our darling duffy

Last night i received a phone call from Georgina, she told me Duffy's no more. And i cried. i never thought i will ever cry over a dog! But i did and believe me, it was really really a sad evening for me.A few days after posting "Of dogs and sister" i thought i will introduce Duffy in a totally new post. but instead this could almost read like an obituary. How i wish Duffy could speak, but i have to content that he understood my language( dogs are suppose to). He was the one who totally changed my opinions about dogs. Normally i dont go near dogs. i must admit i am real scared of them, news keep flashing about how street dogs kill humans, especially kids. And most Pet dogs i encountered in Delhi or at home seems to perpetually growled or barked at me while passing by. i Find them a most unfriendly kind of pets! and in a campus like J NU , the population of dogs seem to be even more than the ones outside( we have to give credits to dog lovers assoc. of JNU). however the dogs in the campus are a bit subtle about their likes and dislikes, a lot more diplomatic, i must say( is it because of the campus?)
Anyway, when i went home in the summer of 2006, after submitting my dissertation, i found this white small fluffy dog( I've mentioned m not very good at dog's breeds) welcoming me in the gate, and by instinct i faltered in my step and hesitate for a while. But this dog wont allowed it. IT (he) keeps on bouncing up and down but never once barking.( that would have made me run back a mile), the dog was followed by my mom and sister, i ask,"whose dog is this?" they said it was ours . I was speechless because never in my 20 odd years have i known my parents liking a dog or keep one in the house. But then i knew Duffy was special. He totally changed my opinion about dogs.

Duffy loves all of us, he accepted me from the first without questioning my identity. He love watching T.V. with us , watching the piglets in the pigsty or getting up early with my dad to feed the fishes in the small pond that we had at home. When the time comes to collect the pig feed, Duffy was ready . He will go out with mom on the bicycle, he knows each and every house where we get our pig feed. One day mom was not too well and couldn't go on her usual routine and asked me to go. since i didn't know the ways properly i was a bit apprehensive. she said' go with Duffy , he knows the way' My shocked must have registered on my face because she say" just go, you wont get lost". And i didn't, Duffy leaded the way. Once our cousins took Duffy away for the weekend, they live about 5-6 kilometers away. Around 5pm the next day, Duffy came bouncing into the gate! we couldn't believe our eyes, He had come all the way in time for the routine with mom. He was most sincere about his duties. In Church , he will follow us, he will go directly to the ladies pew and reserved a seat for mom. He knows where she sits every Sunday( since there are many dog lovers in our church, its not uncommon to see dogs following their families,almost taken as granted). Once when me and my other two sisters were to give a special number , Duffy came and stood with us the whole time, giving us support(although he finds the mic wire fascinating ,played with it and got entangled in the wire). When the congregation stood up for hymns, he will stood up as well, keeping his forelegs on the low bench before ours. He was a ray of sunshine in our lives and enjoyed the status of youngest in the family.
It is painful to describe how he died, He was Killed for Food. And its so horrible to think of it! He was so trusting, he wouldn't imagine he will ever be killed, by the same people who looked after him before us (our cousins). They wouldn't tell our family members about it until after they had killed him. I had this culture of Mine where people kill dogs for food, it is so uncivilized and cruel and barbaric.I don't accept dog eaters as civilized humans!
For me and my family , Duffy will always be our Darling dog, no other dog can ever take his place. And i am saying this because i had the good fortune of meeting Duffy. I hope he understood that never in the world will i let it happen if i was around, i hope he forgive us ...........we love him so much!