Dear Editor,
Around noon on October 30, the Presidential Guard lost their favourite guard dog, Brown Girl. She was accidently killed while sleeping under a car. The driver started the car and immediately reversed, not knowing Brown Girl was under the car. She died shortly afterwards. I was informed by an employee at Castellani House and I went over and spoke with the guards. They told me Brown Girl had come to their building as a puppy and grew up with them; she became protective and never left her post.
She stood guard every night and her bark always let the other guards know that a stranger was around; they could depend on her to sound the first warning. As one presidential guard put it, “She was a guard without a rifle and was always ready to protect her family,” so they protected her with love, food and kindness. I had Brown Girl spayed several years ago; I don’t think she was too fond of me after that but tolerated me whenever I showed up with food.
We will all miss Brown Girl but there are now two other females hanging around; apparently the word on the street is out that there is a vacancy that pays with food and kindness. We will have them spayed and hopefully they will continue the good work that Brown Girl started.
The presidential guards respected Brown Girl and buried her next to their compound. I thank them for that kind act.
Stray dogs, especially females, are often seen in a negative light, but many offer positive things such as security, love, and now and then a good laugh.
Remember, if we spay them we don’t have to stray them.
Yours faithfully,
Syeada Manbodh
