Papillo, a Dog that was given a grand and befitting burial ceremony in Lagos.

Service of songs, condolence register, seven-gun salute for animal, as Army Band plays at funeral he was my first child, friend, business partner, says owner from the obituary notice, it was obvious that something atypical was about to happen. Posted in many places around Ikeja, it left many with mouths agape in utter bewilderment.
The obituary read: Transition: 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.” Well, nothing really strange in the obituary. Except that the deceased was – wait for it – a dog!

Last Saturday, November 29, Oshifila Street, Computer Village, Ikeja, Lagos State, was agog, as a dead dog, a male Alsatian, popularly known as Dr. Papilo in its lifetime, was given a befitting burial by its owner. A day before the burial, a service of songs was held for the dog at Cannan Hotel, Ikeja. At the burial, there was plenty to eat and drink, just as guests were thoroughly entertained by the Nigerian Army Band. A detachment of mobile policemen at the event also gave the deceased dog a seven-gun salute.
Many sympathisers and guests showered accolades on the dog, paying glowing tributes to the animal in the condolence register.

Dog-owners, military personnel, police officers, veterinary doctors and many others thronged the venue of the ceremony, which commenced at 11am that Saturday. 
Many passers-by abandoned their initial plans and made a detour to Oshifila Street to witness the unbelievable funeral. The street and many parts of Ikeja, the capital of Lagos, came to a standstill for some hours. Many could not believe that it was a dog that was being buried. But the owner insisted that Papilo was more than a dog, describing the canine, as a special breed. Immediately after its death, a condolence register was opened for the dog in front of Cannan Hotel, where Papilo has served, as a security guard for 10 years. Some of the tributes in the condolence register read: Papilo, you were great, You will remain forever in our memory, We miss you Papilo, Sleep well, What a brave dog!

The owner of the dog, Prince Keneth Edet Ani, who serves with the Nigerian Army in Ikeja, told the reporter that his affection for his late dog was unconditional.
Papilo’s remains were interred in a four-feet grave and decorated with roses. The grave is beside the hotel where the dog served till its demise. Ani described the dog, as his business partner, first child and a friend that travelled with him across the country. He said the dog was an intelligent soldier and a security expert that fought a good fight before its departure. 

He said he could not reward the dog enough for all it did for him in securing his business and protecting his family for years.The man, who has four daughters from his late wife, recalled that the dog was their only partner when he newly got married 15 years ago. In all the years that Papilo lived, he said there were only few important ceremonies that the dog did not attend with him.According to him, the little way he could reciprocate Papilo’s unquestionable love for him and his family as well as the dog’s bravery, especially regarding his business and environment was to give the animal a befitting burial. 


He said he could not quantify the money he spent on Papilo, which he bought at three months, before the dog’s death at the ripe age of 15. “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.