Thanks for everything Obi! You were such an amazing dog!
Obi came to our home in January 2000, when I was 9 years old. We adopted him from the shelter and they guessed he was about 2 years young at the time! I remember Obi as that cute young puppy who always had so much energy. He would run everywhere, romp around the backyard, and jump up on anything and everything. It was amazing how fast he could rush down the stairs, slide on the wood floor while turning, and then somehow make it out to the backyard in a matter of seconds. I remember walking Obi and how he was able to out-sprint me all the time. His favorite toy was a yellow squeaky football – when he first got it he would constantly squeak it, plop it on my lap and entice me to play with him. Playing catch with him was always so fun (and funny) because of how he would slide when trying to run fast and then catch his balance and bolt off after the ball.
When I got sick as a child, Obi was always at my side. He would hop up onto the bed I was sleeping in and watch over me through the night. Rain or shine he was always there to greet us all cheerfully. Even in his older years, he would make a point to greet everyone with a wagging tail. I’ll never forget how fast his little tail wagged – so fast, all you could see was a blur!
In his older years, Obi taught us how to deal with difficulties cheerfully. He gamely dealt with auto-immune disorder for six years, adapting to his illness with good cheer, figuring out new ways to climb stairs, greet people and chase food scraps. Food was Obi’s passion and his obsession – he loved food and never knew when to stop eating! He was a master at begging for food, sitting straight and concentrating fixedly on any food you were eating. In his last days, when kidney cancer overtook him, food remained the high point of his life. We put forward a range of foods that he could digest and enjoy in his last days – from Jello to cheese puffs to Patti’s roti’s, idlis and pongal. But eventually, when his body could not retain the food he ate and his nights were filled with excruciating nausea, we realized that Obi’s time with us was coming to an end.
Obi passed on peacefully on August 9, 2010, wagging his tail at us despite the cancer that gave him no rest. Home to Heaven’s kind service gave Obi the relief he need to pass away peacefully – he even ate a small meal before passing on, and before the dreaded nausea could catch up with his meal. We hope Obi carried good memories of his years with us and of the food that he enjoyed so much.
Every moment Obi was with us was a gift. He was such an amazing dog, and we can’t thank him enough for everything he gave us. You’re loved and missed dearly Obi! We’ll see you again in another life Obs!
Varun, Anu, Padma and Aditya