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By Koh Hui Theng
THESE days, pets are more than man's best friend. They also play a role in shaping his career.
Just ask Mr Loh Mun Loong.
The communications consultant gave up his corporate job in a multinational company after seven years, so that he could spend more time with his eight-year-old pet pooch, Wow-B.
Says the 44-year-old: "I couldn't bear it, leaving her alone for 12 hours at a stretch. So I decided to look for something with greater flexibility." Thus, he set up his own business, also in the communications line, in 2006.
Instead of clocking in at 8.30am and leaving the office at 9pm or even later, Mr Loh now gets to plan his day in advance and spend more time with his beloved Maltese.
"I can take Wow-B to meetings," he says. "This way, she won't feel so lonely." Now working as an external vendor for Pet Lovers Centre, a local pet-care chain, Mr Loh says Wow-B protests if left on her own for more than three hours - by pooing and peeing in the same spot.
He admits with a laugh: "I spoil her tremendously, so much that she's grown to be quite diva-like."
The first-time pet owner confessed that some people thought he was weird, leaving his former job because of his pet.
"I told my group of Internet friends the real reason behind my career change. They said I was insane. One of them even stopped talking to me after that."
That has not deterred the dog lover, who continues to invest significant time, money and effort on his "child".
A $300 monthly electricity bill - the air-conditioning and television is turned on for Wow-B each time he goes out - and a $300 tab for food plus grooming, are small change for the entrepreneur.
He says: "Being a single parent to her takes up all my energy."
Mr Loh shrugs off perceptions that he is barking mad, and explains the owner-pet bond: "When she's okay, I'm okay."
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