A grand dog’s funeral took place at Oshifila Street, Computer Village, Ikeja, Lagos State. The service of songs was held earlier at Canaan Hotel, Ikeja.
The late fifteen-year-old dog, which used to belong to the Chief executive of Canaan hotel, Prince Ani, who also serves with the Nigerian Army in Ikeja, was praised as a special breed of dog.
The dog was buried in a four-feet grave which was decorated with roses and was just beside the hotel where it served for a long time.
The necrology notice was placed in different areas around Ikeja, which made people wonder in awe: “With gratitude to God for a life well spent, we the family of Tracy, Lion. Quincy and Adriano wish to announce the sorrowful departure of our father, Dr. Papilo Cannan that died on November 17, 2014, after a brief illness. Aged 15, may his gentle soul rest in peace.”
A lot of sympathizers crowded in to pay their last regard to the dead dog by signing the condolence register provided at the event. The rare event was sealed with seven-gun shots by a detachment of policemen in salute of the dead dog and a minute silence.
Highly placed men and women in the society ranging from dog-owners, military personnel, police officers, veterinary doctors attended the event.
Paying tribute to the beloved pet, Prince Ani, who wore a black suit at his dog’s funeral, said: “My wife and I stayed together for some time without a child.
Suddenly, people started calling us Papa and Mama Papilo. The dog travelled with me to Jos and Maiduguri. While in Maiduguri, it was trained and used to hunt bombers. It was a unique dog. In the real sense, it was my first child.
When I lost Papilo, I felt sad the same way I felt when I lost my wife. The dog was just too close to me”.
The owner also spoke of the dog’s security consciousness: “Papilo confronted armed robbers sometime ago and gave one of them a serious injury. The robber could not run further, and was later caught by the police. Everybody knew Papilo in this area. I am missing the dog, and the other six dogs at the hotel are also missing Papilo because it was like their father. Here, we treat dogs like human beings. We give them the best food you could think of.”