Unconditional Love Has A Name - Kadey!

I was never a dog person.  Nor a pet person.  Animals were generally off-limits.  I was terribly scared of dogs too, as I had been chased enough times as a kid, and also bitten once, by a canine. Even though many friends and some relatives had dogs at home, I rarely ventured to pet them.  Avoided them if they were quiet, or asked their minders to tie it up if it were a barking kind or big to handle.  Sanju wasn't a dog or a pet person either back then.  And, yet, Kadey happened to us.  

Kadey arrived as Kade at our home - from CUPA.  Much at the insistence of Sanju, and some coaxing also from a good friend, Dame A, who had scores of rescued animals at her homes in different states. It didn't take long for Kadey to work his way into our - and my - heart.  While Sanju took to him from day 1, I didn't warm up easily.  The first few days, he was quieter than a mouse.  Not a sound, no interest in us.  Just slept morosely on the rug/bed we had made for him, ate sparingly, and didn't even poop.  For three full days.  We both were anxious as we took him out multiple times each day to make him do the big job.  Multiple calls were made to the friends from CUPA - who possibly were exasperated and amused in equal parts at our worries.  And, when he did it called for a small celebration.  We called every friend and acquaintance to inform of the update! 

Soon, Kadey moved from the mats in the hall to the sofas.  I would scream, "God, he is now sitting and sleeping on the sofa!" "It's okay Su.  He might be feeling cold in the night", Sanju would say.  And, I would grimly agree.  He started coming to us to be petted.  From someone who had NEVER touched a dog willingly, I moved from gingerly touching him to giving him chin and butt scratches.  If I'd stop he would pull my hands to him with his paw, and ask me to continue the scratches.  He was always hungry for them.  He would give a big grin while being scratched, and wagged his tail happily.  And, before we knew he was sleeping in our bedroom.  He would be sleeping on his own bed to begin with, and would sneak up on to ours in the middle of the night.  Everyday I would make a song and dance of him being on bed.  And, everyday he repeated the same act.

He loved to play - he wasn't a trained dog.  But, then dogs don't need training to play.  He loved to play ball.  He always expected me to run after him to snatch it from his mouth.  Never would he give it to me.  He would only stop if he went tired.  Playing with him was my responsibility.  While giving him showers, and taking him to the vet were Sanju's.  Kadey loved his drives in the car, his walks on the roads, his stops at different places to piddle, and he loved his eggs, and chicken, the most.  Once, while we were hosting a party at home, we had boiled over two dozen eggs.  Kadey had managed to pull the dish from the kitchen top and finish them all.  Another time he had eaten an entire pack of Bournvita refill of 500 gm.  Sanju and I were horrified - and were worried sick that he would die.  Thankfully he was stronger than all that.  He even made his journey from Bengaluru to Hyderabad when I got transferred, without a whimper.  He happily sat in the car, while Sanju drove, with Bassy for company.  

Kadey was quick to make friends.  Human kind - and rarely, the canine kind.  He was also quick to unfriend them if he felt they weren't good to him.  Like the kids in Hyderabad were not his best friends - they loved to pull his tail or ears, and he hated it.  He always felt everyone came home to see him and play with him.  His best reaction of course was reserved to Sanju.  Each day when he returned from work (I usually arrived earlier), I would know he was close home.  Because, Kadey would run and stand either in the balcony or near the door, waiting for him to either ring the bell or enter home.  

Kadey influenced several friends around us to go ahead and adopt pets.  Kadey was a great teacher too.  When Emily and Berlin were fostered at home before they could be adopted by someone, he taught them manners, patience, calmness, and some toilet training.  

We never knew what age was Kadey when he arrived at our home.  He was a handsome boy, with a pronounced hip issue, but he recovered soon with great care from Sanju, and some from me.  He gave us love unconditionally.  Every day and every minute.  He loved us to bits.  Even if we screamed at him - for some imagined transgression - he would still come back to us in no time, wagging his tail.  It was always him who made amends.  He knew when we needed him too - if we were down, he would come and give us generous licks all over.  He was love personified.  What he hated though were - being chained at home, his showers, medicines, and being kept away from fun of mingling with people.  

Sanju and I parted ways.  But, Kadey continued to be there for both of us.  However, Kadey went to the US with Sanju - how could I say no when he would go international! He made the journey and the transition from nations smoothly, won hearts there too, and lived well under the care of his new dad and Sanju.  

Kadey, our first pet, our first son, and our love forever, passed away on 27/28 December 2021.   He laughed, lived, and loved unabashedly, and fully.  Wherever he is he will be bringing smiles around him - naturally.  And, allaying fears, winning hearts, and transforming souls around.  To accept pets, and love dogs.  There won't be another like him. But, because of him, there will be other pets in our lives.  

Love you  Kadey! Will always!