The Unwavering Sentinel!

Like all good stories, perhaps this one should begin with once upon a time… but it doesn’t, for this is no fable- it is a true story, and a recent one at that! May I introduce you to Eddie- an extraordinary community dog, quietly living his life on the streets of Bangalore?

It all began late last year, when a large black dog was found wandering in Domlur, a bustling part of Bangalore. Community feeders quickly realised that he was not from the area and sighed, with anger and sadness- “another abandoned dog.” Still, he had to be cared for, and Arvind, one of the area’s carers, stepped in. As he became more familiar with the dog, he realised that his hind leg was injured – a clear indication that he had either walked a very long way or had been captured in a net and dumped in the area. There was no point in second-guessing that one, so the dog was allowed to find his feet in the area and settle in. He claimed a patch of cement in front of a motorcycle showroom as his new home and seemed content with his lot! An elderly, gentle giant, he asked little of life – a meal, some water, and a quiet place to rest. He kept to himself, never troubled anyone, and rarely even barked!

As time went by, Arvind slowly earned his trust. He named him Eddie, fitted him with a reflective collar, and, as winter set in, bought him a military-style coat- Bangalore nights can be cold, especially for an old dog sleeping on bare cement. Eddie adored his new coat and would not let anyone touch it. It was as though he somehow sensed just how important it would soon become!

It took him about a month to recuperate, which is when our story really begins… As soon as he was strong enough, Eddie started running away…. The first time he did this, he went to a place almost 5 km away. Fortunately, Bangalore has an excellent network of canine squads. His picture was circulated on all of them by Rupa – another of Domlur’s community dog carers, and soon people started responding, saying that they had seen a large black dog in a military coat in the area. Arvind was quick to respond, and Eddie was brought back to Domlur, where he docilely settled in front of the bike showroom. The only thing he actively resisted was anyone trying to secure him in a closed space.

This pattern continued in the coming months …. Eddie would stay in Domlur for a few days and then run away again. He was now running further and further away…and seemed to be moving towards Sarjapur – almost 15 kms away from Domlur. Every time, he would be identified thanks to the Jacket, and Arvind would bring him back. It was not that he didn’t appreciate Arvind’s love and concern, but more like he was searching for something or someone and had a mission to fulfil.

Things came to a head when his photograph began circulating within the Sarjapur canine squad. That was when Dhiraj reached out to Arvind, saying that he knew the dog well-he was one of the community dogs that he and a lady named Nitya had cared for over several years. He sent photographs of himself with the dog, and there was no doubt that it was a well-fed version of Eddie! Once Arvind was convinced of the veracity of Dhiraj’s claim, he took Eddie to meet him. When the dog saw Dhiraj, he was ecstatic! It was clear that he knew and loved him. Dhiraj and Arvind took him back to his regular area – a narrow street where he had lived all his life, and when he arrived there, there was no doubt at all that he was home. A visible weight seemed to lift from him, as though a long, exhausting vigil had finally ended. Eddie was at peace! And then came the moment that made his happiness complete. Nitya arrived- the lady who had cared for him for over a decade. At the sight of her, Eddie’s joy overflowed! Nothing in the world could have made him happier!

Nitya and Dhiraj thereafter revealed the story of how this steadfast dog had come to leave his home. Eddie was part of a pack of community dogs, and being a Great Dane mix, was by far the largest among them. Though gentle and harmless, his sheer size frightened one resident, who employed local dog catchers to ‘relocate’ him. One morning, they found him missing and had absolutely no idea where he had gone.

The dog catchers had abandoned Eddie in Domlur, convinced that the distance from Sarjapur would prevent him from ever returning. What they gravely underestimated, however, was the fierce love and unshakeable sense of duty every dog is born with.

Driven by something far stronger than fear or fatigue, Eddie set out in search of home. He walked over forty kilometres- through relentless traffic, crowded streets, hostile encounters with people, and challenges from other dogs. Yet nothing deterred him. Step by step, he walked on……. So, what compelled him to undertake this desperate journey? It was not neglect that drove him – he was fed and cared for in Domlur. And yet, something goaded him to find his home…

To understand what propelled Eddie, Nitya decided to seek the help of a skilled animal communicator. Her interpretation of his long, strenuous journey was fascinating – “Eddie believes, with unshakeable certainty, that he has been entrusted with the duty of guarding the street he calls home. It is a responsibility he will honour for as long as he is strong enough to do so. And so, no matter how arduous the journey or how daunting the odds, he had to find his way back, for Eddie is, and always will be, the street’s unwavering sentinel!”