Parenting A Pet
Adv Shiny Joseph Panikulam recalls the pets she has had and her deep attachment to them
From my earliest childhood, I loved dogs as much as my own family members. My first pet was a Lhasa Apso, and I adored her completely. I cared for her every day, bathing her and treating her as my everything. When she gave birth to a litter, the puppies did not live long—they died the very next day. I cried all day and could not bring myself to eat anything, devastated by the loss of those tiny lives. From that moment, my deep love for dogs truly began.
Throughout my life, I have shared my home with many different breeds: German Shepherds, Dobermans, Labradors, Pomeranian Spitzes, Rottweilers, Huskies and Golden Retrievers. The first Pomeranian we had lived for almost 12 years and gave birth to many litters during that time. From those litters, we decided to keep two puppies; one of them is still with us today, though he is now very old.
Among all the Pomeranians, one stood out in a special way. We called her Fluffy because, when she was only a few months old, she looked exactly like a little snowball. She was a true homebody—gentle, loving, and always eager to be close to us. She would jump right into the middle of the scooter whenever we went shopping and stay there patiently near the shop without causing any trouble. During the COVID years, she would walk alongside us without a leash, perfectly obedient and full of quiet affection. When illness in her uterus finally claimed her, she lay on my lap, crying softly as she took her last breath. I held her close, consoling her and bidding her farewell. Her death shocked me deeply and left me grieving for months. Fluffy was the dearest of them all, and losing her broke something in me for a long while.
Another unforgettable companion was a Rottweiler we named Marley. We got her from my eldest son’s friend, and she immediately reminded us of the dog in the movie ‘Marley & Me’. Though she was a Rottweiler, she was friendly not only with our family but with anyone who approached her with kindness. She had a gentle spirit, yet she could become jealous and protective if we paid attention to other dogs. We lost her recently, one ordinary morning when a snakebite took her life. Today we still share our home with two Huskies, the elderly Pomeranian and a family of stray cats that found their way to us. Together they fill each day with energy and happiness, helping me forget my worries the moment I am with them.
With the help of my sons, I also offer day-care and boarding for other people’s dogs—when families have functions, emergencies, or trips, they leave their pets with me, and I care for them as if they were my own until their owners return. The memories I have built with all these dogs have kept me feeling younger, livelier and deeply comforted. Their unconditional love has given me a happiness nothing else can match.
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