Tree Of Life For Animals

It is with great sadness that I have to write this news. Chitori, one of our resident dogs, sadly died last week. Just 18 months old, she had found a way into so many peoples hearts: staff, volunteers, visitors, not to mention the other pups and dogs we have on site.

Here are some words from 3 people who knew her the most: Rachel, Wendy and Serena.

Chitori
In memory of a beautiful friend

‘With so many animals that come into our hospital, it is hard to say that there can be any favourites but for every volunteer or visitor to the shelter, there will be one or two dogs that they feel an immediate and intense bond with. For us, Chitori was one of those dogs. For me, I can remember a very defining moment. In September 2006, I was supposed to be going on a visit to the Himalaya, as things had been going very badly for the shelter with all the troubles that we suffered in our establishment and I just needed to get away.

As I was on my way to the train station, I suddenly got an urge to call one of our trustees Deepak. He told me that there had been a very horrible incident at the hospital where our previous contractor had been threatening members of staff with various caste abuse and also my mum. It mean’t that rather going away, I needed to spend the whole day in the police station giving statements and information so that the matter could be dealt with. It had been a long line of nine months of solid harrassment and intimidation from a previous trustee, who was also involved with the contractor.’

‘In the evening, exhausted, when we had finally come out of talks I went back to the hospital which was always the most calm and grouding place for me. It was very quiet as most of the staff had already left. A little puppy was sat in our large animal theatre. Kim and Belle, 2 of my good friends and volunteers at the time, had said that she had, had a terrible day and Belle especially was sure that she wasn’t going to make it. I sat in the operating theatre with her, with her sat huddled on my knee, asking her to please give me a sign that all that we were doing was worth it.

After months of hideousness and heartache, I needed to know that what we were doing was right, worthwhile and to keep going. That night loopy lou (or chitori as she was called by our Indian staff which means ‘joker’) made her decision and gave me the sign that I needed. Beyond all hope, she was still alive in the morning. With my mums, kims and belles loving care, everyday she got better and became the luminous spark that she was. She had volumes of energy and would chase round and round playing endlessly with the other dogs who adored her. As with so many of our animals and especially the young ones, her life was short and we don’t know why that is. She died suddenly yesterday morning but that life that she did have was incredibly full and loving. The landscape of TOLFA won’t be the same without its little yellow streak of lightening!!!’

Chitori a few months after arriving, and growing each day

Rachel, founder of TOLFA

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‘Yesterday Rachel let me know that Chitori had died, I received the news with great sadness as she was one of ‘my’ dogs. I was there when she came in as a very small pup along with her brothers and sisters, sadly they all died within a few weeks and she herself was very sick especially whilst I was away in Kerela. Rachel kept me informed of her progress and a few times little hope was held out for her survival but against all odds she managed it.

She was an incredibly naughty puppy, always into things she shouldn’t be, but she had great character. After I returned home Rachel would send me news of her, when she was spayed Rachel sent me me a photo and I couldn,t beleive how much she had grown, I still thought of her as a tiny pup.

When I returned to the hospital last year she greeted me with her usual exhuberance, all grown up she was as lively as ever and still into everything. She was a great help when I was socialising the bigger pups as she loved to play and taught them a lot about doggy behaviour. Jasper will miss her terribly as they spent hours chasing each other and play fighting.

On my last day, before I left for England, as I said goodbye to all our dogs I sat with her and told her it would be a while before I could come back and see her again and that she should be a good girl and not get into too much trouble. Sadly I will never see her again but she holds a special place in my heart as she was one of the first dogs I ever really got to know and love (I had always been a cat person). She will be greatly missed by everyone at the hospital and my heart goes out to Annu who loved her dearly’

Goodbye Chitori

Wendy (Rachel’s mum)

Chitori and friend enjoying playing

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It was as though the heavens were weeping for Chitori yesterday, torrents of rain in the morning, sunshine during her funeral and then the worst rain storm afterwards.

In Hindu style, she was wrapped in green cloth, salt sprinkled beneath and on top of her, her head circled with white and rose mala, and sprinkled rose petals. Dr Ashok said some Hindi words and the most touching sight was Manoj, hands clasped together, eyes closed, deep feeling. Silence and thoughtfulness and remembering. As the last earth was covered I thanked Chitori for being on this earth and for enhancing our lives with her spiritedness, joyfulness and playfulness. The boys placed a branch of thorns on her grave, I stuck rose incense sticks on the head on the grave and the smoke unfurled gently

It was an apt send-off to the after-life for a beautiful blond girl who we will never forget….a life enhancer for all dogs and humans alike, who were fortunate enough to know her.

Serena, TOLFA Trustee

Chitori - In memory of a beautiful friend

This entry was posted on Thursday, April 10th, 2008 at 19:52 and is filed under General Information. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.