By Michael V. Cusenza
Illustrious. Noble. Spiritual.
The onomatology of “Arya.”
Researching the history of Lisa Murena’s beloved best friend’s name certainly is clinically rich—but also emotionally penniless.
The dog is in the details.
“Arya you are a warrior, you’re a survivor,” Murena whispered in her 6-year-old Pomsky’s (Pomeranian-Husky) ear Thursday night as she lay in the Intensive Care Unit of a Brooklyn veterinary hospital. Murena then headed back to their Old Howard Beach home.
Photo Courtesy of Lisa Murena
Lisa Murena and Arya
“We got the call on Friday around 1:30 in the morning,” Murena told The Forum. “They tried to resuscitate her several times, but it didn’t work.”
Arya Murena ultimately succumbed to injuries suffered from a stray bullet that pierced a window and hit her as she dozed in Lisa Murena’s parents’ bedroom. The bullet struck Arya’s leg, then bored a perilous path to her colon.
“I knew from the very beginning that it got her colon,” Murena said. “She never came home.”
On most nights, Arya slept in Lisa’s room. However last Sunday night a groggy Lisa “ended up crashing” in another room as Arya was in Dreamland along with mom and dad since 11:30 p.m.
“I feel so guilty,” Lisa Murena said, audibly choking back tears.
Around 1:30 a.m. last Monday Murena said her brother Sal heard a sound like glass shattering, followed by the unmistakable whimpering of a dog in distress.
“We ran to my parents’ room,” Murena recalled. “We saw the blood.”
Photo Courtesy of Lisa Murena
Arya waiting “patiently” for her favorite snack: vanilla ice cream from Mister Softee.
They feverishly floored it to a 24-hour vet in nearby Forest Hills. After standing by for a couple of hours, Lisa and her dad decided to return to Huron Street and await an update from the veterinarian.
“The phone rang around 3 a.m.,” Lisa said. The doctor was terse and grimly told her, “We need to talk about the X-rays.”
The Murenas rushed back to Forest Hills. Arya was stable but needed to be transferred to Brooklyn for surgery. Following the procedure, Arya started to show encouraging signs of improvement, even walking on her own.
Then Lisa’s world came crashing down around her when she got the call on Friday.
“It’s not fair,” she said.
According to published reports, Joshua Marte, 18, who lives on nearby Lahn Street, allegedly was toying around with two very real guns in his home when one went off. Marte allegedly hid the weapon before absconding.
Cops arranged for Marte’s surrender. He has been charged with criminal possession of a weapon, torture, and reckless endangerment.
“She was such a beautiful dog,” Lisa Murena said, a smile creeping into her cadence.
And boy could she eat.
Photo Courtesy of Lisa Murena
Mama Murena napping with Arya.
“Whatever we had she would eat it,” Lisa said. “Blueberries and sliced turkey were her favorite.”
Can’t forget Mister Softee, or Chris, as he’s known throughout Howard Beach.
“Her favorite thing was vanilla ice cream,” Lisa said, now giggling.
Asked how she feels about Marte, about losing her best friend, about guns, Lisa is pensive.
“Do better. You’re a human being,” she said. “In order to move on with my life I know I have to forgive this person.”
Will you ever get over Arya?
“No,” Lisa Murena didn’t hesitate. “I know that for a fact.”
Photo Courtesy of Google
The shot came from a home on Lahn Street, cops said.
