(IN): Brave dog Jimmy

[Guest guest]

BRAVE DOG JIMMY

 

Guwahati: Tuesday, June 24, 2008

 

Jimmy is an eight year old Indian dog who stays with his guardian family the

Thapas on a hill in the suburbs of Guwahati city.

Guwahati is a city which was rich in urban wildlife. Most of this urban

wildlife has been wiped out due to the land grabbing and encroachment over

the years resulting in a sharp increase of conflicts between humans and the

big cats.

 

The Thapa family unaware of the risk brought a piece of land on a hillock

and raised their hut along with their companion dogs Jimmy and Rocky.

Both Jimmy and Rocky would love to trek and explore the surrounding hills

and keep track of any intruders specially the big cats. Bahadur Thapa the

guardian of Jimmy says that leopards were a common site but in a few

occasions he even saw a Tiger.

 

It was in the year 2003, on a winter night. The family had supper, so did

Jimmy & Rocky.

Later that night Bahadur Thapa and his family members woke up to the barking

of the dogs, and when the family came out they could not believe what they

saw.

The dogs were barking at a leopard in their yard and trying to chase him

away.

When the family raised an alarm the leopard got frightened and disappeared

in the jungle above, but only to be charged by an angry young dog- Jimmy.

The darkness didn't bother and Jimmy went deep inside and what followed was

a deadly ordeal.

Sometime later Jimmy returns back to his master with a blood spattered face.

Bleeding from his face, ears and eyes.

Jimmy lost both his eyes, he ruptured his ear severely.

" He's a brave dog and fast like lightning, " said Bahadur Thapa.

Thapa`s mother said, " It's amazing what an animal will do in a time of need.

He's a pretty brave dog. "

Bahadur Thapa`s family despite being less privileged managed to get some

immediate medical aid for Jimmy who has always been a member of their

family.

 

Three years now, despite being completely visually challenged with both his

eyes damaged although his ear wound has healed but the shape of the ear has

been damaged, Jimmy uses his senses to roam around in his Master`s campus

independently. His barks and growls are enough to drive away any big cat

now.

He greets every stranger with a lot of curiosity, comes close to them, sits

beside them and loves to be patted.

Jimmy`s companion Rocky died sometime back due to old age, but the Thapas

got Jimmy company by adopting another male dog.

 

I got the privilege of meeting Jimmy yesterday.

It is the first time I came face to face with a real life unsung hero.

 

I am hoping to take with me some qualified vets to see Jimmy soon, but

having said that it is sad that such unsung heroes do not get rewarded or

acknowledged by any agency here in India even in this age..

Had Jimmy been a human child his actions would have qualified him for the

Hon`ble President`s Bravery Award, but then he is just a Man`s best friend

and not a Man.

 

Azam

 

P.S: To see Jimmy`s pictures go to the link :

http://www.freewebs.com/azamsiddiqui/news.htm

 

 

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