Magic'al Angel

My life changed the day I lost my parents and woke up in a hospital. When the whirlwind of operations, doctors and physiotherapy ended, I was faced with having to re-evaluate my entire way of life. Living with a disability is an endless struggle to perform even the simplest of tasks. For most people, dropping a pen is an inconsequential event. When you are seated in a wheelchair, with limited mobility, the pen is often out of reach. Being forced to constantly ask for assistance of others is depressing, especially when I used to be so active before.

I had resigned myself to this dependant lifestyle, till one day I got a call from ‘Canines Can Care’. A beautiful black Labrador puppy had been donated to the organisation and they wanted to know if I was interested in an Assistance Dog. Until then I had only seen Assistance Dogs on television and would have loved to have one but I was not aware that this was possible in India. When ‘Canines Can Care’ approached me and offered me the puppy, I was thrilled! I knew right then that I definitely wanted him.

The day Magic, my Assistance Dog in training, entered my life the world became a sunnier place to live in. He has become my companion when I am alone, my laughter when I am sad and most importantly he has become my best friend. I always refer to him as my “Magic’al Angel” because that’s what he is for me. The first time I saw him, I fell in love. He has brought immense happiness and love into my life. He does not judge me for what I can or can’t do, Magic just loves me unconditionally. Sometimes when the two of us are home alone, he just sits by my side and keeps me company and I feel safe. When I am sad he licks away wounds no one can see and his gentle spirit calms and comforts me. He’s brought back confidence and hope, once lost, and since the day I got him, I knew nothing was going to be the same again.

‘Canines Can Care’ gave Magic to me with a purpose. He helps me live my life independently; independence is something extremely precious to a disabled person. Magic’s formal training is now over, and even though it was a long and trying time, I can now proudly say that I am an owner of a trained assist dog. He obeys all the commands given to him, from a simple “Sit” to a command such as “Fetch it” where he lifts up a dropped object which otherwise would be impossible for me to do. Magic now knows my needs so well that sometimes when I drop something and he hears it fall, he himself gets up and fetches it for me. He is so smart that there have been times when he wants a treat and a hug, he purposely drops down something or gets something that he knows I use and places it on my table. He then looks at me as if to say, “where’s my treat?’ It’s has been so easy and so much fun training Magic as all his training was done using toys and food as motivation and we both have thoroughly enjoyed everyday. I still remember when Shirin got Magic to meet me on the first day; he was a frivolous 5 month old pup. I would wonder how we were ever going to calm him down as he was always running around. Now, when I look back I can just see how much my Magic has achieved over these few years and how he has transformed himself just to make me happy. This is what I think unconditional love is!!

Being wheelchair bound, I have to have someone around me all the time. Magic is by my side now to give me company. Magic is not just an assist dog to me; he’s my best friend too. He knows all my secrets and I can depend on him completely. He is so protective of me that when we both are home alone and he hears someone’s footsteps and the main door, he immediately barks to let me know of a stranger. If he realises its someone we both know, he just sniffs through the door and tries to figure out who it is. This has made me more independent as otherwise I always had to be dependent on another person.

I cannot imagine my life without Magic; he’s given me a new reason for living. I go out with him to different places and interact with different people. Having him besides me makes me feel wanted and loved. Most importantly, however, I now have someone to take care of and that makes a big difference to the meaning in my life. Giving responsibility to a disabled person changes the way they look at life. I have a more positive outlook now because I feel useful.

I am indebted to ‘Canines Can Care’ for helping me turn my life around. Today they are paying for Magic’s training and veterinary bills. ‘Royal Canin’ – a dog food company has generously agreed to give me his food free of cost, and I am grateful to them too. Hopefully if people come forward to help defray costs and sponsor Assistance dogs, more people like me can be helped.

I lost so much and felt so depressed and miserable and lonely for so long –till a Magical Angel bounded into my life and changed it. The love and trust he brought into my life will stay with me forever.

Expectation - Human Nature

I've always been told, ' Never expect anything and when you get it you will be happy.' I am not sure if I believe in this statement and don't think this can always be done.

There is and has to be some kind of expectation in any relationship. "Has to" well yes, has to!

A parent expects a lot from their child; to do well in studies, to be a good person, to do well in life, to prosper and so on. A child in turn also has some expectations of his own; to be loved, to be understood, to be forgiven, to be accepted...

The same goes for a husband wife relationship however here the expectations are much higher. A couple meet each other mid-way in life and it takes time before the other person begins to accept the others flaws. They expect each other to understand what the other is going through. To co-relate and to live together is extremely important for a marriage to work and extremely difficult.

It's alright to expect but don't expect that your expectations will be met with. There's no harm in trying, there maybe an understanding one day.

It's not easy to stop when you feel so connected to the opposite person. But you can try! If you can't stop like in any kind of addiction, be prepared to get your heart crushed and shattered.

Live with what you have... Hope for a change in attitude but never for a complete "change"!!

LEARN TO ACCEPT AND NOT TO "EXPECT."

Life Lessons From Your DOG.....

If a dog was a teacher you would learn stuff like:

1. When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.

2. Never pass the opportunity of going for a joyride.

3. Allow the experience of fresh air and wind in your face to be pure ecstacy.

4. When it's in your best interest, practice obedience.

5. Let others know when they've invaded your territory.

6. Take naps.

7. Stretch before rising.

8. Run, romp and play daily.

9. Thrive on attention and let people touch you.

10. Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.

11. On warm days, stop to lie on your back in the grass.

12. On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.

13. When you are happy, dance around and move your whole body.

14. No matter how often you are scolded, don't buy the guilt thing and pout! Run right back and make friends.

15. Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.

16. Eat with gusto and enthusiasm. Stop when you have had enough.

17. If what you want lies buried, dig untill you get it.

18. Be loyal, never pretend to be something you are not.

19. When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.

If people just would take these simple pleasures of life in their bad times... I guarantee that they would see the brighter side of "LIFE"

Ebony

Dogs have been in my life since I can remember. I did not have dogs growing up as my dad insisted we needed more space for a dog. Everytime I met a stray or a friend's dog, I would mope, cry and make a big tantrum. But it didn't help!

At the age of 16, when we moved to Pune, my dad finally had to give in to years of my begging and pleading. He took me to an Army Cantonment where he had found out about a female doberman who had had a litter sometime back. I jumped onto my dad's Kinetic Honda and couldn't wait to get home the dog I had always wanted. We reached the house to be greeted by barks and whines. The door opened and out ran 5 cute little black and brown puppies. All of them had different coloured ribbons in their necks. The owner told us that he hadn't named them as he wanted the new owners to give their pup a name. He just used the colour of the ribbion they wore to identify one from the other. The pups were over 2 months old and I was in love with all of them the very instance I laid my eyes on them. There was one pup with a bright blue ribbion who kept tugging at my skirt and trying to rip it apart. She was one of the females and I guess she chose me. I immediately picked her up and told my dad I wanted her and she was the one we took home that day!

I carried my new puppy in my arms and made her sit on my lap and held her tight. She was scared of the traffic that drove past her. Dad and I reached home and my mom and sister Ayesha were eagerly waiting for us. I put her down to show her off to them. They loved her. She was a pup but had strong bone structure and a solid frame. We named her EBONY.

Ebony grew up very fast just as most dogs do. She got taller by the day. She developed a deadly infection at the age of 6 months called Parvo virus but she was too strong to give up on life. She fought hard through her illness only to become more stronger as she grew up.

My dear beloved Ebony left me at the age of one. She accompanied us in our car the day we had our accident and we couldn't find her after the crash. I will never forget Ebony as she was the light of my life.....

Please don't abandon me, I love you.

Dogs are known since ages to be a man’s best friend and companion. Having a dog around the house would seem to be a lot of fun but it is not. Making this decision impulsively, can lead to frustration, disappointment, and eventually, may result in the surrender of the dog to a shelter or rescue. Ultimately in the end the dog who is loyal and thinks of his owner as his family has to end up without one for no fault of his.

The decision to get a dog is not something to be taken lightly. An adorable puppy can tug at our heartstrings but, in the end, will require a significant investment of your time and money for a significant number of years. Socializing and training a new puppy is time consuming and, occasionally, frustrating. It can increase the amount of stress on the family, and the dog, working to provide the constant supervision, socialization, and training that is necessary to successfully integrate a dog into a family environment. This is especially true if the primary caregivers are working outside of the home and/or have young children, an elderly parent, or other persons and/or pets to care for. This does not mean that it cannot be done. But, prospective dog owners often underestimate the investment of time, energy, and money, required.

In India, the tragic fact is that, millions of the dogs are abandoned annually. And, most often, it is the owners, not the dogs, who are responsible. Impulsive or poorly thought out decisions; the selection of a difficult or headstrong breed because it is 'popular' or you like how it looks; or, for that matter, any dog selected for looks rather than temperament, 'match' to your lifestyle, and your ability to provide proper care and environment; the lack of consideration of the lifestyle changes you may experience over the next 12 to 14 years; as well as the lack of proper socialization, training, physical activity, and attention -- these are all major contributors to the need for so many shelters and rescues.

The responsibilities of dog ownership are quite a few. However if you are interested in getting a dog for the RIGHT reasons, be sure of selecting a breed best suited to your lifestyle by visiting your local shelter or rescue facility. Better still, adopt a stray dog. There are so many dogs on the streets that would make excellent pets. All they need is love and companionship. If you really love a dog then you would not insist on a breed. A dog is a dog after all, isn’t it?

Ask yourself this:1) Are you, and all those who live with you, committed to spend 12+ years providing health care, food, grooming, training and attention to a dog? Do the people who live with you also want a dog?

2) Do you have the time and/or resources available . . . To take your dog for walks and to the vet? To bath, brush, clip, and, otherwise, groom your dog as often as necessary? Will you want to play and, perhaps, work on training daily, with your dog? Are you willing to take your dog to puppy socialization, kindergarten, and basic obedience classes?

3) Are there lifestyle-altering events that could occur in your foreseeable future? - A baby, caring for an elderly family member, a divorce, job uncertainty, etc. And, how would you deal with these changes as they impacted your ability to care for a dog?

4) Is your personality conducive to dog ownership? Do you often feel 'stressed out'? Do you like to have total control over your environment or 'space'? Are you a 'neat freak'? Are you flexible? Patient? Answer honesty - nobody but you will know AND, more importantly, nobody but you will have to live with the results of your trying to 'fit' your personality to a dog.

5) Are you physically able to care for a dog? Are you economically able to provide care for a dog?

6) Is your environment prepared for a dog and/or are you willing to make the investment of time and money necessary to insure that it does? Is there a yard or park-like area for your dog to walk and relieve him- or her- self? If your dog will be outside for any period of time, will you provide a secure and comfortable shelter for your dog? Although you may have a secure and comfortable location for your dog while it is outdoors, dog should not be left outdoors, unattended, for extended periods of time. They can be taunted, released, stolen, or worse. Tethering can cause serious physical harm or death in the event of an entanglement or other such accident. Further, prolonged tethering can cause undesirable behavioral and personality traits to surface. Additionally, garages may contain chemicals, tools and other items that can be dangerous and/or harmful to your dog.

7) Will your dog be alone for long periods of time, daily? Can you arrange for the dog to be let out for a romp, given water, medication, and playtime, as necessary, during the day? Or, will you become angered and frustrated by behavioral issues that may arise due to the fact that your dog is alone for long periods of time? (i.e., relieves him or herself indoors; chews up a blanket, your shoes, your favorite chair cushion; barks incessantly, causing your neighbors to become angry or, perhaps, even call animal control on you; etc. Do not plan to leave your dog outdoors or in a garage all day while you are away! If this is in your plans, I suggest you revisit the question "Why do I/We want a dog?"

8) Are you willing to spay/neuter your dog, as soon as possible, to reduce the chance of an accidental breeding?

9) Do you travel frequently? Will it be difficult for you to find quality care for your dog when you are away? Can you afford such care?

10) Do you really LOVE dogs? If you are truly motivated by your love of dogs, or a particular dog, you most likely don't need this page. You've done your homework and are ready for a lifelong commitment. You will train and play with your dog, provide appropriate veterinary care and nutrition, you will bath and groom him or her, happily, and the occasional behavioral problem won't throw you for a loop.

And, remember to incorporate the same thoughtful consideration on whether or not to get a dog, and which breed or mix, when your friend, coworker or relative offers you one of Fluffy's puppies. Dogs are never really 'free' or 'cheap' and, in reality, require significant financial, physical, time, and environmental resources. At a minimum, none of these, or other such reasons, are sound selection factors for getting a dog and selecting a particular breed or mix. And, remember, if it is difficult for you to find information on a particular breed, or a breeder of the breed, it follows that you will most likely also have difficulty finding local support services that are familiar with the training, health care, and maintenance needs of that breed.
Therefore, just as in marriage or parenthood, you must be willing to be somewhat flexible and sincerely committed to responding, responsibly, to deviations from your expectations.