Owner's last wish for dog comes true

Time of India

5 hours ago

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Vadodara: Destiny can be extremely cruel and kind at the same time. It forced a terminally ill pet owner to leave his canine companion to the mercy of the world, and with the same hand, wrote a good future for the animal, giving its owner the relief that his furry friend will be loved and well taken care of.
On Thursday morning, an indie-mix dog was found near a complex in the Bhayli area with a heart-wrenching note attached to its collar. Written in English by its owner, it read, "I've been battling liver cancer for seven months...the chances of recovery have faded. With a heavy heart, I'm leaving behind someone who means the world to me — my beloved dog. He has been my strength and faithful companion through this painful journey.
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The moving note further requested the finder to take care of the dog. It said the dog deserved a home filled with love and gentle care.
"This is my last and only request — love him like I did," the owner wrote, his words beseeching the finder to give the dog the best life. The power of his love triumphed and by night, the dog had found its forever home, one that it likely chose himself. Although many people tried to claim him as theirs, the dog chose to spend the rest of its life with someone it knew — his owner's old friend.
The medium in this hand of fate was a shopkeeper Prakash Pathak, who had been fostering the dog since he was found wandering the streets of Bhayli and refused to let anyone take it until he saw a genuine love in the claimant.
Devesh Vyas, a pet lover who also runs a dog hostel, spotted the dog at Pathak's shop and spread the word to potential adopters on online groups. "The shop owner agreed to take care of the dog. I gave him tips on dog care and told him I would take it if not one came forward," says Vyas.
Prakash Pathak's family itself was keen on adopting the dog. "My daughter is an animal lover, and we take care of injured birds and squirrels. We feed two street dogs who hang around near our shop. We took care of the abandoned dog and fed it. It was comfortable here and did not bother us much," he said.
Throughout the day, around a dozen people came forth to adopt the dog. "I am sure it must have been a difficult decision for the loving but helpless owner to leave his pet dog to the mercy of the world, hoping that his companion will find a new loving home.
Many claimed that the dog belonged to them, but the dog did not even recognise them. We kept noting their details but refused to hand over the dog. We had adopted it already and would have given it only to the rightful owner if he had turned up," said Pathak's wife, Kalpana.
After sundown, the dog sensed a familiar scent. On seeing a man arrive in an auto-rickshaw, it started wagging its tail and rushed towards him in joy the moment he stepped off the vehicle.
Clearly, the animal knew him and putting Pathak's suspicion to rest, the man even called the dog by its name.
The man told the Pathaks that the dog's ailing owner was his dear friend and he rushed to find it after knowing that the animal had been let go. Assured that the dog will be well taken care of, the Pathaks said goodbye to their four-legged guest.
A social media post regarding the dog generated a debate about the dog being "deserted". Many were of the opinion that the pet parent should have tried rehoming him through adoption instead of leaving it on the streets. Others sympathised with the man.