Always remember to forget
The things that made you sad
But never forget to remember
The things that made you glad.

Always remember to forget
The friends that proved untrue.
But don't forget to remember
Those that have stuck by you.

Always remember to forget
The troubles that have passed away.
But never forget to remember
The blessings that come each day.

They have a life!!!

I just got a black Labrador Retriver adopted! He is in a good home now, with people who love him. I am not saying his previous owners didn't look after him, they did! He was a very well kept dog with no signs of abuse whatsoever.
So, you may ask why this sweet and cared for dog was given up. Were the owners moving out of station or out of the country? Or could they just not manage looking after this noble animal who loved them and missed them when he stayed for extended periods at our pet sitting facility?

Here is Maxs' story.

Max came to us for boarding about 8 months back. When his owner got him here so my husband and I could see if he was friendly or not, she burst out into tears. I was taken aback with her behaviour and asked her why she was crying since we don't really get bawling owners. After a long pause, she told us that her house had been robbed by her house maid. Max was looked after by this maid while she attended to her kitty parties and outings. Now, since the maid was all poor Max had to call his own, he was sulking by not eating. I comforted her and told her not to worry and since Max would be boarding with us for a few days, he would be well looked after. I genuinely thought she was crazy about her dog. "I was so wrong!"

He stayed with us and went back home. The owner was happy he was eating again. Well, Max was being bought up in a Gujrati household and the only form of his natural food (meat) came from sachets of packaged dog food and he was more than happy to eat chicken at our place, which ofcourse the owner said he could have. He gobbled down all that was served to him and then wanted some more.

Two days after his return back home, I got a call from his owner. Max was up fror adoption!! I tried to convince her that she was making a very wrong decision and that she should reconsider. I also asked her what made her change her mind after 2 and a half years of having such beautiful and well behaved dog. She then explained that since she was without a maid, Max was tearing up the house when left alone. Every evening when she got back, she would find pillows torn apart with cotton all over the room, furniture chewed up among the many other things. What did she expect, did she think that she would walk into a perfect house; just like she had left it? Max was used to having someone with him all the time... he had company and someone who would talk to him. Now, he was left all alone and he was obviously bored and had resorted to entertaining himself as well as getting some kind of attention from his owner. He was craving to be loved, to be spoken to, to be pet and pampered. "Was that so wrong?"

After a lot of convincing, Maxs' owner said she would try for a few more days and keep him till then. I did not get a call from her for over 5 months and I was happy that she realized she loved him and could not part with him. "I was so wrong!"

The phone rang on March 30th. The owner was getting her house renovated and needed Max to board with us from 16th April onwards. I booked him in and he came to us on the 16th. A week later she called and dropped by to meet him and settle the dues but did not take him home as the work was still in progress. That same night, 10.45pm, the phone rang again. She was now certain she didn't want him. This time I did not try to reason with her. That evening when she had visited, her husband had seen a pug we were boarding and commented that their next dog would be a pug! I am almost certain that is the reason she called and said she didn't want Max anymore.

We had a friend who was waiting since months to adopt a lab. I called him at 11pm that same night and he was overjoyed to hear the news. Max was picked up from our place. The owner did not bother to meet Maxs' new parents. She did not even bother to bid her farewell to her dog of 2 and a half years.

This is not only Maxs' story. This is the story of all those dogs who are bought as a commodity, who are bought because Mr. XYZ has one and they want one too. I hope and pray that people realize that dogs are not toys, "THEY HAVE A LIFE."