Tim

I acquired him when he was about ten minutes old- Born on a neighbors verandah, and flicked off it with a
stick to land outside. I heard his thin wailing but, search as I would, I could not find him. Then it began to
rain. I could no longer hear a sound- It was January 19th, 1997 about 5 o clock in the evening and getting
dark; I began to retrace my steps, cold wet and dispirited, when from the corner of my eye, I thought I saw
a movement- yes, there it was again- just a few steps to my right, wedged between two stones, I saw a tiny
pink paw, moving jerkily; He had fallen into this narrow space on his back. Half an hour more in the rain
and cold, and he would have died.
I picked him up- he was so cold, so tiny- he fitted into the cupped palm of my hand. I hurried home, which
was, fortunately, only a few yards further on. Then began the sleepless nights- interchanging hot water bagtrying to keep him warm and alive.
I had picked up his brother and sister too. But three days later they both died. Tim, the runt of the litter,
struggled on. Milk was a problem- till a casual question put to a veterinary doctor, solved it: Lactogen
formula One, and Tim began to thrive. Dysentery on one occasion, when he was six weeks old, had me
worried again. But again he pulled through.
Many of my friends were amused at the care I lavished on this scrawny piece of life. Not having his own
mother to lick him clean and dry, he looked even more scaly and dirty. I tried oiling him, then bathing him
every day. It did not work. Then I hit on the idea of using a moisturizer, so Ponds moisturizer and an old
toothbrush performed the miracle!
Today Tim is a huge fellow- follows me everywhere, sleeps with me (taking up more than his fair share of
the bed), but I dont mind. His love and companionship has more than compensated for the early days.
People still exclaim when they see him, but for the opposite reasons- His size and funny wrinkled face have
brought many questions as to what breed he is, and people smile in disbelief, when my husband or myself
say that he is the offspring of a street dog.
But he is also our Timmy lovable and loved now, and I pray, for many more years to come.
A tribute from
Marian
(His Foster Mother)
PS: Tim died in Nov 2001. About Five year old. Brief illness. A little later in 2002, Kali and Bhuri (Judy &
Ginny) were left in our home by a neighbour ( Aunty, just take care of them for a day or two- I will come
and collect them). Tapan, the neighbor, never returned. Ostensibly, his wife threatened him: Dont you dare
bring those pille here. So, Kali and Bhuri stayed on in this home- with Trixy of course. Trixy died April
2005. Kali- Bhuri died on 13 Feb 2014 and 12 July 2014, respectively. Kali gave her special blessings to
sachin, before dying. Bhuri had to be given euthanasia by sachin. Bhuri too blessed Marian in her own way.
Trixy came to us in 1993. The first full time dog we ever had one of the four, since then.

Do animals have a soul? An afterlife? Are stones totally inert or do they have a consciousness? We have
wondered about such questions sometimes. I have seen these dogs afflicted with conscience, shame even,
when they have stolen a cookie or taken a dive into each others bowl on the sly and were caught!. God
bless them, wherever they are.