The day I realised Tommy was being ill-treated which is why he is falling sick every now and then, I thought enough is enough. I needed to bail him out of this state. I could not rescue him since I was staying out of the house for over 7 hours. I kept thinking on what could be a plausible solution to this never ending and ever haunting problem. I asked one of my friends to help me place an ad asking people to adopt him. But before taking this step I thought why not try Facebook which offers a chance to at least reach out to friends. And in all probabiIity, Tommy could get a home where he would be cared for and loved.
I immediately opened FB and stated just two lines as my status message, ``anyone interested to adopt a four year old Daschund who needs someone to take care of him and love him?’’ And in no time I got one immediate response from a very sweet friend of mine. There were others who sympathised but had similar problems like mine. It felt nice just to know that there are still some people who care amd this world isnt as bad a place to live in as we think or conclude it to be.
But in this good world, there are real cruel people and I explain why i term them so. Tommy was brought to their house, hardly when he was 21 days old. I never saw him till a month or more because I wanted not to be attached to the little one. I am very fond of animals and it wont take time for me to bond with him. Though my eight year old daughter had already informed me of the new arrival. In fact i was I was worried at the first mention because I knew my neighbours who had brought him home were not the animal loving kinds. I already had fights with people who beat animals and ill treat them. It was Tommy’s owners who insisted I visit them and see him since they knew I was an animal lover. I resisted initially but gave in due to my daughter’s pestering.
The moment I stared at the small one I was in love with him. It had sparkling eyes and a black coat that was more shiny than the woman in the Sun Silk black ad. But what I didnt like was that it was tied with a chain too heavy for a two-month puppy. I requested the owners to leave it open and train him so that he doesnt move out of the house without being asked to. But they felt a dog is destined to be chained and kept only to guard the house. I had no say but I always got disturbed whenever I heard him barking or being beaten up. My daughter brought him to our house one day. He was not even able to walk properly since he looked pretty weak and as soon as I gave him some biscuit and milk, he ate it up as if he had not eaten since ages. The bond had begun to grow between us - my family and Tommy – so much so that he has become a family member, visiting us every day four hours in the mornring and three in the evening. Sundays are his favourite since we all stay back at home and he spends the entire day with us.
There were times when my other neighbours informed me of the ill treatment meted out to the poor soul in our absence. Not only did the owner but his servant too beat Tommy at his whim. I tried to interfere once or twice but to no avail. Rather I was told that they dont like any kind of interference in their family matters.
So I wanted to give Tommy whatever he needed, a bath, a combing, food and even took him to the doc for vaccination. In the four years, the owners kept going out to their son who was settled outside for months. The poor soul was left in the hands of the servant boy who never took care of him. They had two grandsons in between and Tommy’s plight became bad to worse. Whenever the grandsons were in their house, Tommy will be left outside the house for hours till I came back from office. They often told us they would give Tommy away to someone or leave him outside the house to move around with the strays.
Even when Tommy was seriously ill, they went to attend a marriage party leaving it with us to take him to the vet. That day, I spoke to the owners of Tommy about his plight and that he needed to be cared well. But they flatly refused saying they had no intention of keeping the pet anymore and wanted me to take charge. Had I been staying at home, I would have loved to keep him but I am working and my house remains locked for 7 to 8 hours. How do I keep him alone in the house for such a long time. I decided I had to do something.
Apart from the response on FB, I have got phone calls from more closer acquaintances and friends who wanted to know more about Tommy. Many expressed their desidre to visit us to see the dog so that they might take him home. I know it will be difficult for me to give away my Tommy but there is no other way out.
But I am happy, there are friends who I can look up to in times of need. And also thankful that God let me know that He is there to give an answer to all our worries. Thank you all and thank God!
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