Mango Jain

You were the first ever pup I held in my arms. You held on to me when we went to meet you for the first time, saying without words, I adopt you, my human; take me home. You supported me through a grueling PhD program; took me out for walks when I was writing my candidacy exams where we would spend time just looking at the creek so I could destress and reset while you explored the woods. You sensed P in my belly and jumped with joy (and confusion) at the prospect of a new play buddy. You helped us really discover who we were as we started to build our life together. You were our first child, ever. You would get into suitcases to look for treats and toys whenever we came back from a trip. You moved to and from Athens, back to Columbus, without a fuss. While you perched yourself on top left corner of the sofa to get a strategic view of the backyard from the window, you were most at home cuddled comfortably between your family. You accepted Coco or cookie with open paws as if she was always a member of your pack because you lived by the philosophy, the more the merrier, even though it only applied to those you approved of because you considered rest of the world your enemy, from whom you needed to protect your pack. Your feisty nature scared many people away but to us, that made you, you. You chased balls like there was no where for them to escape. You stood by me as I said goodbye to Papa and didn’t leave my side as I grieved and grieved. You fought with Addison’s for more than 7 years; had multiple bouts of pancreatitis: got attacked by big dogs twice- once in the dog park and then at the doggie daycare; underwent surgery for the painful bladder stone; broke your ACL while playing fetch, and then responded badly to the surgery and meds; as your leg started to heal, you saw Amazon Prime truck and decided to lunge, because that’s what you did, and broke your other ACL. Still, despite so much pain and suffering, your spirited and fiesty nature defined you. Your resilience and sharp mind not only kept you going, but you helped us keep going, without ever letting us know how much pain you were in. You tried to keep up with all the things you loved and went for walks despite the pain. You even decided to explore the neighborhood an hour before you undertook the final journey. You rediscovered your joy of car rides with face soaking in the air, taking in all the smells and sights; and quashed your fear of thunderstorms, weeks before you left, as if you saw this coming and wanted to experience everything a few more times. You taught us love, resilience, caring, kindness, compassion, perseverance, strength, patience, tolerance, respect, determination, and finally about death. We are sorry for all the times we didn’t give in to your harassment and pleading, with those barks and yelps and sounds and looks and eyes you reserved for such occasions. We are sorry that not all shakes made us give in to your demands, though most of the time, it worked. We are sorry for all the times we didn’t understand you or had to ignore you or had to stay away from you or had to focus on other things in life. You came home snuggled up with us on that first car ride on 2/12/2009 around 7 PM and took your last breadth the same way, snuggled up cozily with your family, on the way to the OSU hospital on your last car ride on 1/11/2023, around 8 PM. You demanded love and attention because you knew we were yours. The lover of walks, breads, cucumbers, pizza, pasta, mangoes, corn, potatoes, and sweet potatoes, I hope you are stuffing your mouth full of treats while taking long leisurely strolls, mixed with bouts of chasing squirrels, cars, postal, and delivery trucks. You are one and only, like no one else. Unique. Crazy. Spirited. I will miss your eagerness and ferociousness for eating out of our hands. I will miss your gentle attempts to squeeze the food and the treats out when reminded to be “easy” and “gentle”. We love you Mangs, Manga, Mungo, Mangy Boy, Black Nose, Mango. We miss you so much and will always do. We will always love you for you are the very definition of love and life for us. You’ll always be with us, around us, till we meet in another form again , some day.

Mango Jain

December 1, 2008 - January 11, 2023