02/01/2023
Story of Pinki aka Dhanno, a 14-year-old beloved Indian female dog.
Died on 1st January 2023 due to old age and a growing external tumor on her chest.
I know Pinki since 2014 when I went to rent a flat in her society. Gradually, she became a playmate to my 2 Labradors and started frequenting my flat.
She started living inside my flat and whenever she needed to go out she would indicate it to me and I would let her out. Then she returns and mildly knocks my door to let her in.
Many neighbors started having lots of issues with her as well as me for sheltering her. One of the complaint is also her killing pigeons and scattering the remains here and there. Obviously, I do not have control over such things.
Once she gave birth to 8 puppies underneath the generator and when it rained I brought all her pups in along with her. So, now the neighbors started complaining that I run some sort of puppy business. They also reported the same to my landlord...
Before me, these same people ditched her in a sack in some far off places but all the times she came back to her place!
Now, I took her full responsibility and got her sterilized and vaccinated apart from taking care of her food and shelter.
When I shifted to the adjacent society, these neighbors pressurized me to take her along with me. I ended up fighting for her rights to live in that society as that is the only place she holds dear ever since she was a 30-35 day old pup. Although I tried taking her into my new adjacent flat she would never leave her original place and would not even live with me and my dogs. I started feeding her morning and evening and also took care of all her medical and emotional needs from time to time.
Time progressed and Pinki grew old though she never lost on her resilience. She only grew calmer day by day.
Last September I felt a little lump on her chest, which gradually grew in size and then one day it burst with blood not stopping. I took her to the vet who carried out some test and prescribed her medications. Vet did not recommend surgery because of her progressing age. After caring for her for 2 months the tumor only kept growing and growing. Although she was eating at first for the last 10 days she completely left eating any food or water. I accepted that her time to depart is nearing.
Yesterday, when I went to see her in the morning she was sitting in an unusual place - the mandir of the society, in a posture as if she is asking something from the God. And then she waited for everyone to enjoy the new year day. At around 9 p.m. while I was feeding the neighborhood dogs, the guard of her society came running that Pinki is unable to stand up and is struggling. I rushed to her and pat her after which she vomited and became unconscious. But resilient as she is, she did not give up and she responded to my calling her name each time for at least 8 times. Its as if she did not want to go. And then she became still.....
I requested her society RWA to not distance her from the society as that was the place she thought to be her own. And she was cremated inside the premise in a corner of the park with all love that she so rightly deserved.
Indeed, a dog teaches us to be human. I ardently believe that was her purpose of life.