Gassi-The Tail-less Labrador

He came to us when he was 21 days old. A small black ball of fur. His eyes were not open yet. He made small little noises…something in-between a squeak and a groan. Or was it a moan? His face had wrinkles (his father was a boxer and mother a lab). We named him Agassi. Yes, we named him after the very same Andre Agassi, as the evening he came to us, Andre Agassi won his first Wimbledon title. So Agassi be thy name, we decided, though it was later shortened to “Gassi”.

The first few nights, Gassi whined all through the night (missed his mother I think). Those days, we fed him milk with an ink filler. He used to sleep in a small little orange basket under my mother’s bed. Everytime he cried, my mother would pick him up and pat him back to sleep. Slowly he got used to his new home. He opened his yes and started walking. His paws made soft pattering noises and slipped every now and then on the smooth mosaic. Few weeks down the line, he learnt to run, lap up milk from a bowl and eat cerelac.

Gassi was jet black save for a white spot on his chin. His face had the wrinkles of a boxer which he inherited from his father. The vet advised us to cut his tail as that is the norm for boxers. And since he seemed to look like one, off went his tail. And he was left with a black stump at the bottom of his spine. But to our dismay, as he grew over the next few months, all his wrinkles disappeared one by one. And he started looking like a Labrador! And a lab without a tail at that! However, tail or no tail, the black little stump ceased to stop wagging ever.

In time, Gassi became the friendliest and most lovable dog in the neighborhood. He chewed up the best of footwear, almost broke a teak wood door, uprooted my mother’s rose bushes and chased the neighborhood cat. He became the protector of little children on the street, a fielder when by brother’s friends played cricket or a steadfast loyal companion on a quiet evening. When we returned home from school/college or office, we were greeted with joyful barks and warm licks. He would circle us, pounce and not let us enter the house until we spoke to him. This was not limited to just our family. Anyone who walked through the gate was welcomed with barks and wet licks.

Gassi grew up to be a handsome fellow with the most expressive face. His body language spoke volumes. And his soulful eyes explicitly communicated his reactions/feelings. If only he could speak-we used to think. He was also a highly disciplined and obedient pet. So much so, that my mother once remarked, “I have three children. My youngest son is the most obedient”.

Gassi had this thing for dressing up. He would love to wear T-shirts, caps and glasses. He’d parade in them proudly and not let anyone take them off.

Gassi was gentle, adorable, intelligent and naughty. He lived for 14+ years. Losing him was an extremely painful experience for my family.

His memories are evergreen.