Happiness is paved in paw prints. 🐾

                   It was my 5th month on-board, everything was about work. When I had one of the best surprises of all when we reached Venezuela, vessel anchored at Puerto Jose and the Immigration officials  came on-board along with the Customs officers. As I came down from bridge after maneuvering, I saw the army personal and drug search part were boarding through the accommodation ladder, and there she was.

                  The Golden beauty, a sight for the sore eyes. Her name is Sophie, and she's a sniffer dog in the army. I know it sounds like she's a tough girl, but she's such a sweetheart  and cutie pie. The way she'd close her eyes and enjoy the moment when you pat her on the head is really the best. You wouldn't want to take your hands off her, if you do she would use the puppy look as a way to get you to do it again. I spent almost about half an hour just petting her, without preparing any port papers to give the shore personal. Then my Chief Officer came looking for me, as he saw me not wanting leave her side, he even recommended me give her some biscuits did that for me, something like that never happened before or never after. As soon as he those words and asked the Fourth Officer to help him with the documents and left me to it. Till date I couldn't believe that , those words came out of his mouth, I ran up to the provision store to pick up some biscuits and then I told my Chief Cook who is also my best buddy about Sophie, and he couldn't wait to see her. He called the second cook to take over the cooking and he came running with me to see her. Then he took her to the galley and fed her almost all of the chicken he cooked for Ship's crew lunch, which was funny for us but not for the hungry crew came to eat. And when it was time to leave we gave her the goodbye hugs and saw her running so spirit-fully to forward of the ship before she hopped on the accommodation ladder and sailed away on the boat.

She does love her head pats

Having duty to do but not wanting to leave her side.  

From Left to Right : My Chief Cook and Pump Man petting her avidly.

The plate was filled with fresh cooked chicken minutes before this photo, she really has an appetite.