The Story of BooBoo
My dog, BooBoo passed away last Tuesday. When I said I wanted to change my life in 2017 I never expected this unwelcome change to happen. She was to turn 11 in 3 months. I doubt if I’ll ever be able to overcome the grief of her loss. But writing has always helped clear my mind when I am upset so I am just giving it a try. It is difficult to chronicle every memory of BooBoo but I want to share some of our beautiful moments with her.
Until BooBoo came, we had never had any pets at home. I always used to ask my parents for a dog but they were hesitant mainly because we live in a flat and we’ve never owned any pets before.
In the summer of 2006, we had gone to Bangalore for a short trip. We visited my dad’s childhood friend there. He loves dogs and at that time had around 17 dogs (5 dogs and 12 puppies) at his place. He had kept the puppies together in one room and had latched the room with a small slab. My sister and I went there to have a look. Some were sleeping, some were barking at us, some were wagging their tail but scared to come close to us. But BooBoo(named Crystal at that time) was the first one to come running to us joyously with her tail wagging at full speed. We instantly lost our hearts to her friendliness and affecting enthusiasm. That night we begged our parents and somehow made them agree for taking her with us. The next day we took her and brought her to Chennai along with us. She was just 40 days then. That was her first trip outside, first car and then train ride. Initially she was sad to leave her mother and was moaning. But that was soon to be forgotten and she started enjoying the trip and the fuss we were making about her.
From the beginning she was extremely attentive and listened to everything we said. Training her was child’s play. Our house is in the second floor. We used to take her for walks thrice in a day and once we came back home, she’ll go straight to the bathroom to have her legs washed. Humans may forget this but she never did.
She had a unique face because she was a cross between Labrador and German Shepherd. She had the sharp face, furry coat and thundering bark of a German Shepherd. But by nature she was entirely a Lab; Friendly and playful with anyone she met.
When she was about 3 months old, my parents were apprehensive about having her at our house because she was growing fast and they didn’t know if we would be able to manage her and our daily routine. They decided to give her away before we got too attached to her. Despite our cries (mine and my sister’s), they gave her to someone who lived one street away. That same evening, my mom missed her so much that she brought her back and my dad also seemed happier with BooBoo’s presence. It was then we realized, she had already stolen our hearts and there was no looking back after that.
Every morning she will follow my dad around the house, sit and drool next to my mom when she cuts vegetables but never once try to snatch the cut vegetables (She was a Lady like that), wake me and my sister by panting next to the bed and sometimes licking our faces. If my grandma coughed, BooBoo would go running to her from wherever she was and shake hands with her as if to tell her it’s all right. She wouldn’t step out of the house without one of us. We never needed a leash to make her listen to us. We just had to tell her to cross the road or walk straight and she would. She loved road trips and auto trips. She would go sit in random autos if we didn’t watch her closely enough.
Without our knowledge she became the center of our attention and we loved giving it to her. Whenever one of us comes home from outside she would welcome us with her special bark for us, shake hands and wag her tail vigorously and stop only after 10 mins. She would be the first to come running to us when we come home and the last to say bye to us when we leave home. The last thing I would see before I sleep and the first thing I look at when I wake up.
Once our cousin had visited us with her baby. The baby was sleeping on the bed in the bedroom. He had somehow rolled and fallen on the floor and was slowly starting to cry. We were all sitting in the hall and talking. None of us heard the fall. BooBoo went running to the bedroom. Seeing her go, we followed suit and saw the crying baby on the floor. My cousin was so moved by the act. BooBoo loved kids and enjoyed being around them.
She with her black and shiny coat attracted the attention of everyone on the road. Our newspaper man would write Dog house on the paper to refer to our house. We used to buy coconut water everyday because she had a lot of affection for the man who sold it and he would also come see her without fail. Milk lady, servant maid, cable guy she knew everyone and was friends with everyone.
She enjoyed catching flies, barking at crows and rats and scaring off cats. Stray dogs were her weakness. She would try to follow them on the road but if we don’t follow, she would stop and come back to us. She exerted that much self control.
She had such intuitive and expressive eyes, it was easy to say anything to her. I always felt she understood. She was there by our side if we were sad, licking our faces. Every memory of our home has her. Our home is just a house without her now.
For me, BooBoo is the most caring, loyal and loving being I have ever known. Any person who knows me well will know her too. I could go on writing about her forever and longer.
Dear BooBoo,
Our hearts are with you. You left us with a void that cannot be filled. You are always our family favorite. Our house is empty without you now. The walls stare back at us. I can’t look at sweets or eat them anymore. There’s no one to bark at crows and rats. No one to wag their tail at any human who comes home. No one who gives everyone such unconditional love. There is no joy left in us anymore. Except for the joy in your memories. Miss you a million times and more.
We’ll always love you the most. RIP BooBoo….
