­I suppose that even now, I am still shocked to the core of my being, when I remember the day when I found a weak and undernourished dog in a garbage-site.

The image of Pan Pan having sunken eyes, a skinny body, and when he was hesitant to get out of bed appears engraved in my mind like a wound. I could easily have just continued down the path I was already on and never crossed this person’s path, much less meet a new lifelong companion in the form of a small, adorable creature.

There is something that you vividly recall to this very day: the first time you saw Pan Pan throw around for food in a bin for stray animals. I felt sick when I came to know that this little life was all alone, left to suffer in an unbearable pain and the world didn’t even bother to care if it existed or not.

For me the germ of an idea came out when I stepped on the street, that I have to help Pan Pan, that I have to be that change she needed.

I felt the nonsense and cowardice from Pan Pan when I got close enough to it. From its behavior and appearance, it was easy to tell that this was mal treatment and it no longer had confidence in people.

I walked towards her cautiously while muting my voice in an attempt to calm Pan Pan down so that she could understand that I had no intention of hurting her. I put food and water close by deciding this might be the best way to gain the dog’s trust; and thus, our adventure started.

The following weeks, I dropped by Pan Pan’s dwelling bringing food, water, and medicine to help it regain its health. At first it was scared and could not approach me, but after a few days, it started to know me, and one day, it would even jump around.

I was shocked with the tenacity of Pan Pan, the flexibility it has shown to it the new environment it found itself in, and most importantly the force controlling it in order to survive.

Gradually, I noticed some changes in Pan Pan and understood that the main outcome of the operation would be far from a happy ending.

Limb deformities were seen in the dog and it could be observed that it had congenital issues from birth. I realized that I needed to get Pan Pan to a hospital to get a proper care it required and deserved.

The diagnosis did not make sense to the couple, but that was the diagnosis that Pan Pan had congenital dysplasia of the leg bones and that would require surgery.

The surgery was successful, but the girl’s battles were far from winning. Pan Pan had to go through several session of physical therapy to regain ability to walk on its own, and skin disease that Pan Pan had had required medicated bath.

I wanted to do my best for Pan Pan, to get it going regardless of having injuries on its legs, and to give it another lease of life.

As I saw Pan Pan getting up, slowly and steadily off the floor, I saw a change that I will treasure in my mind all my life. The dog becomes more confident, its tail was running and the eyes were filled with joy.

Pan Pan was trained to answer its name, and if I called finally it followed me around the house, so obedient. Every day I spent with her was like a day more of a bond between me and she became more than a patient to me, she became a child to me, a child that I had to protect and guide.

The trip was not without it obstacles. Sometimes I felt that she grew little, and there were points when I felt that responsibility of having a dog with such an intricate regimen every day was utterly stressful to me.

However, when I gazed into Pan Pan’s eyes, I understood that the stress was worth it. One could feel the appreciation in the dog’s eyes and feel the love that this creature had for someone so willingly.

Now thinking of my interaction with Pan Pan, I realized one aspect that need to be encouraged most, and that is love and care. As the starving and sickly dog living in a garbage dump, to this current day spoilt, healthy, and happy Pan Pan, her story is a delight of the whole humanity.

The impact of having a dog it my life has been ha positive feeling where I learn about compassion, care, and nobility. Finally I see that through the example of Pan Pan I can understand that even in the worst moments in life there is always a light at the end of the tunnel and love wins.

As I look back I can say it was a great experience and am proud to have been part of the journey that was made. I am glad we worked it through and crossed that bridge, overcame all the huddles and forged a friendship.

This story is a testimony that once was just a stray dog eating in the garbage dump, became a part of my family and a proof of how love can change people and even dogs.

At the end of the day, being a rescuer is not all about saving a life; instead it is giving a life another chance to feel love, care, and companionship.

It is about giving a shelter, to a creature that needs it while giving it love and affection. As I stare into its eyes I realized I did something good, I affected its life, and it affected mine, or rather it affected me, Pan Pan.

 

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Last Update: July 27, 2024