In 2001, during her first year teaching at Sabah Tshung Tsin Secondary School, educator Ong En Oi encountered a trio of animals that would ultimately shape her understanding of love and responsibility. Her experiences with a cat, an elephant, and a dog over the years provided valuable lessons extending well beyond the classroom.

Ong’s introduction to Nana came unexpectedly one afternoon after work. Hearing persistent meowing from an abandoned car near her home in Sabah, she discovered a three-month-old tricolour kitten trapped inside. Naming the cat Nana, Ong recounted how the feline quickly became an integral part of her life for eight years. Known for her intelligence and boundless affection, Nana acted as an early morning alarm—waking Ong daily with determined kicks—and embraced three orphaned kittens brought to her care by the teacher’s students. Though Nana was never a mother, her acceptance of the rescued kittens offered a profound example of unconditional love.

In 2003, during a school trip to Danum Valley arranged by the prefect board, Ong had her first encounter with Borneo pygmy elephants in their natural habitat. Despite their smaller size compared to typical elephants, the creatures carried themselves with notable dignity. This encounter planted a lasting seed of environmental awareness. More than two decades later, Ong and her Junior 3 student team drew on that inspiration to develop an innovative elephant alarm system aimed at mitigating human-elephant conflicts in Sabah. Their project earned first runner-up honors at the 2024 Samsung Solve for Tomorrow competition, underscoring the value of early exposure to conservation challenges.

Before these moments, Ong’s connection with another animal shaped her daily life—Dumpil, a kampung dog with distinctive features and an affectionate nature. Gifted by her aunt during Ong’s tenure as a library assistant at the school, Dumpil was characterized by short legs, large paws, and a golden-brown coat. The dog’s playful demeanor brought joy and laughter to Ong’s household. However, in a tragic incident, Dumpil was lost after following Ong to school one afternoon and being struck by a vehicle. Despite this loss, Ong chooses to remember Dumpil not for his passing but for the happiness and silent lessons about love he imparted during their years together.

Collectively, these three animals—the cat Nana, the Borneo pygmy elephants, and the dog Dumpil—have influenced Ong’s perspectives on compassion, responsibility, and the unexpected ways in which animals can enrich human lives. Her stories emphasize how lessons of kindness and appreciation often arise outside traditional educational settings, often arriving quietly in the form of a meow, a gentle gaze, or a wagging tail.