Short Story

A dog's lament

by A.F. Dawood

I was but a little Alsatian pup when I was picked up from a drain where I had been for a few days, sqealing and howling for food. My master took me to his house and the household members, his wife and two children, welcomed my arrival. They huddled and cuddled me and gave me the choicest food. My master gave me the name 'Whity' because I was snow white.

In the course of time, I grew up to be a robust, chubby pup and was the star attraction of the house. I was admired by all and sundry in the house and the visitors who came there. My master trained me to obey his commands such as to jump over hurdles, get to the kennel, run to the gate on hearing the bell of the postman and to remain passive when visitors come to the house.

By three years I grew up to a full-grown Alsatian dog and I have heard people saying that my look seemed to be more vicious that my bite. Actually I did not want to bite any visitor without any reason. I felt that not only the people in my house were kind but also all the visitors who came to the house.

However, I felt that the visitors were frightened of me and used to stare at me. I wagged my tail and went near them but they did not give me even a pat on my head. They were awfully scared of me.

My master's name was Brickson and he depended on me to safeguard his house in the night. I am locked up in the kennel at three in the afternoon and taken out every night at nine. I keep vigil from nine in the night till five in the morning. During this time I do not sleep but pretend to be a sleep and remain alert to the slightest sound.

Loyalty

One midnight I got an opportunity to show my loyalty to my master. A man who thought he was smart enough to scale the six-foot wall jumped into the garden inspite of my barking. I gave the warning that he should not attempt, but he jumped into the garden, carrying a long pole, thinking he could smash my head; I was quick and showed no mercy to the intruder.

I bit him mercilessly all over the body so that he was bleeding profusely; it would not be wrong to say that he was bathed in blood. Finally, he ran and with the help of the pole he climbed the wall, while at that moment too I continued to bite his legs.

On the following morning, I saw patches of blood all over on the bench, flower plants and pots and on the wall. When the master came in the morning, I kept on barking ceaselessly and ran to the blood patches and sniffed to inform my master that I had treated the intruder properly. My master understood the situation and told his wife that I have shown my loyalty to him. He gave me juicy bones, biscuits and patted me by way of gratitude and said, "Whity, you're great". When the two children went to school, I always chaperoned them to the gate and waited till they got into the car.

I did the same thing to my master when he went to office. When he returned home by 5.30 in the evening, I was invariably at the gate to receive him. I lived happily with them like this but I did not know that those people were selfish and cruel until I fell sick.

One day I fell sick. What was my sickness? I suffered from mange, a horrible kind of skin disease. Day by day, I began to develop small sores on my body and gradually my shaggy hairs began to fall. Within a few months I looked ugly with sores oozing out with pus.

Nobody loved me; nobody cared for me; the master or the mistress did not bother to take me to a veterinarian. I only heard they were blaming me. One day a neighbour of my master saw me and was surprised. "What has happened to your dog? Why not consult a veterinarian?" "No use, Derrik; who has the time for this?" said my master.

Silent tears

"Brickson, what're you going to do with this fellow?" His wife asked. "What else to do, Leela? We've to chase this fellow". "It's not easy Brickson; the fellow will not easily go." "Yes, I know that. We've to beat him and chase the fellow, and close the gate". "Not only that, we shouldn't feed him", said Leela.

The long and the short of the matter was that I was chased out of the house by closing the gate; when I resisted their attempt, I was beaten. I shed silent tears and lay outside the gate, expecting someone to bring me food. I remained for two days howling in hunger but no mercy was shown to me. This was man's cruelty at its best.

I was unbearably hungry and moved away from the gate. I wobbled feebly, sniffing at garbage on the wayside; I could not get food. At last I reached a temple and just at the entrance I lay there. I attracted the sympathy of those visiting the temple. It may be someone had reported my case to the chief Bhikkhu because he came to the place where I was.

I think he recognised me. "Oh! This is Mr Brickson's dog", said the Bhikkhu "What has happened to this poor dog?" Tears rushed to my eyes. "The poor dog is hungry", said the Bhikkhu and told someone to bring food.

Soon I was eating a plate of rice with bones. After some time I felt a bit all right and raised my head and looked at the Bhikkhu. He knew my name. "Whity, Whity, come with me", he said and walked towards the temple and I followed him.

Nourishment

"Ven. Sir, you know the dog's name?" Someone asked him. "Yes. this is Mr Brickson's dog; he should have taken care of the animal." When I reached the Bhikkhu's room, I waited outside while he went in and brought me a bowl of milk. The Bhikkhu took me to a veterinarian, not once but many times.

The veterinarian treated me for my sores which gradually disappeared after the application of medicine on my entire body. The Bhikkhu took the trouble to apply medicine in the morning and evening; in the afternoon he sponged me with tepid water and dried my body before spraying a kind of medicinal powder.

In two months time all the sores healed and hair started growing. At the end of four months, I was again the smart whity I used to be and with good nourishment, I regained my robust health and agility. It was a Poya day and many devotees came to the temple. Among them was Brickson's family. I was seated at the entrance to the Bhikkhu's room. Mr. Brickson saw me and showed me to his wife. "Whity, Whity, you're here?" I recognised the voice but I did not wag my tail. "The dog is very nice; someone has taken the trouble to cure of his sickness." Leela remarked. "Shall we take him home?" "You talk to the Bhikkhu and see", Leela replied.

"Ven Sir, how did you come across my dog?" "It was in a pathetic state four months ago in my temple. I treated him. When animals fall sick you should treat them; Mr. Brickson, you shouldn't chase them away."

"I didn't do so. It left my house on its own." My former master was telling a lie to the Bhikkhu." "Well, I can't believe that. A dog that stayed with you for four years would never leave you, unless you chase him. You should show kindness to animals is also preached in Buddhism."

"Ven Sir, if you're prepared to give me the dog, I can take it home." "Let's see whether the dog likes you or me. So you call its name. If it comes to you, you take the dog home," said the Bhikkhu. Mr. Brickson called "Whity' 'Whity' and I did not move but when the Bhikkhu, called my name, I wagged my tail and went to him.

"This shows Mr. Brickson, you've ill-treated your dog. Learn to show tolerance, patience and kindness to animals as Buddhism has preached."

All names are fictitious.