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.