Twelve Nights - The Movie about Strays - Adopt, Don't Abandon

I came across this facebook page about a movie newly released in Taiwan named Twelve Nights, the story about stray dogs being sent to the animal 'shelter' (yes we call it 'shelter') and the twelve days they spent there before being put into sleep if they are not claimed by anyone. This movie caught my attention as I never thought that theme like this will be chosen to be produced into a movie as it is so insignificant in our life. How many people ever been to animal shelter before? I didn't (although I have been wanting to go, but just thinking without taking action, I feel so ashamed of myself). Another spotlight of this movie is that Giddens was involved in the production (if you really don't know who he is, click here. He is an awesomely dedicated author full of weird and crazy ideas) that gave me a reaction of 'what??? really??? how come I don't know??? I am so outdated!!!'.

Adopt, Don't Abandon! 

This is the main message that is brought out in this movie, to raise the awareness of public about animal welfare especially strays. After watching the trailer, I realised how ignorant and selfish we are about this issue. Stray dog is a common sight in Malaysia, at the wet market, in the park, along the road, around neighbourhood, everywhere! It is painful when you see them wandering around, foraging for food scraps, struggling to stay alive in this cruel cold world, but what you do is uselessly and helplessly watching them and when their begging eyes meet yours, you look away, pretending nothing happens. Most of them are terribly sick and infested by parasites, bringing more hatred from people because they are filthy and disgusting despite their kind heart as human's best friends. Parents taught their children to stay away from the strays when the children, pure and full of love, show affection towards those unwanted animals. People see them as a sore in eyes, chasing them away and hurting them, turning away from the fact that it's us who create these innocent lives.

21 March 2012, I won't forget that day when I got my SPM (the most important exam of a secondary school student in Malaysia) results, and on the same day, I almost lost her, a short-haired dog living in the back alley of my house. She was just as sweet as any other lucky dog with owner, wagging her tail and trotting towards me with happy paces whenever she saw me. My house is too small to have a dog, what my family could do was to feed her with leftovers (it's unhealthy for dogs to eat human food, but we have no choice). Every evening she would appear at the alley during dinner time and stayed there at night, watching over the alley. I know that she was scared when strangers approached but she still did her job of trying to defend the territory unless the invaders came too close. Her instinct and experiences told her to run away. Back to the story, that afternoon when I came home from school with my examination results slip, I heard the incident from my grandma: the people from the city council came to hunt down stray dogs. I was dumb-struck at the moment before rushing out of my house to look for her (she had three cubs at that time, but if not mistaken, only one escaped as it was hidden by a kind-hearted person who wished to adopt it). I walked around the neighbourhood, calling for her. I was really afraid at that time, tears welled up in my eyes. After some time searching under the scorching sun, I heard the sound of paws having contact with the road. When I turned around, I saw her pounding towards me. I knelt down and greeted her into my arms. That was the first time I hugged her, although she was dirty and smelly. I loved her.

Her old photo, taken two years ago.

We often see strays as invaluable life, they are annoying troublemakers who always mess around with people. But when we give them love, they love us equally, or more, in return. Since I furthered my studies in Selangor, I rarely met her. I have no idea whether she is still alive or not and how is her illness. One thing for sure, she will remain in my memories like any other strays that I encountered until now, because they made my life a little bit more wonderful with their beautiful hearts.

The official trailer of 'Twelve Nights'. I am not sure whether this movie is going to be available in cinemas of Malaysia or not. But if you are interested, you can always follow up from Giddens' blog (link is provided above) or the youtube channel. This is the official website which I recommend very much, it is so creative! http://www.twelvenights.com.tw/



P/S: I am looking forward to the movie very much although I hate to shed tears during movie time, ugh.