From M’sia to Switzerland, Cai Cai finds her happy ending

Melanie Dehnert and her family relocated to Switzerland this year, bringing along Cai Cai, a rescue dog originally from Malaysia. Melanie, originally from Germany and living in Malaysia for seven years, welcomed a son in 2022. Two years later, Cai Cai became part of their growing family. Upon first meeting Cai Cai, Melanie recalled that the dog was shy and cautious yet curious.

Adjusting to her new home took time, as Cai Cai exhibited flight mode when exposed to noisy environments and anxiety in unfamiliar settings. Even the sound of metal shutter gates frightened her. However, Melanie's patience paid off as Cai Cai slowly grew more confident, thanks to her interactions with dog friends at the park. When the family decided to move to Europe, leaving Cai Cai behind was not an option.

She underwent crate training and worked with a dog trainer and pet communicator to make her journey less stressful. Cai Cai traveled from Malaysia to Germany via Istanbul, a total journey of 24 hours. Upon arrival, she remained calm in her crate and quickly adapted to her new surroundings. Now living in Switzerland, Cai Cai has embraced her new life with off-leash walks, wide-open spaces, and a quirky habit of peeing in lakes.

Her transformation from a timid rescue dog to a confident companion has been documented on Melanie's Instagram page, Pawsitive Cai Cai, which has gained over 2,500 followers. Through this platform, Melanie aims to showcase that rescue dogs can make wonderful family pets, as Cai Cai now enjoys being petted, sleeps close to Melanie, and even participates in various activities with her family.