I turn a corner and a stagnant, toxic smell hits me. I follow the sound of paint being mixed and soon find myself in a workshop, the walls covered with scribbles and maths equations.

"The dogs leave in the afternoon but the bitches stay all day," says the man mixing the paint. "Feed one regularly enough and make a friend, she'll stay all night and guard your place." His eyes gesture towards a dog peering through the doorway. As I step back outside, I notice a neat pile of dog food on the floor.

The dogs are my way in, I think, my reason to explore.

A dog appears from the corner, bald patches scattered across his coat. He's dry and raw. I begin to follow him and he looks back at me.

"What are you doing?" he asks.

"Taking your lead," I reply.

Behind the hind legs of a dog I wander. The soft haze hides my tracks. Things are forgotten here.

A man stands beside one of the piles of black grime.

"People come here to dump dogs. Other people come to find one they can keep. The government says they're dirty and carry diseases. Sometimes they come around and kill them."

I grimace.

"Bagai anjing menyalak di ekor gajah," he says.

I smile back.

I decide then I'll call this place Dogtown.