Maximum joy crammed into a mini-body makes Chocolate, a tiny brown poodle, one of the happiest characters in Asia. His zest for life, generously shared with a human family, inspired Chocolate's “dad”, Hong Kong university administrator Rupert Chan, to write the little guy's autobiography.
Affection between pets and their people permeates in Chocolate's Brown Study in the Bag (2011, Proverse Hong Kong, 103 pages, HK$98). “Don't say Chocolate is a blessed puppy to have loving owners like us,” the author says. “The fact is we are a blessed family to have such a blessing in Chocolate.”
Most biographies rival the bulk of bricks, but this one's super-thin. No wonder! At the time of writing, young Chocolate had lived just 33 eventful months. Yet the diminutive dog shows wisdom beyond his years: “I can understand the vogue for pets in a hectic urban community like Hong Kong, where human beings are disillusioned and even despairing of members of their own species.”
Chan and his wife (nicknamed Aba and Mimi by Chocolate) enjoy taking their pet on big-city outings, even to restaurants, church and on public transport where strict rules forbid dogs. “All the while Mimi behaves like a kidnapper afraid of being caught red-handed. In contrast, Aba and I exhibit great composure.”
Part of the book's message may be political. In a place like Hong Kong, where a privileged class makes all the rules acting in self-interest, the wishes of ordinary people hardly matter. Therefore, small acts of disobedience to flaunt rules at every chance deserve praise, and even pets can help to foster defiant attitudes.
When in a pet-carrier bag, little Chocolate usually (not always) goes unnoticed. “I will make no sound, and minimal movement, once I am placed inside the bag and it is zipped closed. That has enabled me to remain in the company of Aba and Mimi virtually anywhere and everywhere.... We like this arrangement.... Aba and Mimi would rather have me by their side, though shut up in a bag. I would rather be so than left home alone.”
When shrouded by darkness “in the bag”, Chocolate naps and meditates, reflecting about his life and the quest for happiness. “I simply stretch out my fore legs fore and my hind legs aft in opposite directions as I lie flat on my stomach. The bottom padding of the bag, at once hard enough to give support and softened by stuffing for comfort, is snug and warm. Hence, I am prone to doze off into my multi-coloured dreamland whenever I am shut up in the bag.”
Attuned to his pet's thoughts, Chan writes from Chocolate's viewpoint. “...all dogs have short memories. That is why dogs are always cheerful. We leave all unhappy recollections behind, and selectively recall only the happy, good old days.”
Born in Australia, Chocolate (named for his dark-chocolate-colored fur) reached Hong Kong in 2006 for sale in a pet shop. His humans (“it was love at first sight”) purchased him there. Surely, Chan, Chocolate and all readers should recognize the inadvisability of patronizing the often-cruel pet trade.
Adored by his family as “a great cohesive force”, congenial Chocolate still falls short of perfection. Like everyone, he has faults, including vanity when posing for pictures with tourists. His priorities appear self-serving too. “Food, glorious food! It gives me great joy. So does play, of course.”
Bigger, burlier dogs from Hong Kong's New Territories or outlying islands may heap scorn on Chocolate. To them, he's a spoiled sissy, “smug and snug”, living high-on-the-hog, often riding in cars, wearing clothes, having birthday bashes, nibbling on pricey treats and posing at photo-studios. As for hiding in a pet-carrier bag, isn't that cat-like behavior?
Everyone lands in different life circumstances so it's unfair to scold Chocolate for his good luck and cushy life among adoring humans. Most dogs, even the burly critics, may feel some envy.
Sincerely told, Chocolate's story stresses the many benefits of keeping pets. “I am very dejected and cross after a hard day's work, facing demanding and even unreasonable clients. Then I arrive home and Chocolate comes rushing to greet me, licking my face all wet, and at once I forget all my troubles.”
Sometimes Chocolate even saves his folks money. When the humans take him to a pet-photographer for family portraits, they pay a fraction of what humans-only studios charge.
Chocolate's Brown Study in the Bag was a finalist for the 2009 Proverse Prize. Seasoned in cultural endeavors, Chan also works as a playwright, lyricist, translator, writer, radio-host and opera-commentator. He helps to lead the Chung Ying Theatre Company and the Composers' and Authors' Society of Hong Kong.
At a book-launch party on March 9, Chan conceded that Chocolate's Brown Study in the Bag probably won't land on classic-literature shelves beside the all-time great animal stories like Black Beauty, The Call of the Wild and Wolf Totem. Even so, it fits nicely into a great literary genre, that of tales sure to please people who appreciate animals.
Despite being brief, the book has plenty of pet-friendly content. In that sense, it's richer than fine Swiss chocolate.
Approval rating: 81 per cent.
For more information: http://www.proversepublishing.com
(March 16, 2011)
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