 at 4:18 pm

   This cute little Martin’s dog Coco reinds me of a similar doggie I had many years ago even though I have forgotten his name. One day while visiting my parents home I saw a small little fluffy dog standing by the gate. And when I look closer at the dog I notice one his his eyeballs was hanging from his eye sockets. He look so pathetic. I quickly took him to the Vet thinking the Vet might be able to put his eyeballs back. But was not successful. Since we do not know who the owner was I took him and cared for him. One day he went out of the gate to play and was attacked by stray dogs and damaged to other eye also and became blind. But he managed to live for quiet a long time and later died.

   Reply
10. 

    Helen Persson on Jul 15, 2010 at 8:32 am

    It´s beautiful to see how an innocent blind happy little dog just by his very exsistance silently without words open our eyes and hearts to love, care and to share 🙂

    Reply
11. 

    Shirley Tan on Jul 14, 2010 at 1:35 am

    This story of Coco brought tears to my eyes. And I usually do not get emotional about dogs. I think I had lost feelings of attachment to animals when the first pet dog I had passed away.
    He was attacked very viciously by robbers who intended to rob our house. His name was JQ. He was a brilliant dog, so much intelligence and displayed so many human traits. As we are a household of 4 sisters, JQ became our “brother”, the fifth sibling in the family.
    All of us loved him dearly. We each took care of him since he was a pup and we even chose him collectively. When he was young, we used to sneak him into our rooms without our parents knowing. We really loved him.
    On the day he died, he was stabbed with a long metal stick. He did not cry or made a fuss. He hid under one of our air cons.
    For some reason, I woke up very early that morning. And I just went outside to look for him and saw a trail of blood. I followed the bloody trail and it led to JQ. He was so badly injured and I just couldn’t believe what I saw.
    WE rushed him to the clinic and we were with him every single day. Even my parents visited him. On the third day, he seemed so well and we even took him on a walk nearby the clinic. I seriously thought that we could bring JQ home with us the next day. Unfortunately, the minute we got home after leaving JQ, the clinic called us and told us that JQ has died.
    We were all shocked and were in disbelief. We just saw him! My sisters and I were inconsolable. Although after JQ, my sisters brough home many pets – from birds, cats, rabbits and more dogs, but I just could not bring myself to love any of them as I loved JQ. I don’t know why. It was just not the same. Since then I did not have any pets, nor felt any warmth towards any animals.
    I think this is the first time I am sharing this story. I guess, Martin’s own sharing has given me some courage to share mine. Funny that I can mourn the death of a dog for so many years.

    Reply
12. 

    Wan Wai Meng on Jul 13, 2010 at 11:46 pm

    Martin the story of Coco really moves me thank you for sharing it with us. Well Coco’s tale is one of compassion and patience in the face of adversity.
    Hope your actions and story will create waves in people’s mind and get them to care for animals just like how you’ve done it. Thank you for showing kindness to animals that are disadvantaged.

    Reply
13. 

    Ashlee on Jul 13, 2010 at 10:40 pm

    Martin, thank you for being so kind and taking good care of Coco. Its really sad that majority of the pet owners doessn’t know how to take care of their dogs. I’m so glad you have found Coco and give her a better life and love she deserves. May u inspire others to care for animals. Thank you again.

    Reply
14. 

    May Ong on Jul 13, 2010 at 6:42 pm

    Dogs or animals are men’s best friends! How true!
    Martin – you looked after Coco without prejudice although she was blind in one eye. You are very kind to look after her, care and love her like your own child. I believe Coco knows this in her heart too.
    May Coco be reincarnated into the upper realms with your prayers. Thank you for caring and loving her, Martin.

    Reply
15. 

    martin on Jul 13, 2010 at 3:53 am

    Thank you all for your kind words. Wouldn’t it be great if Coco could read or comprehend all your encouragement and the significance of your words? If she could, she would certainly be very happy. I am touched and inspired by your messages and yet Coco’s world remains the same. Aren’t we fortunate to be born as we are and able to learn and express ourselves. Aren’t we lucky that there are daily opportunities for us to practice love and compassion?
    Thank you all once again, and thanks Su Ming for posting Coco.

    Reply
16. 

    Beng Kooi on Jul 13, 2010 at 3:52 am

    Thank you Martin for going out of your way to care for these disadvantaged animals. Knowingly or unknowingly, you are following the footsteps of Rinpoche, who used to visit the many petshops of KL and PJ incognito, and rescuing animals who are in dire straits. A well known example of that of starving Gonkar who would have died had he not been adopted by kind Datin Jennifer.
    There are many other tales such as this – Rinpoche has rescued upside-down goldfish, 2 tortoises confined in tiny spaces, an unhappy chipmunk, two unwanted adult dogs, a lonely sun conure … the list is endless, and will continue to grow. And people such as yourself will spread this message of kindness and care to many others.

    Reply
17. 

    Justin Ripley on Jul 13, 2010 at 2:48 am

    Dear Matin,
    That was just a moving story and teaching on Coco! Thank you for sharing. Wow she really is a great inspiration in teaching us the true meaning of forgiveness and moving on with life. I agree with you, most of us would not reacted they way Coco did so easily if our eyes were taken away. Heck we can’t even not get upset when someone cuts us during a traffic jam!
    Coco is amazing! And you are amazing to to keep her and care for her with so much kindness. Indeed these animals are doing us a favour, as Rinpoche always says, they give us the opportunity to learn how to care and love unconditionally.
    Would love to meet sweet Coco one day 😉

    Reply
18. 

    Andrew James Boon on Jul 12, 2010 at 5:53 pm

    Such a wonderfully moving story. Thierry and I have our bundles of joy too (6 dogs and 1 cat) and we know exactly how much comfort, joy and unconditional love they give us. I agree that Coco and Martin are both lucky to have each other! Love to meet Coco one day Martin. Perhaps we should arrange for a “tea party” for our babies… Yay!
    Coco is indeed special in that she teaches us forgiveness and how our lives are not determined by what we have but something much deeper. She is one of the living examples out there in our world.
    I too love what Martin says about how Coco is his good friend and Teacher! I absolutely agree again. We sometimes are blind and cannot “see” the lessons that are right in our face!

    Reply
19. 

    weeliang on Jul 12, 2010 at 4:58 pm

    Hey Martin,
    Coco is cute. I’m glad she is still with you and you are still taking good care and loving her. I believe that everything happens for a reason. Although she is a dog, I believe she is making the best of the worse and it has made her stronger, we just don’t know it. Its not how we fall but how we pick ourselves up.
    My dog, Bimbo(i adopted her with that name), looks a little like Coco. Maybe they should hang out.
    Buddha bless bro.
    Wee Liang

    Reply
20. 

    Jean Mei on Jul 12, 2010 at 12:44 pm

    Hey Martin!
    Thanks for sharing your thoughts and explaining Coco’s life through the comment section.
    I think that it’s really, really sweet of you to care about her so much when she has been neglected all her life.
    Regarding what you wrote about you being lucky to have her, I think that you’re both lucky to have each other as you both help each other in the ways that you do.
    I’m glad that Coco has you. You not only take care of her in this life, but by reciting the medicine Buddha mantra to her, you give her a better chance of a good rebirth 🙂

    Reply
21. 

    Helen Persson on Jul 12, 2010 at 2:19 am

    Thank you for sharing such a wonderful story 🙂

    Reply
22. 

    John Colquhoun on Jul 12, 2010 at 12:05 am

    What an inspiring story! Certainly puts our daily worries into perspective. How nice of you Martin to care for Coco when many would have given up on her, and what a good example she sets to us in forgiveness and letting go. Many times we fall out with people who have upset us yet Coco is still friendly with the one who took her sight away!

    Reply
23. 

    thierryfornow on Jul 11, 2010 at 11:39 pm

    That is soooo beautiful!
    After a year in a cage, the attack of her dog house-mate, and the lost of both eyes, Coco is still “smiling” and goes happily about, what a true lesson of contentment that is!
    It really touches my heart.
    Then of course, there is Martin who not only took over the care of the dog that had been very lucky with its previous owner but who also continues, with love and compassion, to care for Coco even after she’s lost her second eye.
    I wish I can hold Coco near to me one day and give her a bit o pamper too, I am so happy for Coco, I am so happy for Martin.
    And… who said we needed two eyes to be happy? This is proof we don’t!

    Reply
24. 

    Woan on Jul 11, 2010 at 10:56 pm

    Dear Martin,
    I am deeply moved by your care for animal, especially blind ones like Coco and how Coco shows forgiveness; you two really deserve each other.
    This world would definitely be a better place if there are more people like you.

    Reply
25. 

    mima on Jul 11, 2010 at 2:03 pm

    Thank you Martin for your great care and love for Coco. What a wonderful story to share and we can all learn from Coco and her great attitude. Forgiveness is so important as you mentionned it.
    Rinpoche’s biography is telling us how he was asked by his teacher to ask his mother to forgive him as she was the one hurting him.
    It is a very moving and humbling lesson I learned from Rinpoche about forgiveness.
    Sometimes I wonder when do I really know I totally forgive and let go of all the grudges I have against a person…Practicing forgiveness by learning to let go of my grudges and being kind toward other is making a difference little by little but asking other to forgive me for whatever hurt I did to them is also very important to do.

    Reply
26. 

    Naturehan on Jul 11, 2010 at 1:41 pm

    Hi Martin,
    Thanks for sharing Coco’s story. May coco always be happy and cheerful ! Even Coco gave Martin a lesson of forgiving!amazing
    Pets certainly can be our best teacher if we care enough, i realized Rinpoche posted so many articles about animals, all there are dharma and remind us to practice compassion. If we can’t even take care of animals, i dont think we are compassionate enough or gat ready to benefit many many others.

    Reply
27. 

    Leonglili on Jul 11, 2010 at 1:30 pm

    Hi Martin,
    Thank you for sharing coco’s story I’m very touched by Coco’s wisdom and compassion. Coco is very blessed to have so much care from you. My wish that Rinpoche’s vision of KSA be manifested soon to help more animals. We have a lot to learn from animals too.

    Reply
28. 

    martin on Jul 11, 2010 at 12:40 pm

    Dear Rinpoche and Jay Jae,
    Thank you for your kind words. Her name is Coco and i don’t exactly know how old she is. I have had her for 5 years and the previous owner couldn’t remember how long they had the dog. When i first met Coco she was in a small cage and had not been let out of the cage for at least a year, not even to “go to toilet”. Everytime previois owner’smaid cleaned the cage, Coco got a shower s well.
    The previous owners are not bad people as such but perhaps ignorant to how precious life is. And people who are not prepared to love,care and toilet train dogs should NEVER even think of getting a puppy no mater how cute they appear.
    Coco was blind in one eye 4 years ago and a few months ago she lost the other eye (she was attacked, unfortunately by my other dog…perhaps out of jealousy as i was giving Coco a lot of attention at the time)). She does not have any eyes now as the eye sockets have been stitched shut.
    Coco has taught me much…her world changed so suddenly and i was warned by Dr Prem that dogs in Coco’s position become vicious as they get paranoid and frightened. Or they may become depressed. Coco is not at all bitter and in a matter of days, she accepted her fate and just carried on as usual…of course she bumps into things a lot.
    The most touching thing is how she is not at all bitter and is just as cheerful and loving. When i place her near the dog that attacked her (through a gate)she is very happy and wants to play. Such forgiveness, such a wonderful character, such courage, and all these traits even after having endured so much.
    I am lucky to have her…she is my very good friend and my TEACHER.
    I doubt many people would respond to life’s adversities as Coco has. I have often questioned how i would have reacted….and Coco reminds me daily now how to forgive.
    Su Ming taught me to blow the medicine Buddha mantra on her which i do as much as possible. Thank you Su Ming.

    Reply
29. 

    henry ooi on Jul 11, 2010 at 12:26 pm

    Poor mumu! But fortunate to live together with our good friend, Martin. I first saw her when I visited Rinpoche’s mumu, yogi, when yogi was warded at the vet. She looked sad and lonely then, perhaps missing Martin. Now all’s well.

    Reply
30. 

    Jay Jae Chong on Jul 11, 2010 at 8:55 am

    OMG what a cute chow chow!
    I think within the animal kingdom, the closest animal to the human realm would be the doggies:)
    they’re cute, cuddly and almost irresistable to the fact that they need to be cared for lovingly. Learning how to take care of them and nurture from comes from much care and love.
    martin is a must love and care for his doggie very much as she looks like a happy dog:)

    Reply