OUR DOG GYPSY

Through these columns Iam happy that I can pay tribute to our dog Gypsy that was part of our lives for around five years. My brother and myself had some fascination for puppies and would bring some country puppy found wandering somewhere in the streets home only to be admonished by people at home and we let the puppy back on the street from whence it came. This happenned several times; but for once when we could retain a puppy at home.

This was of an exalted breed probably an american breed which we got from our school and the home of Mr. Robert our physical education trainer who was more than eager to part with it and from then on this puppy was both our ecstasy and agony. It grew into a full grown hound before long and was tied to our mango tree which formed part of our house. We never trained it and hence had its own mannerisms. Some times it used to bark at us when we tried to enter our house and ly quiet when some stranger made an entry. We were very protective about our dog and had named it gypsy. I dont know if our dog ever knew its name as it would respond to many names. We were very protective about gypsy anyway.

I used to go to the mutton shops in our vicinity and fetch bones for this mammal once in a while. That used to be special feild day for it. I could see it wagging its tail from afar sensing what I was carrying and would be highly impatient until emptied into its bin.

I think gypsy died one morning in 1979. We kept it tied to our tree most of the times and did not know the other possible yearnings of our dog. We never let it go out and have a stroll and free time in the sun which our dog probably wanted. We used to chase away many other dogs in the vicinity that used to take a menacing glance into our compound once in a while . I think we were unjust to Gypsy and not our mistake as we were to get a hang of many things letting alone the hidden aspirations of our beloved bitch. Sorry my dear Gypsy please pardon our ignorance.