IN LOVING MEMORY OF OUR DOG - BHOTU

 IN LOVING MEMORY OF OUR DOG - BHOTU

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(OCT.2004 - OCT 23, 2019)

AFTER A GREAT STRUGGLE WITH DEATH, OUR SWEET AND LOVABLE DOG, THE GUARDIAN OF THE HOUSE, AND THE LAST OF THE SPECIES OF GENUINE BHOTIA DOGS FROM BHUTAN, LEFT THE PLANET EARTH IN HIS SLEEP.

HE COULD HAVE LIVED ON LONGER BUT HE LEFT THE EARTH BECAUSE HE COULD NOT BEAR TO SEE THE TREMENDOUS STRAIN I WAS TAKING JUST TO KEEP HIM ALIVE,---- WITH A PITTANCE OF VET DOCTORS HERE IN THE HILLS WHERE I LIVE, AND ADVICE BY FRIENDS, AND WELL-WISHERS OVER THE LONG DISTANCE PHONE FROM PUNE AND DELHI. THE ONLY MEDICAL CARE.

HE LIVED WITH US LIKE A FAMILY MEMBER FOR 15 LONG YEARS PROTECTING THE HOUSE FROM ALL KINDS OF BURGLARS AND WILD ANIMALS, AND ENTERTAINING EVERYONE WITH HIS ANTICS AND HIS LOVE FOR RAW TOMATOES. ONE HAD JUST TO UTTER THE WORD "TOMATO" AND HE WOULD OPEN HIS EYES AND COME RUNNING.

AS HE LAY IN IS FINAL SLEEP, I THOUGHT FOR A WHILE THAT IF I SAID" BHOTU! WILL YOU HAVE ONE MORE TOMATO?" HE WOULD COME BACK TO HIS OLD DISEASE WRACKED BODY. AND I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE BETTER IF HAVING WON THE RACE OF LIFE HE LAY NOW IN THE BLISS OF HEAVEN WITH HIS CREATOR..

ALL DOGS GO TO HEAVEN WHEN THEY DIE BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOT COMMITTED ANY SINS UPON EARTH AND HAVE LIVED ONLY FOR THE SAKE OF THEIR MASTERS, ASKING FOR NOTHING BUT LOVE AND GIVING LOVE IN RETURN.

EVERYTHING THAT GOD ASKS FOR: TRUTH, HONESTY, RIGHTEOUSNESS, UNREMITTING LOVE, LOYALTY. AND HUNDREDS OF SPIRITUAL QUALITIES ARE PRESENT IN THEM FROM BIRTH AS A NATURAL INSTINCT.

WE HAD THREE SUCH DOGS -- ALL THREE HAD COME FROM BHUTAN AND WERE NAMED "BHOTU". ALL DAY LONG THEY SLEPT OUTSIDE THE HOUSE, GUARDING THEIR MASTER'S HOME, AND TODAY , WITH THE GOING AWAY OF THE LAST ONE, THE BLACK BHOTU, THEY ARE ALL TOGETHER IN THEIR KINGDOM OF ETERNAL HAPPINESS AT THE FEET OF THE LORD.

IT WAS ONLY AFTER THE CAR CARRYING BHOTU HAD LEFT THE GATE OF THE HOUSE, AND TURNED THE LAST CORNER DOWN THE ROAD, THAT I REALISED HE HAD GONE, AND TEARS CAME INTO MY EYES AS MY HOMAGE TO THE LOYAL AND FAITHFUL SOUL WHO HAD COME IN THE FORM OF A DOG TO SERVE US AND RETURNED TO HIS REAL MASTER IN HEAVEN.

FOR SOME REASON, THE WORDS OF LORD TENNYSON ECHOED IN MY EARS: ON THE BURIAL OF SIR JOHN MOORE A GENERAL IN THE BRITISH ARMY OF 13 November 1761 to 16 January 1809. IN UK.

'NOT A DRUM WAS HEARD,

NOT A FUNERAL NOTE,

AS HIS CORPSE TO THE RAMPARTS WE CARRIED,

NOT A SOLDIER DISCHARGED A FAREWELL SHOT,

OVER THE GRAVE WHERE OUR HERO WE BURIED.'

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PRIYA NATH MEHTA

SON OF HH SHRI BHOLA NATHJI