A Tribute to Life……….TROY

I have shared various feelings that I have experienced in my life through the canvas of My Cognitions…..and this time, after a considerably long duration, it is pain and grief that has brought back the words flowing endlessly.

It has been close to two years now that I and my husband have been associated with the Bangalore wing of CUPA (Compassion Unlimited Plus Action) who run a shelter for animals in distress. September 2010 was the time, when, our final efforts to save an old stray dog near our apartment whose hind legs had been left totally non – functional, led us to the CUPA animal shelter. The doctors there tried their best to give the grand old dog another shot at life, but it was not to be. The poor dog had to be put to sleep to relieve him of the inexplicable pain and suffering that it had been enduring. 

While we were taking a look around the shelter, there was this one jovial and high – spirited pooch that caught my attention. On moving closer to her, we found that she suffered from the same kind of disability that the dog we had brought in, had. Her hind legs had been rendered useless due to a fatal injury to her spine during an accident that she had met with when she was barely six months old. A few kind – hearted souls had picked her up and brought her to the shelter. She was dragging herself all around using her front legs and at the maximum speed possible. To us as the onlookers, it appeared to be such a painful process as her skin was constantly rubbing against the ground. But, she was not one to be let down by her debility. Sheer enthusiasm and zest for life – that was TROY. 

A volunteer at the shelter told us that she frequently suffered from infections due to the abrasions she had resulting from the friction with the ground. He also told us that to reduce his discomfort and help him move around they had devised a trolley cart to support her hind legs. It helped her for a few days, and she would happily trot around the shelter with the aid of the trolley. Unfortunately, her spine was too weak to handle the weight for long and so they had to discontinue using it.  But all the pain and discomfort that we could visualize from what we heard was nowhere to be found in Troy, not even a speck of it. Her spirit and energy to win through all the challenges that life offered her was nothing but infectious. It made me feel so diminutive to think that inspite of belonging to that species known as the best creation of God, ‘The Homo – Sapiens’ , I was so easily discouraged and demoralized by things that were so insignificant when compared to what this four – legged creature was confronted with, and which she almost tossed ahead like a ball which was thrown towards her as an object of entertainment. 

We decided to adopt her as foster parents. Foster parenting here would mean that, we provide the financial support for all her daily needs as well as the constant medical attention that she required. So, September 19^th, 2010, marked the beginning of a lifelong bond between us and Troy. We would visit her once in a month or once in every two months, and the officials at CUPA would regularly update us about her condition. Everytime we visited CUPA she would be there to welcome us with the same warmth and love. Over a period of time a relationship developed between us which was nothing less than what one shares with one's child. She was our baby – our darling Troy.

The last time we visited her, we decided to gift her a new collar with tiny paw prints. It was lunch time for the inmates at the shelter and she was busy eating when we reached. Once she was done, we took her aside and removed her old collar and put in the new one that we had bought for her. She stayed with us for a while as we patted her and then she decided to take a stroll and so we let her go. We spend some more time playing with the other dogs and cats at the shelter and just before we got up to leave we decided to see Troy. But, she was nowhere to be found, we looked all around the shelter but she wasn’t around. We asked the attendants if they had seen her and slowly everyone started looking for her. They called out her name but there was no response. I started getting worried because this was very unlike her. After almost an hour of looking for her, one of the officials came out smiling from the office and told us she was in there. We walked in to find her happily taking her afternoon nap under one of the tables there. Seeing us, she pulled herself up and came to us with that very familiar expression of selfless love. We cuddled her for a while and then said good bye to her, but little did we know then that it was the last time we were seeing her!!!!

Just as we were planning our next visit to see her during the weekend, the officials at CUPA informed us that she had finally succumbed to the infection which had gradually spread across her body. Troy is no more and there is nothing that can fill the void that she has left. 

Yes, I know, that very few people, limited to those classified as animal – lovers, will be able to comprehend the profoundness of this bond between ‘Man and Man’s Best Friend’. I also know that some would consider this level of involvement with an animal as an act of insanity. But I consider the few, who are aware of this wonderful feeling of selfless love, loyalty, devotion and friendship that these speechless creatures shower upon their human companions, as blessed, for this is an experience that destiny showers only on the fortunate.

Troy has taught me and possibly many others who have known her, the art of living life to the fullest no matter what the conditions are. She has been an inspiration to many and she will forever live in our memories. I hope that she finds peace and happiness wherever she is.

Miss You Troy…..RIP………..