Who Else ?

What animals make the best/worst pets?

Doggos of course!

They are the bestest buddy and cutest of companions.

I have had pets since childhood.

I am a dog person.

Though I love all kinds of animals I generally do not understand cats or cows.

But dogs…..they know me and I know them inside out.

They come to me for their regular feed, in need of treatment and for shelter during extreme weather conditions.

One of my unfulfilled dreams is to own a dog farm.

Constitutionally, I am habituated having dogs around and outside my gate, in the balcony and even in the drawing room. I don’t mind them having everywhere and anywhere.

They complete my sense of security and safety. Around my flat dogs are available in all shapes and sizes. They have their names. I know their genealogy. In turn, they understand me perfectly.

Mostly they adopt me as I am the perfect fit for all their wants and demands.

Julie

We had Julie, a Dachshund, when I came into this world.

She was like a golden sausage. A very gentle and loving soul, she guarded our house and loved us fiercely. Sadly, she died an untimely death.

Badshah

A German Shepherd mix, he was playful and mischievous. He would have grown into a big burly fellow but lack of space compelled us to part with him for his own good.

Jojo

A cute fur ball of a Pomeranian mother, she loved to nibble on human toes. She had black spots on a snow white body. I loved to cuddle her. Again she had to be given back to her mother because we had to go to Calcutta quite suddenly upon hearing about my grandmother’s demise.

Mr. Snow Boot

A traumatized infancy made him insecure and anxiety prone. But we endured all his tantrums and loved him nonetheless. He was with us for ten years and left us as suddenly as he had come in our lives.

Rinky

A true blue Labrador she invests her restless energy and bagful of intelligence on how to eat, play, get pampered and laze at its best.

All my attempts at character building has come to naught because she instantly turns a deaf ear to all moral teachings.

She is particularly interested in vegetable peels which make us secretly believe she was a cow in her previous birth. Once during her morning sprints a mother cow actually took her to be a calf and came to lick her. In her early years she loved to throw her weight around literally in a fit of exuberance. Even now she orders us around and we have to obey her commands for peace sake.

She has an inherent hatred for the canine bourgeoisie (other breeds) and loves the proletarian strays. She lets in all other animals, like rats and squirrels, in a fraternal mood. All her watchdog instincts get waylaid by the aromas filtering out of the kitchen which is her favourite spot for rumination.

Certain Misnoomers

Don’t think canines cannot be judgmental just because they cannot voice their opinion.

They are silent critics and can make you feel worse than humans.

Mr. Snow Boot would look at me censoriously if I happened to keep the lights and TV past 10.00 PM.

He would pinch my sister if she got distracted while teaching my nephew.

They are intellectuals too.

Mr. Snow Boot loved to hear Didi’s tutorials on Economics.

They are the strictest disciplinarians.

Rinky can bring down the roof if she is not given her meals on time.

Not only her own but she also reminds us of our meal time if we shoot past the usual time.

They have their own witticism and sense of humour. You just have to understand it.

And aren’t they bossy!

As I said before, Rinky had great pleasure throwing me down on roads or parks, wherever she felt like, standing on top of my supine self victoriously wagging her tail in supreme delight.

Now she is a grown up, wise lady who makes it her duty to bark out gems of advices for all and sundry who happen to walk by.

I am sure we would have had it if only they could talk in human language.