Nimboo Pani

I remember the day I got her home, saw her 'lemon coloured' ears and named her Nimboo. The whole of her fit in my little 11 year old hand. I read through an entire dog book to see what she would need. I got her milk in a little bowl, and then she scrambled onto my lap and went to sleep.

We've been through so much together since then.

I've sat up for hours on end completely immobilized because she was sleeping on my lap, I've trained her to sit and calm down, wait patiently for her food and not pee in the house, I've cuddled her and spoilt her and loved her, I've made sure she's had an active sex life(!!), I've delivered her babies and helped to look after them, I've cried for her when she's been in pain, sat up nights with her when she was uncomfortable and in pain after her operation, I've shared a bed with her when she didn't feel like sleeping alone.

She, in turn, has been my friend and companion since she was carried into my main door ten years ago. She's shed tears with me when I've cried, she's jumped on me and bitten me in gentle anger when I've been away too long, she's given me so much joy, so much love, relieved me of loneliness many times, kept me warm in the winters by sliding under the razai and curling up under my arm like in the photograph above, she's slept with me like another human being - under the covers, head on pillow(haha), she's sat by me when I've been depressed and scratched me with her paw lovingly, she's known when I'm going out of town and sulked, and seen me through everything.

I know...everyone must be thinking - for fuck's sake, its just a dog. But for those who have and love their pets, you'll know..they're not just animals. As for Nimboo...she's almost human. And we connect. Even as dog and human. She and I...we know eachother inside out. I know her moods and how to deal with them just as she does, mine.

I love her so much!

Today she is 10 years old. Happy birthday Nimbooli!