Julie

Julie in 2009

I don't have many photos of Julie so it was nice when I found this one on my computer. This was before he started to weaken so he still looks healthy here.

Julie was a boy, regardless of his girly name. My grandparents named him as he was their dog. He was a little pup when I was a toddler, and when I lived in India between the ages of about 2 and 4, I'd always hug him and call him my brother. When I used to take the school bus to my preschool, he'd be waiting at the bus stop for me to come back and walk me home which was around the corner. Clever of him to know the way there and what time to come collect me, as he was by himself.

Then, when we came back to England, I saw Julie about once a year. He'd always be so happy to see us, he'd jump on his hind legs and start waving his front paws up and down, sort of like in a Gangnam Style motion I guess. He loved being around us and I'd spoil him by feeding him little bits of chocolate and ice cream cone and cucumbers and tomatoes (which I don't like so it was good he ate them for me!). I remember one time, he needed to take some medicine in the form of a pill but when it was dissolved in his milk, he could smell it and refused to take it. So I moulded the pill in a chunk of dairy milk chocolate and that's how I got the medicine in him. Also, he detests dog food. I'd take him on walks and remember that one time, me and my cousin saw a large snake, and it was the first time either of us saw a snake that wasn't in captivity. Luckily, Julie was too busy peeing to notice. And then when we'd leave to catch our flight, Julie would know that we were leaving and start yelping this sad howl.

Sadly, Julie passed away in June 2012. I was so devastated. I cried a lot. I had been praying during the past few weeks that he'd last until August so that when we went to India, I could see him for the last time and get to stroke him. But that didn't happen. He died naturally of old age, he had joint problems and was going blind and he was about 13/14 years old. I'm just grateful that my grandparents looked after him until the very end and were there to feed him when he couldn't eat and provide him with comfort.

The next time we went to India, my grandparents' house did feel empty. No Julie to greet us with his trademark hello. Even though Julie was my grandparents' dog, I still refer to him as my dog as that's what he feels like, as well as my doggy brother.