24/06/2005 - 31/05/2022

There is so much to say about our beautiful dog named Diya, This cuddly fur ball was to brought to our attention by my sister, Holly. One day, Holly was browsing intently through ads in the newspaper determined to find us a dog. All credit goes to her for finding one particular ad which stated "cute, cuddly Bichon Shih tzu, female". Without a moment's hesitation, Holly scheduled an appointment with the breeder. On September 10, 2005, Holly, my mom, Sarita; dad, Bansi; and I (Kunal) arrived at the breeder's home. We learned that this pup was the last in a litter of eight. When we saw this pup and interacted with her, we instantly loved her. She was a multicolor pup; white and grey, with hints of black and even gold! We made a decision that would alter our lives in the best way possible; this cute pup was ours and coming home with us. While on the way home, we all decided what we would call this precious pup; Diya it was. In Hinduism, the name Diya means "light" or "lamp". Diya's are used in the Hindu celebration known as Diwali. Our dog was the much needed light in our lives and the name was a perfect fit.

Throughout her younger years, Diya was mischievous and playful. She loved playing with all her toys and running around the house Like a hurricane (she was known as Hurricane Diya). Her energy was exhilarating and there was never a dull moment. I will never forget how she loved to chew on my mom's shoe. There was something about that shoe that intrigued her and it was only that shoe. One day, Diya was seen jumping over the gate installed in front of her room. When she saw my mom climbing the stairs, she quickly jumped over the gate and back into her room. I couldn't contain my laughter at that moment. Diya allowed me to express myself and I often became mischievous with her.

Apart from this, Diya was known for her many "quirks" , such as jumping on the sofa and cuddling behind our necks (I called her a neck warmer), and chewing on my fingers for which I nicknamed her portable shark". In fact, Diya had a myriad of nicknames; some were cute, some strange, and some even ridiculous. Holly fondly called her "Diya dog". When Diya slept in my room, she often chewed on my blanket until she fell asleep. In addition, Diya enjoyed rummaging through shopping bags after we came home with groceries. She knew which items were hers and often removed them from the bags without our knowledge. This resulted in phone calls to the stores to locate the missing items.

Diya was a people lover. She would perform a "dance" on her hind legs when guests visited and she greeted everyone lovingly. Some of our guests even wanted to keep her! Diya often comforted our visitors by sitting next to them. This effort of hers was always appreciated and admired. It's no wonder why everyone loved Diya.

As Diya became older, she suffered from health conditions, such as kidney disease, cataracts and a pronounced heart murmur. After Holly's sudden passing in 2020, Diya began to deteriorate both cognitively and physically. She was believed to have Canine Cognitive Dysfunction (CCD) in early 2021, and lost significant weight later that same year. At this point, we were determined to help Diya strive.

In May 2022, Diya's health further declined. She suddenly developed a nasal infection and lost interest in eating, presumably due to extreme discomfort. On May 31, Diya's condition took a turn for the worse. We knew time was not on our side after realizing how weak she had become. We made the most painful decision in our lives; euthanasia. On the way to the vet, Diya was completely silent; there was no anxiety, no screaming and no barking. It was as though she was slipping away. With Diya on my lap, and her head facing my mom, the veterinarian administered the euthanasia drug. My heart sank at that moment and I was in disbelief. When it was all over, I cradled my dog in my arms and wept. This light in our life was extinguished.

On June 1, we arrived at Pet Heaven for a witnessed cremation. Diya was dressed in a pink hoodie engraved with her name and she was wrapped in a pink blanket. We were given the opportunity to spend time with her prior to the cremation. We played Hindu devotional music and my mom placed a few drops of water from the Ganges on the side of Diya's mouth. We spoke to her while caressing her head, and I snuggled my face in hers. We knew she was now with Holly and that was the greatest consolation. With one last kiss, we were ready to continue. Diya was laid to rest on her dog bed, surrounded by her favorite toys, flowers and a birthday cupcake I bought for her that she never ate. Pushing that button on the cremation machine was not easy and reminded us of losing Holly all over again. I wished this precious gift in my life the very best and said I will see her at the Rainbow Bridge when my time comes. That evening, we collected the cremated remains of our beloved Diya dog.

We thank the staff at Pet Heaven from the bottom of our hearts for their kindness, sensitivity and compassion during this painful ordeal. You made our pet's final journey memorable and offered us the opportunity to be with her until the very end.

Regards,

Kunal, Sarita & Bansi