Dear Jindol, you’ve been through so much in your short years here on earth.
You’ve experienced extreme cruelty in the hands of mankind and miraculously you found your way into the heart of a wonderful human being who showed you that not all people are bad.
We saw you struggle with your handicap cruelly imposed upon you but you never complained. You still smiled and you took on every new experience with zest. You’ve touched so many lives all over the world. It has been an honour to have met you, so briefly. You will forever live in our hearts.
We will cry tears of sadness for the life you could have lived and tears of gratitude that a beautiful human being gave you a chance. We all wished so much for you. But you had to go – to a place where you will be whole again. I bet as much as you loved your booties, you are happy to be running with no pain. Run free, gorgeous friend. We send a lot of love to your mum. xx
May’s comment: Some doggies come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for awhile and leave paw prints on our hearts, and we are never the same again.
Jindol passed in Rafi’s arms on the 26th May, feeling loved.
From Jindol’s mum, Rafi
It’s with a broken heart that I have to tell you all that Jindol has left us. It has taken me a few weeks to come to terms with the pain of losing him enough to be able to share this with everyone.
Jindol suddenly became very unwell a few weeks ago and a very anxious trip to the vet revealed that he had developed blood clots in his heart. Despite extensive tests to find the cause and the very best specialist treatment, he continued to decline and was losing his fight. I made the heartbreaking decision to let him pass peacefully, cuddled in his mummy’s love.
Jindol has changed my life and changed me in the three and a half years he’s been with me. When I first saw him on a Korean website I couldn’t bear the idea of a frightened little dog, already in pain, living his whole life in a shelter, never knowing the love of a family.
I offered him my home and he gave me his heart. It took time, but it was all the more valuable for having earned his trust and love. In my grief thinking about the years ahead that he has lost, I take comfort in the wonderful years he had, where I was honoured to be able to witness a broken, timid soul be repaired, to truly feel loved and to experience pure unbridled joy!
Jindol passed just as he was about to start a bright new phase of his life he sadly never got to see. He had already begun his journey to walking on new legs, courtesy of the collective kindness of those whose hearts he touched from all over the world who wished him well. I will make sure that the money raised for him is put back into charities who help other animals deserving a second chance as Jindol had.
I thank all of you so much for supporting and loving him! I know his story has reached so many and his stylish booties will be finely remembered. He reminded us all to endure, to forgive and to enjoy the simple happiness of life.
In the coming months I will be starting a new project in Jindol’s honour and I will carry him in my heart always – he has taught me to always live and love boldly.
For those who do not know about Jindol – these are the blogs we had written about him over the years since we first heard about him.
Missing Paws but Loving Life – How he came from the streets of South Korea to his home of love in London.
Who Will Win the Game of Thrones? – The day we met.
Dreams Can Come True – Dog lovers the world over came together to give Jindol a chance for prosthetics. This was the last time we saw him and Rafi – but another lockdown meant we never met again.
The thought of no more Jindol’s smiling face cuts deep. He reminded us to forgive the past and love today. He left a lot of paw prints on many hearts all over the world.
