GOGS are now on sale! A dramatic change. In the past we could only acquire man's
best friend through luck - asking friends whose doggies were expecting pups.
First official dog trader in the country, Cha Cheng Chay said: "I
started the business nearly a year ago when foreign investors began to come.
"These people are my main customers, they love to order dogs from
overseas."
The dogs he has on display at on the northeastern edge of Psar
Thmei or New Market are all half-breeds, mostly from Vietnam, but Chay says the
customers could browse his catalogues and order any breed of thoroughbred dog
which he can get in from Thailand.
He said: "Nearly all of the ten
catalogue dogs I've sold have been ordered by foreign investors, Cambodians
prefer to buy the half breeds which sell for around $50, many times cheaper than
those from Thailand."
Despite the fact that there are very few, if any
other places that sell dogs, Chay says: " I can hardly survive on this career,
sometimes I can't sell a dog during the whole day."
I watched his sales
pitch when a potential customer approached.
"Madam these are good
Italian dogs."
Customer: "I think they are secondhand."
Chay:
"Come on, if you buy a dog it's like having ten guards for your
house."
Customer: "No, these dogs are only good for soup."
Poor
sales turnover has led Chay to turn in desperation to a fortune teller who
recommended he hold a special party for the dogs' equivalent All Saints day.
Along with daily meals, Chay says the special parties which take place
four nights a month cost a lot of money.
"The parties have not saved the
business from going bankrupt, I owe some $500 to middlemen."
Speaking of
dogs we should clarify the proverb 'Its bark is worse than its
bite'.
This may apply to Western dogs, but not Cambodian ones, they love
to practice the two activities together.
Wise old men advise the young
to: "Stop and sit down when a dog is chasing you and he will not
bite."
However, a veteran dog handler who requested anonymity, advised:
"It's much safer and wiser to show a clean pair of heels than surrender, but
only if you think you can run faster than the dog."
Contact PhnomPenh Post for full article
Post Media Co LtdThe Elements Condominium, Level 7
Hun Sen Boulevard
Phum Tuol Roka III
Sangkat Chak Angre Krom, Khan Meanchey
12353 Phnom Penh
Cambodia
Telegram: 092 555 741
Email: [email protected]