Dabboo's Jolly Ride

Just when I started thinking the day was going to be dull and boring as always, my sister reminded me that we were supposed to take our dog for her yearly vaccine. Fine, something pushing me out of the house today. So we got all ready and got out to go, put the dog lash for Dabboo who was all excited to go out for a walk (she hardly knew this was a looooong loooong Jolly Ride instead). 

A few steps from home, we found an auto who insisted for a flat 100 bucks just for a ride which would take not even half of the amount. Well, like I'm going to spare him. I haggled and finally concluded since we are taking a dog I'd pay him 20 bucks more. So there we (me, mom and Dabboo) set out on the auto while my sister had already gone half way by her scooty (she loves it >.<). Dabboo loved the ride on the auto, believe me, though I had to hold her real tight just so scared she might jump off the auto. Now for those of you who know nothing about my dog aka my Dabboo - she is the most untrained but the friendliest Labrador Retriever ever. Anyways, so Dabboo was enjoying every bit of the beautiful weather of Bangalore as well as the "Cars" that passed by. I wish I could understand more of her doggie language and feelings so I could tell you through her words. But all I could comprehend was that she loved the cool breeze, counted the number of cars on the road that passed us and was over-excited. 

Now, when we reached the hospital, Dabboo remembered the place she visited a year ago, faintly. All the pain came back like a flash of agony through her eyes. She whined and yelped to go back but when she understood that she had to undergo the same she got really restless, walking around not knowing what to do. She didn't let the doctor check the weight nor her temperature. She just sat up on the pedestal type of steel platform salivating vigorously, sniffing to find way to jump off the place she sat upon. Then the doctor filled two syringes full with vaccine and my eyes popped out seeing two painful injections into my baby. I, myself, do so much drama when I have to bear those needles going through my skin, how would a mute creature bear it all? And, two? I turned to my sister and gave her an "OMG" expression, she had the same too. Next what happened was the worst ever. We had to hold an overly-aggressive dog, so what did the doctor think of? Yes, tie her mouth so tight that it wouldn't open. We agreed as it would not allow her to bite us. But that idiot tied it with her tongue stuck between her teeth in the front and he said "Yenu agalla" ("Nothing's going to happen") so sternly and ruthlessly. But still when the doctor injected the first vaccine, Dabboo agitated and tried pushing away the needle. Then the needle went through. We held her real hard so that she doesn't move. And when the needle went in completely, Dabboo gave me that one look of "Why did you do this to me when all I gave you was my love, love and all love? Why did you let some idiot hurt me so bad?" - that broke my heart into a million pieces for letting her take up all that bitter pain. She started palpitating with foams coming off her mouth. And she quietly took in the second injection. She didn't agitate nor push the needle away. But just kept looking at me the same way and that's when I wanted to cry a million tears. 

The injections were done leaving Dabboo palpitating and salivating out of pain and fear. I took her out right then and we found another auto to go home. But this time, even before I ask the auto guy if he'd come Dabboo was already into the auto. The auto guy had to agree then. This time, on the way back, Dabboo was much sober than she was earlier. She lied down flat and watched the slight drizzle fall on her and the awesomely cool breeze blow on her face. She enjoyed it utterly. We knew. She loved the jolly ride on the auto as well as when people saw her and kids tried gaining her attention. Most of all, I felt proud when people around said "Such a pretty dog she is", just like my own baby girl (Yes the first thing I did was to put a black spot on her when I got back home keeping away bad sights).

When we got back home, all tired, we found Dabboo under the sofa, completely quiet and sleepy. Yes, she was tired, but most of all, the horrifying pain she underwent made her stay calm, probably. Well, it was a day to remember and Goodness me, it's going to come back every year. I just hope we learn how to train ever-willing-to-learn Dabboo how to stay calm and imagine that the needle going through is just like an ant-sting, just what mom says whenever I have to take one. I know it's really hard, but we've got 365 days more for all that. 

Bow Wow --> Be My Friend, Will You??

How difficult is it to show love to another dog right in front of your own? How difficult is it to make your pooch understand that she would be loved forever like always no matter whichever animal or creature comes in between? Ummm ask me, it's really difficult unless your dog is a really understanding one. Well, I was in a similar situation lately and after it all I felt the urge of blogging about it too.

My sister's friend and her husband had to go out of town for a day and so asked us if we could take care of their dog which happens to be a 7 month old Pocket-Pomeranian(I'd like to call her PP for now). We readily agreed since I was really fond of her :) But obviously we had only one thing troubling us and that was - how are the 2 dogs going to take up the feeling of each other's close proximity? Dog Lovers out there and everyone else who know about dogs would know why that is important. 

The day finally came when PP was coming home and so I instructed Dabboo (my pretty little 1 and a half year old female Yellow Labrador Retriever) that she is supposed to behave when the guest arrives. Now, Labs are really friendly dogs, be it with humans or even other dogs (check this Animal Planet video to find out more  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cj81wHmfXc). PP comes like a princess and Dabboo goes around sniffing her to get to know her. One growl, and Dabboo moves back, starts barking. Now since PP is really tiny, we thought she would not be able to fight Dabboo who is much huger than her, so we put her out. Now Dabboo sees PP licking my hand and feels threatened. She starts barking at the top of her voices. There you go Mother of Insecurity!!! That incident makes me a "Traitor" in the eyes of my ever unconditionally loving dog Dabboo, which is very very remorseful (Have pets and feel that, it's crazy). So I take her out for a walk and also do stuffs we always love doing, and i.e., sit on our favourite spot on the terrace and talk. Yes, I did talk and I do that whenever I feel low, and believe me that's the best time ever, because I cry and I know there is someone listening to me though that someone can't actually talk back to me but at least wipes my tears off placing her paws on my palms, sort of assuring me saying "Don't worry everything will be fine". Now to such a friend who is feeling sad over all this it was my turn to do the "consoling" bit. So I went on to tell her how much she means to us (especially me) and how much we'd love her more than any other pet on earth, all because she was our first :) :) And seriously, believe me, she did understand me a little. 

Dabboo was fine sleeping out near the door but PP would go get her attention and then run back to us, as in for support against the bigger bully, and in case we did give her the much-needed attention she'd back back at Dabboo with that rather cute squealing voice. Once we sisters found out it was all a intently performed ritual to show off to the other of the security and affection the pooch enjoys from its human masters, we stopped heeding to it and "minded our own business" then. The night passed out, so did the next morning.

Finally, we sisters decide to let the dogs be friends so we take them to the terrace holding our hearts in our hands (Ok now I don't know why we got so scared then to let the 2 of them open up to each other). We still wish we'd known it was not that difficult. As not actually expected they ran around the place, one after the other, and in no time became really good friends. We were glad and also relieved that we could now concentrate on our usual household chores. 

But then, sadly for the new pals, it was time to separate. It was time to say "Good Bye" with a lot of whines and barks. Well as it's always said "All is well that ends well", I went in for a 12 hour sleep after the really tiresome day. But not everything was good. The 2 friends were really sad after that. What makes me say that? They didn't play around like how they did normally, just not interested in doing anything. Maybe dogs do have feelings. They do know what it means to be in peer groups too. They do know what it means to be friends and what it means to get isolated. They do know how it feels when you don't have that one friend with whom you spent some really beautiful moments of your life. We humans feel that every now and then, right since our childhood. So this blog goes out to all my dear loving sweet close and not so close friends, the ones I know since ages and the new ones, the ones really far away and the ones who I don't see often as well as my once-upon-a-time friends, whatsoever it is 

I miss those old days 

When we had loads of fun 

Under the sun 

Not fearing what may come 

Acting really dumb

Laughing out loud till we went all numb

I miss those old days

Let's get back to our old place :) :)