Written by: Siddhartha Krishnan | 3 Min Read

I was convinced that Joshua was an alien dog. From a few months into having him until the day he died, I was sure of it. I even called him that. Before bedtime, I’d often tell my son a story about how a spaceship dropped this odd creature on our planet, and we were the crazy ones who picked him up. Joshua was my ET dog.

But there was something else that made him special—his half tail.

***

We met the “alien dog” at the pet market in Shivajinagar, Bangalore. Puppies were on display in huge baskets, cramped together like soft toys. Back then, our understanding of animal cruelty was still immature. My wife and I were like naive kids, wandering through a candy store, overwhelmed by all the choices. The market was a sensory overload, with cute eyes staring at us from every shop. Each puppy seemed to be desperately looking for a home.

In the midst of it all, we noticed a small cage beside one of the shops. Inside was a little puppy with unforgettable marble-like eyes. When I put my finger through the railing, he eagerly nibbled on it as if it were a treat. He was desperate to get out.

I asked the shopkeeper to take him out of the cage. The moment he was free, he ran all over the place. The other puppies made space for him, wanting nothing to do with his energy. “Which breed?” I asked. “Labrador,” the shopkeeper replied. The puppy had half a tail, and that was impossible to miss. “Why does he have half a tail?” I inquired. “It was an accident. A door slammed on it,” the shopkeeper said. The explanation seemed absurd, but my wife and I exchanged knowing glances. Whether the story was true or not, one thing was clear—this little guy would have a tough time finding a home with that half tail.

We kept looking at each other, silently negotiating. He was the cutest, most spirited dog we had seen. And he had chosen us. Unlike the others, who were all vying for attention, he never left our side. He’d run around, but always came back to settle at our feet. Finally, my wife broke the silence, “Can we take him home?” I was relieved to hear it.

We took him home in a small cardboard box filled with cotton. I remember the date clearly—August 3, 2008, the first Sunday of August. Friendship Day.

Your first dog is always special because nothing prepares you for what is to come. It’s like having your first child. We were on that road of unexpected surprises and this rascal would teach us how to be a pet parent and mad dog lovers.

To be continued …

About the author

Siddhartha Krishnan is the author of ‘Two and a Half Rainbows – A Collection of Short Stories’. An enthusiastic blogger he shares his articles, essays, travelogues, book and movie reviews on his blog (www.whatsonsidsmind.com).

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