During outstation turs of long duration he accompanied me. Ths he travelled with by road to Srinagar (600Kms), Vashnodevi shrine (350Kms), later travelled with to Hydrabad (1600Kms) returned to Delhi by flight (2hours) to Assam (2300kms), to Jammu (2800kms), to Mount Abu (750kms) and then during Sept 2002 to Chandigarh (1000kms). From Assam he was joined by Allie (named after her mother) a female pup, one out of five pups by clever Allie, from his first and only litter at the age of 5 yrs.

It was around the first week of Oct 02 that I noticed that Rex was not taking any feed and having intermittent vomiting sensations. I sent him to local veterinary hospital at Pinjore where the vet doctor suspected some internal infection and administerd an anti-biotic injectionon him for the next three days - 8th, 9th and 10th Oct.  Even after symptomatic treatment there was no improvement. After lapse of one day on 12th October, I took him to the same doctor for further consultations. The doctor thought that stronger dose was probably required for results and gave him a stronger dose which sort of immobilised the dog. I got alerted and showed him to a private vety doctor-Dr JS Nijjer on 14th Oct at Chandigarh who prescribed full blood test. The blood test report showed laucocite count, netrophil, lymphocyta SGOT and SGPT, a mild fall in value of albumin globulin but an unbelieveable increase in creatinine (12.6mg % in place of 1.5mg %) and urea nitrogen (214mg % in place of 40 mg %).

The physicians were sceptical about his chances of making it but I never wanted to loose Rex. Dr Nijjer started the treatment on 15th Oct with expectation that saline drip with lassix would stimulate the kidney function whereas a dose of amplex would keep the antibiotic under control. A dash of polybion and renitidine were also prescribed to sustain his body strength in absence of any apetite and any oral intake. However in order to explore possibility of a dialysis and / or better treatment, I  showed him to doctor goyal at Punjab Agriclture University, ludhiana on 16th Oct. After studying the blood report he underscored the same treatment with addition to perinorm injection and dextrose 30ml(OD) for five days. The first dose was administered by a PG student at PAU, OPD on 16th Oct. Subsequent doses were given at veterinary hospital Panchkula from 17 to 20 Oct.

Both kamlesh (20) and Rahul (17) had grown up with Rex and shared their early teens fun and frolic with him. He was treated like a brother by both of them and Rex on his part reciprocated the affection in the same spirit. Sometimes I wondered that Rex was aware that he is a dog and not a hman being as all his activities were closely guided by human like sentiments and he expected his moods to be honoured, like a child would do. When I informed the openion of the vety doctor on 12 Oct saying "Rexs' kidneys have been diagnosed to have failed, the body toxins have increased mainfold". Rahul replied "Papa please do everything possible for Rex, take him to best doctor, he will be alright." he also went ot various veterinary doctors in delhi and sent me message giving the name and telephone number of a veterinary doctor at chandigarh.

Rex was not eating anythng frm 5th to 6th Oct. Neither he was drinking milk or water except to wet his throat once in about six hours. He had gone very frail. He was probably having untold bodily pain and misery. He was also showng the symptoms of heightened esnopjilia evident by his frequent sneezing and coughing. As he was not drinking any liquids and kidneys were the blood his urination was also very less and infrequent. Therefore he used to vomit the digestive juices depositing in his stomach very often. He was aware of the unhygine it may create in the house, So he had started going out and staying in the open till he felt vomiting sensation and / or due to claustrophobic effects of being indoors. But I used to bring him indoors after some time. He would not resist but go out again after some moments. Later he started hiding in high grass, bushes or against / along high wall. The creature was being torn apart between my affection and his compulsion to stay away in open. His condition was deterioting day by day. The medcation was not showing any indication of improvement. The doctor had openioned that the chances of his survival were rather bleak. Rex was slowely and steadily drifting from the life and us. I prayed for miracle for revival of his kidneys. As though aware of the sentimental crisis my small animal Rex could not been seen crying silently.

Every time I was at the brink of sentiments' horizon, I shared with rahul "Rex is in great physical agony and I am not able to help him". He would say "Papa be with Rex, give him your love and he will be alright." I gave all my love to him expressly but alas it did not work. He was taken to Panchkla vety hospital every day for drips in the morning and local vety hospital for injection in the evening. With every session of medication I was looking for any signs of agility in his frail body, apetite in his stomach and thirst in his throat. But these wordly requirements never ever returned to him again. He did showed me some good steps and wagged his tail on 16th Oct. I felt immensly happy but this state did not sustain beyond half an hour.

He loved to walk with me n the morning and evening, sleep after breakfast, accompany me to the office I the afternoon. Now he was unable to practise these pass times. So in order to let him enjoy his favourite routine, I physicaly pt him in and off the vehical to and from the office most of the days after 14th Oct. Boys enquired about his condition twice a day and both times I enquired them about his condition and activities in response to my affection his agony and sense of cleaniness.

Rahul asked me on 18th Oct weather Kamu and he could come to see Rex. I told them I would let them know if they had to. Though I knew rex might not make it but I was outwardly defying this fact. A friend who visited me on 17th Oct. told me about a good homeopathic doctor Dr. Pradeep Kharbanda in Chandigarh who could help. I got in touch with him on 18th Oct. and he after listening about the ailment of Rex scanned all the medicines on his compter screen and finally suggested two medicines for Rex, which rectify the kidney functions. The deterioration grew faster on 19th Oct. He was barely able to stagger his frail structurein and out of the house with efforts and would not move a step unnecessarily, stare at me with wide-open eyes conveying his agony of being in that body and sharing a sense of unwelcome eventuality with me with sustained gaze and effortful breathing. I understood him too well to miss his message. hence I short messaged Rahul "Rex would not survive more then 3 days. You and kammu may come to see him." Rahul informed Kmau and both of them immediately planned to come to me on 20th Oct. He replied "So tommorow I am joining you and Rex." Later he again messaged "Dad we are coming, I have talked with Kamu."

On 19th Oct. afternoon Rex's condition deterioted further. He virtually became a sack of vegitable. He had troubled breathing. He would go to the bowl of milk or water, lower his mouth to the bowl, stand there in effort to make himself drink but could not get to begin and move away. So I bought a 20ml syringe tube to feed him 10 or 20 ml of milk, water and some homeopathic medicines with it. But Rex would clinch his teeth and refuse any intake.

During the night of 19th Oct. Rex had slept under my bed-his favourite joint to take rest, and during his puppy days it used to be his workshop to scratch, bite and scatter the house hld articles under his reach - later his fort to snarl and scare his sustained persuers from. His breathing further troubled and heavy, he writhed in pain whole night. He went out in the morning but returned soon. Now he would not go far and hide - he simply could not walk that much. I did not abandon the hope of his miraculous revival and continued the medicines. Probably Rex did not want to take any medicines now but he could not convey that to me or I missed the message. It must have been etremly troublesome for him to be taken in a Gypsy - light vehicle to veterinary hospital, be adminstered 200 ml of saline, 30 ml of glucose and injected with 2 to 3 injections. In adition I tried to mouthfeed him with syringe 10 to 20 ml of milk, some water and dilute doses of homeopathic medicines - cuprum arsenicosum 30 and urtica urens.

Boys reached on 20th Oct evening. rex was lyinh on the floor near the sofa on which I was sitting. He only glanced on them instead of his ritual of jumping on them and profusely licking them all over their faces every time he met them. Boys were stunned to see the change and hugged him and cried with him - their childhood companion for a long time. They had bought one Ayurvedic kidney revitalising tonic for him from Dehi. Also they had brought their usual gift of pastries and chocolates for him. Rex just cast a glance at them this time unlike on previous ocassions when all three of them enjoyed their eats together. This made the boys sad and choked - throats to say a  word. All four of us including Rex were probably equally sad yet contented to be together. Our hearts were full to the brim with sorrow but it was shared mutually and hence was tolerable dear and scanctified. That night we silently ate our dinner while Rex looked on. Rex was always asked to come near the dining table at all meal times in our house and he complied irespective of weather or not he really ate anything. The 20th night was worse then the previous night for him. He had more troublesome breathing and writhed in pain whole night under the bed.

Next morning Rahul took him for saline and glucose drips and injections and review of hs blood sample to private clinic of Dr Kocher and Dr Nijjer. As soon as he reached there, he found Rex dangerously ill, breathing fast, trembling and lying absolutely effete. He telephoned "Papa Rex is extremly unwell, I don't know what to do ith him in this state, you may please come here." I asked him to let me speak with the doctor. The doctor told me "The dog is in extreme trouble and would not survive. Instead of trying medicines on him, I would advice you to consider mercy killing njection to him." I was taken aback. I didn't expect to face this moment and hear these words. I told the doctor to take blood sample to know weather the medicines have worked on Rex and for second aspect wait for my arrival. I didn't want to let go any slightest chance of survival for Rex un-availed of. I drove to Chandigarh right away. I found Rex Laid outside of clinic on the grass by Rahul to remove him from hospital environment as he attributed the sudden deterioration in his condition to the vety clinical environment. Rex was vigorously trembling in his efforts to breathe. He had already been given 200 ml of saline 30 ml of glucose drips and polybion and renitidine injections to give him some bodily strength. I put in my vehical and brought him home. Enroute I observed his bodily trouble had marginally subsided but to my utter disbelief his body begun stiffening. He was either in sleep or in coma or my Rex was already passing away!

After 25 kms of jouney when we reached home at about 11:45 AM, boys put him in the varanda in the sun, thinking that he was also feeling cold. I felt his chest and found it warm and the heart pulpating normally. I declared "Nothing is going to happen to him for next 3 to 4 hours." So I left for office,Rahul went to take his bath and Kamu with Rex in attendence comforting him. At 12:20 PM Rahul informed me on telephone "Papa Rex is no more."

I drove home, found the pup who became a dog under my eyes and deep affection showed us all his various affectionate activities, lay as still as dead before Kamu and Rahul. I lifted him brought him to bed room, shed my tears and took time to realise that my Rex had died, he "is" no more. After some moments I asked the boys to give hima last bath, which they did with sanctity. In the afternoon all of us went to the river bed of adjoining river shivganag, dug a hole and lowered Rex wrapped in a white piece of cloth into it, along with his red nylon strap, a coconut fruit, two pieces of sliced butter bread - his favourite food. Boys burned incense sticks near his grave and we all said our prayers to for him. With me in lead all of us buried him by utting newly dug soil over hs body. A makeshift tomb was readily constructed on the grave with oversized stones with a big stone kept vertical in front.

I had a last mental look of Rex in his grave under the load of big heavy stones to realise that a creature who was as dear to me as my son, was reduced now only to a relationship to live for ever in my heart, and turned about and walked back home.

- Ramesh Chandra