Our special friend

My dear Lucie.

We met when someone had dumped you, your brother and sister at the end of our street.

We’ve had so much fun together. Almost from the very first moment I came to live in Mysore.

It didn’t take long for you to realise where the kindly Firangi, — who fixed your skin problems and regularly fed you — came from, so you all followed.

The man who lived downstairs was less keen on the black — India street dog and her siblings— setting up home under our tree. This was… Exactly where you came to rest on Saturday when you were feeling ill and went back to that same tree.

We’d chase and roll around in the park, with Vis another street dog becoming a friend.

In time I found homes for your brother and sister. You had the op at People for Animals, with a neat ‘bite’ taken out of your ear so you wouldn’t be re-captured and spayed again. (When I first visited India I wondered why many street dogs had a bite taken out of an ear. — it wasn’t another dog! ) 🤭

You became part of our wonderful family

Whenever neighbours saw me without you, they’d want know where you were. I even went to a hotel miles away on the other side of the city where a waiter asked where you were! He also lived in Siddarthanagar

It’s not surprising that you were so well known as we walked through the layout four times every day.

Now I have to go to the bakery, cafe and chai shop on my own.

When Manjula’s spirit moved on we had a lovely portrait painted of you both

I miss you both so much, hope you find each other, in your new lives. I’ll catch up with you eventually but in the meantime, I’ll now introduce you and share you both with even more people.

Friends from around the world are sending their love and sharing their memories.

Billet-Doux is still looking for you here and expects our walk last thing at night with the owl flitting above us