BROWNIE — THE DOG WHO ADOPTED US
I was not a dog person and was scared of the dogs right from my childhood. I could recollect incidents where I actually did put down my scooty and ran towards my home, just because a dog crossed my path.
My pet dog(Fred) came into our lives when he was just 35 days old and he was like a little fur ball. He changed my perspective towards dogs and made me realize that they are just babies filled with a lot of radiance and selfless love. But this article is not about him and it is about my relationship with a stray dog.
He was a tall and lean brown colored Indie who was left abandoned in our colony by someone in Oct 2021. He wore a green color collar and was clueless in the new surroundings initially. Yet, he is so shrewd and kind that he quickly won the hearts of many families in my area. They made sure that he was fed well and he feels secured. Gradually, he started walking with us whenever we took Fred for a walk and my sister used to pet him a lot. He enjoyed the moments with us and made it habitual. We lovingly named him “Brownie” and he started responding to the name. Every morning and evening, he used to walk along our side and he was expecting me to pet him as well. I was still finding it a bit scary about it and avoided it. He was finding it hurtful and silently plotted a plan to become close with me.
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One morning, my sister and I went to our tailor’s shop. He started following us and by the time I came out of the shop one of my slippers went missing. It was so strange, if a human wanted to steal the slippers, he/she would have taken them both. I tried asking the nearby shopkeepers and I was told that a brown dog took it and ran away. I had no other option but to walk all over the way with one slipper to find him. I went in search of him and spotted him in the park, where he generally rests in the mornings. He was holding my slipper under his paw and was waiting for me.
When I went closer and tried to take the slipper, he held it even more closer just leaned his head towards me. I instantly understood that he wanted me to pet him and will not return the slipper, unless I do it. It touched my heart and he is the loveliest thief that I have ever seen in this whole world. He stole my slipper to win my trust and friendship. I had to pet him to get my slipper back and from then on he started following me like a shadow, wherever I went inside my area. I was feeling so proud that I had my own personal security guard. Whenever it rained, he used to stand outside our gate and bark mildly, asking us to give him a safe and warm space for a while. We used to spread a warm blanket and give him some space in the verandah, and feed him with warm milk. He used to stay over there until he feels like and will jump over the compound wall to go out. Brownie is the perfect gentleman at the door, but a rebel at heart — he comes in with grace and leaves on his own terms. He believes in free will.
Three years down the line, he decided that it was time to adopt my home as his own. So, he started jumping over the compound wall every noon when he wanted to take a nap in our shady garden. And he used to come back in the nights to have a comfortable sleep in the verandah. He has defined his space and finds it so cozy. Brownie soon found his own tender way of speaking to us. Whenever he was in pain or feeling unwell, he would approach us with teary eyes and let out a gentle howl. This was his way of asking for help and telling us that he needed care. We would lovingly watch over him and tend to his needs.
Brownie is still a shrewd and lovely dog, who is living in my home with my family members, though my sister and I are away from home. Every time, we go home, he greets us so merrily and never leaves our side. Brownie keeps a mental notebook of every scolding from others and when we return, he holds a complaint session, complete with pointed barks at the guilty party. He then demands extra love and cuddles from us to collect his rewards.
Personally, if I recollect the time that I have spent with him until now, it gives me a lot of joy. He has changed my dynamics with every other stray dog. I now understand that they are not a threat to anyone and they just need a lot of love and attention. I love petting the dogs and feed them with food and water wherever I can. My day feels so complete, when they look at me with love and wag their tails on seeing me 😊
