In our quest for indulgence and all things fine, we oft times partake knowingly or unknowingly, in the cruelty that puppy mills are. Last month you read about Tyche, the puppy mill discard rescued by my friend, Sagnik, highlighting the plight of animals with breeders. In spite of his round the clock love, care and supervision, Tyche lost her battle to the 4 years of abuse and trauma.
When young, all puppies like babies, seem really cute. It’s only as they grow up that people realise what they are in for. People don’t invest enough time deciding how much time, energy and finances they can invest before bringing an animal home or factoring what breed is most suited for their family. As the puppy grows, with teething, comes the wrecking of shoes and furniture. Bigger dogs need more food and exercise which can be a problem for some, if they haven’t taken these factors into account. Once a popular breed, greatly in demand, Labradors are the new strays now. Labradors never quite grow up, being a little hyper and overwhelming for a first time pet parent.
Animals like babies, are a full time commitment for at least the next 12-14 years. And more than children because kids go to school while they are still quite young. People recklessly gift puppies, not realizing that there is an innocent life at the receiving end and being moved from one home to another, affects them psychologically.
Exotic breeds like Saint Bernards, Siberian Huskies and Alaskan Malamutes, all breeds very accustomed to colder regions have become status symbols! It has suddenly become a battle of who can spend more to acquire a rare breed. Recently I met a gentleman who had spent an obscene amount wanting to import a Bichon Frise from France but what arrived was a mongrel, a mix of perhaps a Maltese and a Cocker Spaniel!
Whether starvation, disease or abuse, neglect or overpopulation, the root cause of all problems are pet stores and breeders. Also people refuse to become responsible pet parents, by adhering to spaying and neutering of their pets. They want their babies to experience parenthood at least once, not realising that animals unlike humans indulge in intercourse only to procreate. It is no recreation to them. People project their feelings on them, expecting them to behave like us, humans! The only time dogs are excited is if there is a bitch in heat within a 3 mile radius and that poses a huge threat, to unsterilized animals, as sometimes males may get lose in search of the bitch, losing their way or worse getting attacked by other dogs or getting hit by cars. Worst case scenario for the female – an unwanted pregnancy!
People misconstrue the constant mounting and humping of the leg or cushion as sexual overdrive when in fact most times it is to express dominance. Rarely sexual, sometimes it is a sign of a dog being undersocialised. Sometimes dogs take turns playing like this or use it as a tool to relieve stress or excitement. People think that mating may be a solution to aggression as they think all that pent up energy is frustrating the animal, causing it to act out which in all honesty is unrelated!
Almost everyday, animal rescuers find lost or unwanted, abandoned dogs. When a house dog is abandoned, it has zero survival skills as it doesn’t know how to forage for food like its streetie counterpart. They get mauled by other dogs, fending poorly for themselves till death takes its turn by way of an accident or slowly as maggots ravage their bodies!
I feel as the country of the Mahatma, we have a moral duty and obligation towards all our animals and we should strive to have animal free streets to reduce the overpopulation crisis (a national disgrace) not just for compassionate but also health and hygiene reasons and killing them isn’t really an option. Till 1994, dogs in Mumbai were being caught and culled. Going to one of these centres and seeing those tiny cages, still echoing of those howls, one gets a glimpse of the morbid reality that they once were, 3-4 dogs in a tiny wire mesh cage, barely sprinkled with water and electrocuted. All in front of the others awaiting a similar, gruesome, excruciatingly painful death! It took a few NGOs and like minded individuals to file a PIL to discontinue this spine chilling practise and starting animal birth control programmes.
When people buy animals from breeders and pet stores instead of adopting from animal shelters, they deny a needy animal a chance to a good home. There are too many animals and not enough good homes. As long as people support a market that treats dogs and cats as profit-generating commodities, we will struggle with the overpopulation crisis. Simple demand-supply chain!
In adopting a homeless animal, you are giving an animal an opportunity to feel wanted. All they need is a little food, warm place to sleep and plenty of love! If you are not sure if you can commit yourself completely and selflessly, offer to foster an animal for a brief period which will give you an insight into what keeping an animal entails. Hopefully you will get so attached, that giving it away will feel like your heart breaking into a million little pieces!
urdhvi 