Dr. Kuhu Roy writes,
Patty was almost home, but she chose to depart on
the way.
Yesterday, Patty aka Patwa Laali, a senior, was missing.
Today, she was found wobbling post food. Quick decision, she was boarded in the
car to lead the last leg of her life with me at home. No matter the grief of
processing the back to back deaths, you have to be in my shoes to understand
that there is no greater peace than welcoming someone special home who is
otherwise only considered shelter-worthy. Patty died on the way due to
age-related natural causes. I buried her in the afternoon. Man proposes, God
disposes, but atleast the promise of a lifetime kept and a dignified farewell
given, that's Bridging Rainbows Foundation.
I am asked this question very often: how do I process so much
grief that comes my way? For one, I write a lot; it's therapy for me. Two, I
always honour the departed soul by choosing to adopt a needy dog, mostly senior
strays or stray dogs with special needs. This time, I was honouring Tim by
getting Patty home. Three, their needs are above mine. My grief is always
secondary compared to the miserable existence the most marginalized among stray
dogs have. Think from an old stray dog's perspective, being parcelled to
confinement, when one needs TLC the most. Then, mutual compassion always
helps heal, that so many deny themselves after a loss.
Now, the hard fact. I cannot home every senior or special
needs stray dog, nor can you. But together we certainly can. The numbers that
we are, we can empty the shelters or allow seniors to live and let live. But,
it is very easy to place a call to a shelter to take an old stray dog away, but
very tough to open our homes to them.
As for Patty, she knows she was on her way home. I told her
to convey to Tim that I miss him a lot, burials are always hard and so is
revisiting the place where they used to live on the streets.
