In Memory of An Uncommon Wilton Dog

Our beautiful chocolate labrador joined our family on Valentine’s Day 2000.  She was uncommon from the start which is why it was important for us to give her an uncommon name.  None of the traditional chocolate lab names like Hershey or Coco would do. The summer before we invited a Jenday Conure to join our family and named him Chile. In keeping with the international theme and thinking of the darkish brown/black color of India ink, we named our sweet puppy India.  Everyone who met her always said the same thing: what a beautiful name to match a gorgeous, sweet dog.

India moved to Wilton in September 2002, just in time for the start of the new school year.

While she missed her first home in Larchmont, she was happy to live in the ‘country’ on Mountain Road, surrounded by three acres of woods, filled with turkeys, deer, foxes and other assorted wild creatures for her to chase. She especially loved to taunt the unsuspecting ground hogs that would venture onto the property to lie in the sun. Fortunately, she was never quite fast enough to catch them. 

India went everywhere she was welcome with her owner, who was deemed a little crazy by some.  Her owner’s motto was, “Love me, love my dog.”  When invited to dinner the RSVP was always, “as long as India can come too.”

India became a dog about Wilton and was always welcomed with open arms by Wilton merchants.  When offered the opportunity to join her owner, she would enthusiastically leap from the car and wait wagging at the business door.  She became a regular outdoor customer on sunny days at Connecticut Coffee. India loved and all its unusual smells, especially after discovering the rawhide chews located on the bottom shelf in the doggie isle.  She would help herself to one and owner Dave Lind would generously offer it as his ‘gift’ for her enjoyment.  India loved to greet all the friendly faces at where she knew a bag of treats was waiting for her.  She would enter the store and immediately go behind the counter in a perfect ‘sit’ knowing a handout was to come. 

Whenever India would visit she wondered why the shop keepers would say, “Snickers, what are you doing here?”  Owner Nancy Gorkin would then correct saying that it was her dog Snickers’ look-alike and friend, India.  India loved going the , , BP Gas station, when her ‘boys’ were teenagers, and especially . Her keen lab nose always knew where treats could be found and her sparkling personality won over everyone she met.

India enjoyed all of Wilton’s beautiful open spaces. She was a regular on the trails near , at Cherry Lane Park and Schenck’s Island, always making new friends along the way. She was especially delighted to greet ‘Pops’ Scribner on his twice daily route from to the , and fascinated when he would bring home balloons every Saturday morning, a tradition he has enjoyed since his childhood at .

India’s fame was well-known at the where her mother teaches swimming to youngsters.  Her mother knows that one of the best ways to calm a fearful swimmer is with distracting conversation, and India became the topic of choice.  Her tales have become well-known among some 200 Y pre-school swimmers, many who have squealed with delight upon actually meeting the famed pooch during her travels around town. 

In September, as India began to slow down and approach her 12th birthday, she was diagnosed with Cushings disease and diabetes.  While her mother cared for her in every possible way, administering insulin and continuing to serve her favorite foods – Iams, French-style string beans and poached organic chicken, yesterday India made it clear that her time to rest had come.

India’s family deeply misses this treasured, magnificent, exceptional dog and thanks all in Wilton who also welcomed her into their hearts. 

-Ann Billik