A naughty rascal

As you can see, the photo at the top captures the final moments of Mendun’s life. Mendun is a little dog we adopted in June 2021, when he was barely two months old. Like many puppies, he was brimming with energy and quite mischievous, often leaping about playfully. He chewed on things, relieved himself randomly, and rummaged through the trash cans. It seemed he was either causing trouble or on his way to do so, which often gave us a headache. Fortunately, during that time, we were in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, which allowed us to work from home. This enabled us to keep a close eye on his behavior and prevent him from getting into too much trouble.

Good times

However, one day, to our amazement, we noticed a remarkable change in Mendun. It was as if he had grown up overnight, becoming sensible and refraining from causing any more mischief. As time went on, he exhibited an increasingly mature behavior, and his intelligence seemed to grow day by day. He always enjoyed staying by our side, carefully observing our every move, and was always able to accurately anticipate our actions and respond appropriately. He could even assist us with some simple tasks. For us, Mendun is more than just a pet; he is a companion for our spirits and a healer for our souls. Our love for him grows stronger every day, and we are always eager to share all the good things with him. 

Good times don’t last

On a dusk when Mendun had just turned two and a half, my father took him out to play. As they approached a small crossroad, a car ran the red light and sped past, striking Mendun and sending him flying. The impact was severe, hitting particularly the back of his head, which caused him to let out a few painful moans before his breathing nearly ceased within minutes. My father immediately picked up Mendun and rushed to the pet hospital about six hundred meters away to seek emergency treatment, but unfortunately, it was too late to save his life. My father later reflected that if Mendun hadn’t been a few steps ahead, he himself might have been impacted. Dogs are such spiritual animals that they might truly perceive things beyond our reach and silently help us bear our sorrows, even risking their lives to protect us from unexpected disasters.

Miss my pet

Upon receiving the news of Mendun’s passing, I was overwhelmed with grief and a deep sense of guilt. I couldn’t help but ponder the ‘what ifs’: if only I had come home earlier that day and taken him out myself, perhaps we could have altered the course of events and prevented this tragedy. Sadly, there are no ‘what ifs’ in reality.The day after Mendun’s death, we reached out to a local pet funeral service to hold a dignified farewell ceremony for him, a silent way within our hearts to express gratitude for the companionship and loyalty he had given us over the past two and a half years. Following the cremation, we made the decision to memorialize Mendun in a more lasting way by turning his ashes into a crystal eternity stone, a symbol of our everlasting remembrance for this beloved family member. 

Eternal commemoration

In the days following Mendun’s departure, our longing for him surged like the tides. Desiring to preserve his memory and keep him eternally in our hearts, we searched far and wide for a skilled artisan. Eventually, we found a master craftsman who, using photographs from Mendun’s life, meticulously created a lifelike wool felt replica and painted a vivid oil portrait. In this way, we could feel his presence every day, as if he had never truly left us.

My thinking

Dogs and cats are not only adorable and intelligent animals, but they also convey love to humans in their unique ways. Ever since Mendun’s passing, I have been contemplating that our pets deserve a meaningful and lasting keepsake. Like us, they too will one day face the inevitability of aging and departure, and sometimes these farewells can come abruptly, catching us off guard. Confronted with such a loss, we may not be fully prepared, which can deliver a profound emotional impact. Therefore, during the lifetime of our beloved pets, we should make every effort to treat them well and value the precious bond we share.