When Keech used to tag along me up and down the stairs in the middle of the night, barking deafeningly, my neighbours would often complain. I never expected it to die such an unforeseen death.

I vividly remember when I had seen this little puppy at Krystal’s Pet Store. The moment I reached out to it, he licked my palm, like dogs usually do to express affection. We became best buddies before I knew it. Keech would always try his level best to cheer me up whenever I was low. Each day I would go out with him for a walk and he would enjoy it as much as I. He was very friendly with anyone… every animal… even cats!

A while back civic authorities launched a cleanliness drive, cleaning the roads, setting up proper waste disposal, ensuring amplified security and killing stray dogs that toddled around.

It was a usual windy afternoon when I was at last done with my homework. I saw Keech sitting lazy and bored on the kitchen mat, so I decided to take him out for his daily walk.

I slipped on my hood and tied Keech to a leash. When I informed my mom where I was going, she asked me to get some butter on my way back home for breakfast the next morning. So, Keech and I left home and strolled towards the market. Keech jumped up and down at the sight of butterflies on our way. His paws moved along my feet.

On reaching the store, I tied Keech to the bike stand and patted him behind its floppy ears. He gave me a lick on my hand. “Stay, boy,” I said, “will be back in a flash!”

I disappeared into the shop and was wondering which butter to choose, when out of nowhere I heard an ear-splitting screech and a sound as if a firecracker had gone off. After paying for the butter, I pushed open the shop door and stepped out to witness a small crowd surrounding the bike stand. I pushed myself through to get to Keech.What I then saw was too astonishing and distasteful.

Keech lay there with his soft, white fur covered in patches of red. I dropped the butter as my jaw also dropped and the coins in my hand fell one by one on the unpaved floor. I stooped down beside Keech and grabbed his little paw.

“Keech!” I cried, “What happened? Oh please! Say something!”

“Oh! The animal control department shot your dog,” said a middle-aged man from the crowd.

“Yes, I guess they didn’t see that it belonged to someone and was tied up,” said a dark-haired boy.

My heart filled with sheer desolation. I looked at Keech in pain. All he did was look at me with its huge, watery eyes. He just made a little pouting sound and his mouth lay open. Blood dripped from his tummy. I barely had the energy to move. The crowd surrounding me slowly dispersed, leaving me under a cloud of melancholy. I had tears in my eyes as I sat there alone, watching my friend go.The shopkeeper called my dad, who arrived along with my sisters in a jiffy. I sat there still, watching my dearest friend weaken each second and feeling his pain. His heartbeat, I felt, had become immensely slow. His tongue hung out from his mouth…

My sisters were stupefied by the sight as they consoled me. A tear at the corner of my eye finally fell when I witnessed Keech taking his final breath. His eyes closed… gradually… No heartbeat. Everything hushed. No more complaints or licks.

Father took me home. I was covered in patches of Keech’s blood. That evening he was buried in the backyard, but somehow it feels as if he is still by my side. I go around, feeling his shadow following me. My dad told off the civic management, but they weren’t bothered.

I never thought life would actually be so different without an animal. But Keech wasn’t just an animal… to me, he was my special, unforgettable mate who just left me… a little too early I guess.