by Enzo 

Some are unfortunate in life. They have never smiled. You look into their eyes, and you understand… But if you have a sensitive heart, conscience and sense of empathy, you will understand… In a single second’s glance, you experience pain, sadness, heartbreak, what it means to be lonely…

Yes, I’m Enzo, a black olive Labrador… I’m not old! A baby of about two and a half months… “What year, month, day, where I was  born?” I don’t know either. Did I open my eyes to the world at night or during the day? Who is my mother? Who is my father? Do I have siblings? I don’t know or remember these either… Even if I know, I can’t tell you. In other words, I am an orphan and a mute… According to veterinary uncles looking at my teeth, I am a two-and-a-half-month-old baby… But despite my short time, I left this world by packing a lifetime of pain and experiences… I want to tell you about my life experiences with the thought, “Don’t let them live what I went through… I want to give you a life lesson with a life that has no name or numbers…

An Enzo has passed from this world!

According to the estimation of veterinary uncles, I opened my eyes to the world at the end of May 2023. My memories of what life is start with when I was running wild on highways, streets and avenues. The rest is dark… Again, according to the vet uncles’ calculations, I must be six weeks old now. I mean, I’m alone on the streets with my mother when I have to absorb her and become immune, learn to survive under her wing. I am so afraid. Other creatures are too big… They come at me… I’m always hiding; I’m always running away. I watch other animals similar to me from the corners where I take shelter and hide. I’m following them, trying to understand what they’re doing. Like them, I eat the leftovers I find in the garbage on the road; I drink water from the puddles…

One hot day in June was a crucial turning point in my short life! I ran into an uncle while I was running down a crowded street. It was clear from his voice that he was a good person. Next to him is a big dog. I learned later that it was from the ‘Golden’ family… Uncle took me in his arms as he caught me. “Little Olive” What are you doing here?” he stroked me. So my name was “Olive”. Then we all went to his house. He lived with his dog on the garden floor of an apartment building. He left his golden dog in the front yard and me in the backyard. The uncle kept telling me, “I brought you, but we urgently need to find a home for you. Because I have a dog, don’t worry, I’ll find you a perfect home, Olive,” he said. I loved the way he caressed my head and my ears and the way he talked to me. Then he took me to a veterinarian uncle. My uncle veterinarian examined me, and I had an internal and external parasite overdose…

The uncle, who loved me very much, then gave me a “puppy dog” ad… We started to wait. I was wondering, too… Where would my new home be? Who would be my owner? Would I be able to avoid exile here and there? The expected day has come. Uncle said, “There is someone who wants you very much. Shall I give you to him?” he asked. Then he continued: “We talked. He seems like a good person. An educated young man. I’m sure he will take good care of you. That’s why I said, “Come and get Zeytin”. If you don’t like it, wink at me; I won’t give you away.” And at the weekend, someone came home. He looked like me. It was olive-coloured. He had black hair and jet-black eyes. I loved him as soon as I saw him. We started talking with our eyes. He seemed to understand me. I looked into the uncle’s eyes and told him I wanted to go. He called me “Enzo”. I also loved this name. Then we had a long journey with him. He dropped me off at his office first. I was alone again. But that’s what. Shortly after he returned to the office, his mother said, “The child cannot be alone in the office; bring it home.”… Oley! Now I had a home too. My brother’s room was very large, very spacious. It was enough for both of us. It also had a large balcony. Our mother also prepared it for me. I had dishes, food, everything. And a sofa made just for me… So I was happy. The next day, my brother took me to the vet. I was on the record. My vaccination program was done…

I was thrilled, but I felt sluggish. I always wanted to sleep on the side. For this, I found a corner of the bathroom in the brother’s room. It was dark and calm and relaxed at the same time. When mom and brother prepared dinner for me, I exited the bathroom or under the nightstand beside my brother’s bed. In the meantime, my brother started to travel with me. I was thrilled. I was exploring the streets and life by running with him. One day, my mother, cleaning my poop on the balcony, said, “Oops!” yelled. Then she called my brother on the phone. “This kid has blood in his poop. Call the doctor immediately,” she said. And then it’s dark again…

The vet examined me. I had my blood tests done. The result was terrible. I had the disease of youth.  (Distemper) I mean deadly disease. Especially like me, did not breastfeed, the youth vaccine was neglected, and it was a 99 per cent fatal disease for tiny babies… I had to get this vaccine after six weeks. But because it was ignored, I got this disease. That’s why it’s so hard for me to survive! I was lying in the intensive care room with serums on my arm. After a while, the brother’s mother and father came. They talked to the doctor: “If you don’t have anything more to do here, we want to take Enzo home and look at him there,” they said. Uncle Doctor said, “There is nothing we can do here. We’re just comforting him.” The mother insisted, “I want to take home. I can save him.” The veterinarian uncle said, “There is not much we can do here either. We’ll just wait,” we all returned home with my new family.

It was clear now: I was terminally ill. Mom was always preparing a protein meal. Brother was trying to find a youth vaccine… Mom said, “Come on, Enzo, we will defeat this disease, this monster Alien together.” The vaccine is no longer produced. That’s why it was so hard to find. But my brother did not give up the fight. He was trying to find an unexpired vaccine that remained in pharmacy warehouses. Found one far away. It was not enough. Usually, 4-5 doses of this vaccine were required. I felt some relief after a single dose of the vaccine. But I get tired quickly; I want to sleep and rest constantly…

And one evening, my pain got worse. I was in so much pain. I couldn’t breathe. I didn’t sleep with my brother that night. I always wanted him to be with me, to sit with me. He also sat next to me. I met the morning on his knees. I was even worse. I was constantly drooling. What was happening to me? I couldn’t control myself. After about 3 hours of drooling, they took me to the hospital towards noon. Once again, I was in the intensive care room. Uncle Doctor said, “We need to sleep. After that, it will be even more painful. Do you want this? Do you want Enzo to die in agony?” he asked. My brother was sobbing. His eyes were red. Finally, he signed for me to sleep… And they gave me the happy ending vaccine. My life was over…

Who is guilty? It doesn’t matter anymore. Just take good care of a dog on the street or at home. For example, never forget the fatal distemper of youth. For this, have your dogs vaccinated at six weeks of age. Do not leave the puppies outside before six months have passed… If a dog is in pain in the street, take it to the vet immediately… Help it sleep without any more pain… Do not let them die in the street, alone, in agony… Keep your eyes open, your conscience available… Be the voice of those who don’t have a language… Goodbye!