Was cleaning up some old records, when I came across a very very old write up on my Pet Dog, Ceaser. I dont remember when I wrote it, sometime in school… Here it goes.
My little Ceaser
It was a beautiful, warm sunday afternoon. After a heavy lunch, we were all settled down in front of the TV watching the afternoon movie in DD. Someone knocked the door and my Dad rushed to get it. He has never done that, he’ll usually be driving some one to answer the door, so this was werid.
Dad’s friend had come with a big bag. He opened the bag as soon as he came in and out jumped a tiny, beautiful white Pomeranian. My sisters were shouting in excitement and with jaws dropped down, I was just too excited to even move. He came, tail wagging and on all the fours, like a small ball of white cotton rolling around, licked at everybody that tried to touch him.
So Dad’s big surprise was our new family member. I was allowed to name him. And of all things on earth, the Romans came to my mind. May be I was fascinated by Julius ceaser’s Rome. So we named him Ceaser, Novembus ceaser. No prize for guessing that he was born in November.
Ceaser was like a soft toy, pure white, beady eyes, pink tongue popping out of black nose, and a non stop wagging tail. We kids loved him from day one. My mom was the only person who was kind of skeptical about the whole thing. She started shouting “who’s gona clean him, maintain him, feed him” lo there he was peeing right under the Dining table. There was a silence that followed, but we kids were too eager to let this pass. My sister jumped in to clean it 
We were living in an apartment, and neighbours were not too happy about a dog in our home. Ceaser was too small, so they didnt bother much, except insisting on “No shitting on the pathway”. I used to take him to the grounds for playing and walking. All my friends used to gather around me to see my new pet. It was top of the world feeling. Chasing small kids, stealing tennis balls from future champs, chasing crows and running like crazy were his favourites games.
Eventually I got bored with his skill set and decided that I need to teach him a few tricks. It took a lot of research in my school library and patience to teach him a few commands. Sit, stand, easy, walk, get out, lie down, catch.. these phrases were all that I could teach him. I was really appreciated by every one when they saw that Ceaser could obey commands. We were communicating, he was understanding what we were saying, it was such a great feeling. When I see people with animals showing off new tricks like jumping in a ring, roll over, I realize how much patience they must have had.
Ceaser never lied down on the floor, just like we humans, he would sit only in sofa or the chair to take rest. Otherwise was always running around the house watching what each person was doing. I had the habit of reading the newspapers in the morning over a coffee, spreading the paper on the floor. After ceaser came, he thought it was some game for him to play and would come and lie down exactly in the middle of the paper. If I force him to get up, he’d take the paper and shred it to peices. So every day I had to trick him by making him lie down on the 4 page magazine and then read the papers behind his back.
Very soon, he realized who’s who in the household. Dad’s words were to be obey instantly. His naughty tricks stop right on track when my dad calls out his name. He realized that Mom was the source of food for the family and started going to her for food directly. My Mom hated him entering the kitchen, we were trying hard to pacify her, but soon realized that Ceaser understood that she didnt like him coming inside the kitchen. He just sat at the edge of the kitchen door peering inside and making small sharp barks, “wuff… wufff”. Mom would always find something to give him.
He allowed only my sisters to groom him. Even if I touch his comb, he’d run away. May be they were soft on him. I was required for taking him on the daily walks and playing with him. After school, I’d rush back home to feed him and take him for the walk. The moment he’s done with his food, he’d run get his belt and chain and come running to me. He had no limit to what was a toy, papers were shredded, clothes were torn, doors were scratched, vessels were rolled over, pillows was dragged around
He wants a piece of all that I eat, even if its paper, all I have to do is put a piece in my mouth and give the rest to him, he’d chew it had to see if there is anything tasty
I used to wonder at Gods creations. I had lot of pets, Pigeons, squirrels, fishes, cats to name a few. I could watch a pigeon flying in the sky and tell what breed it was. After Ceaser came into my life, there was no time for any other pet.
Ceaser had a tiny head, but a big brain. He understood ever single emotions running in the family. If there were a sad thing and every body was silent he sat at a corner watching everybody. If there were friends visiting, he used to walk around so that he doesnt scare them.
I think he hated a couple of people, my cousin sister and my grandma. Cousin sister is a little bit devilish and I believe she might have done something to him when no one was watching. Grandma always supports my cousin sister (she was an orphan and my Mom and grandma brought her up). It took me so many days to pacify him and make him understand that they are our own people.
Ceaser’s toilet habit was not that great. Since we were living in an apartment, teaching him to use the toilet was such a pain. But when we did it was the happiest moment.
Hmm, So we had a perfect pet for our family. Every body in the family loved him. He was adored by my friends, neighbours had no complaints against him. Life is so happy and beautiful…
Notes:
These I’m adding now to complete the write up.
I had to leave my city for higher education. Dad was too busy to take him on walks and sisters got married to folks who didnt like Dogs at all. So it must have been tough for the little fellow to miss all the people. When my sisters became mothers, he was there to welcome the new comers. But our in-laws insisted on Ceaser staying out of the house for the kid could get infected. So he was always made to stay outside the house. We tried to give him off to another person who had a few other dogs. We were to pay the maintenance for ceaser every month. It was kind of an orphange for him probably, he never took food after going there. They had to bring him back to our home, for they thought he’s gona die of hunger.
Eventually Ceaser started to become old and lonely. My heart becomes heavy when I remember the day when my sister called up to say, Ceaser is no more. Old age is such a pain, if there was no companion to spend time with. I’m sure he must have thought about me and my sisters just before breathing his last. He stays with me, in my memories and in photographs.
I’m not sure if I’d go for another dog. May be if my love agrees, my kids will get a pal, from whom I think they will learn compassion, about whom they will have memories and may be write about too.
