At the age of 27, Stella had her career crisis. The well-paid job in a glorious-looking industry was eating her mental and physical health. She intended to leave, but everyone else she trusted suggested she bow down to “adult life”.
She was drained out. That’s when Xiaohu, a three-year-old Pomeranian she adopted two years ago, gave her irreplaceable comfort and courage. Whenever she came home exhausted, threw herself on the couch, Xiaohu jumped into her lap, licking her face. It’s Xiaohu’s way of sharing her pain and cheering her up. He looked at her full of worry. “He absorbs my sadness.” Stella says.
Xiaohu is a Chinese phrase for “little tiger”, but it also implies an extremely energetic and bold personality, which describes him very well. Xiaohu enjoys the company of humans, especially Stella. Running freely on a meadow and chewing his squeaky toys are his favorites. And of course, Stella has to be there, too.
Making homemade snacks for Xiaohu is Stella’s weekend ritual. “The dry dog food I bought tastes the same for Xiaohu, so I cook something different each week, which is not complicated.” Stella says, “It’s fresh, he loves it more than canned or bagged food.”
Cooking is Stella’s way of showing her care and appreciation for Xiaohu’s presence. He can feel it, too. Every time she cooks for Xiaohu, he follows around in the kitchen, sits next to her, intently observing her every move.
“His eyes are glued to my hands! Sometimes, he wags his tail with excitement. When I finally brought the food to him, he was so happy!” Stella recalls, “That’s when I realized cooking for him wasn't just about feeding him, it was about sharing something special. Xiaohu’s reactions mean that actual communications are happening between me and him.”