BATANG KALI: While all attention is focused on finding nine people missing in the campsite landslide here, dog owner Toni Wong is frantic about two pet dogs who were lost while she and her friends were fleeing the landslide on Friday.
“I know that everyone is thinking that saving lives and looking for bodies is more important, but my dog is my family too,” said Wong, 40, from Petaling Jaya.
Wong is the owner of Sherlock, a grey mixed-breed Schnauzer with black spots, whom she regards as a family member. The other dog, Bernice, is a whitish, creamy mixed-breed poodle.
She said she had gone camping at Father’s Organic Farm with her friends, Katherine Poh, 36, and Eric Ng, 66, with their dogs, Sherlock, Bernice, and Benji.
It was their first camping trip together, and Wong’s second time at a camp.
They checked in at about 11am on Wednesday. “It was all good and we had a lovely time together until the terrifying incident happened last Friday at 2am.”
Wong said she was buried in the landslide with her friend Katherine. “I was submerged. Luckily, neighbouring campers came to help and pulled us out. I was very thankful and grateful to them, and eventually we managed to escape,” she said.
While they were fleeing from their campsite, worried about another series of landslides, her friend Eric was seen to have been buried in mud. She said her group found it impossible to reach him and rescue him.
She said she believes Eric is among those still missing.
Wong said the three dogs were safe by their sides while they were rushing to another spot in the lower area near a waterfall.
“We were together with our neighbouring campers, a whole big family that happened to have a child with them too. But as we were grouping there, we heard a very loud sound, and that was the time when we knew the second landslide was happening.
“Exhaustedly, we ran further, frightened. Katherine was carrying Benji, and it was the last time Bernice was in sight. Somehow she escaped. My Sherlock was nowhere to be found either.
“By the time we stopped running, as the second landslide seemed to have stopped, we couldn’t find the two dogs any more.”
Those in her group kept shouting for Sherlock and Bernice but the effort was in vain as the scene was too chaotic, with the noisy, ear-splitting sound made by the waterfall.
“Then a guy told us we have to keep moving as more landslides were expected to happen. Eventually, we met the rescue team, and we were led to a safer spot,” she said.
“As for the dogs, we miss them a lot. We want to bring them home. They are equally important to us. They are family, and I have the responsibility to bring them home. I have the responsibility to care for them,” she said.
She hoped the search and rescue team will give some attention towards looking for Sherlock and Bernice while searching for the remaining nine other missing victims.
Wong said she and her friends have posted notices online with information about the lost pets.
“I hope the authorities or anyone else can help us find a solution to bring our dogs back home. I know it’s impossible to access the site at the moment. But, if someone can tell us what is the best way, we will be sure to do it,” she said. - FMT
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