The recent spate of animal cruelty cases in India, such as the beating of the dog in Chandigarh, the police horse Shaktiman in Uttarakhand, the Delhi Metro Station puppy stabbings, the flinging of puppies in Bangalore, the dog thrown from the 9th floor in Delhi have left animal lovers the world over very heartbroken. But our serene Malabar Hills, residence of the elite have also witnessed many such cases. The cruelty meted out by the help and dog walkers in the area is not unheard of. However there have been some blood curdling cases. The 5 parakeets kept captive illegally, without any food and water. The owner of a popular watering hole near Mahalakshmi temple, condoning his friend’s car running over an old dog outside his eatery, saying that the dog is anyway on its death bed while he himself has 2 labradors at home. A Dalmatian being kicked on its already swollen face and testicles by its caretaker. Further investigations revealed that it belonged to a backyard breeder with 6 others in the house all kept on short leashes without any food and water or adequate exercise and the whole house reeked of faeces.. 2 of these inbred dogs were albinos hence deaf and mute!
When educated people and politicians who are supposed to be the protectors of the law take matters in their own hands, what can we expect of others? To make matters worse the BMC has gone on record saying that rabies has caused more deaths in India than terrorism. This statement whilst illogical and insensitive, reeks of ignorance. How they came to these startling statistics is anybody’s guess since they don’t maintain official records. How are they privy to the records of any private medical facility where some victims may go?
In the case of a reported bite, the animal is required to be captured and kept under observation for 10 days. In all these years, I have never heard of this being implemented! NGOs use their own resources to neuter and vaccinate dogs against rabies, when the Courts have instructed the BMC to help with the same. Most dogs in the Malabar Hills are sterilised. Very rarely will you find a new dog in the area. However if you do, it is only because they have been purposefully left here as our area is home to ministers, judges celebrities, socialites, industrialists, etc. NGOs claim that the BMC is making a mountain out of a mole hill and there have been no alarming number of reported cases of dog bites leave alone rabies!
This kind of apathy is gut wrenching. We are supposed to be the land of Ahimsa and it is our constitutional duty to care for animals. Yet there are a few sadistic elements who have pedigreed dogs at home but can’t extend the same kind of TLC to their Indian counterparts or treat animals as money making machines!
But with the cruelty, there are some heartwarming cases as well which help us realise that though cruelty is meted out to them, these animals don’t forget the hand that fed them. One such angel is a Golden Retriever called Astro at Warden Road. He was found abandoned at Churchgate station and some good samaritan took him in knowing fully well that a life on the streets is not for pedigreed dogs. They are not as sturdy and resilient as the Indies! After a lot of struggle, the foster managed to find a Parsi family that was hesitant to take in another dog after the loss of their previous pet. But after a lot of convincing and cajoling, they relented and agreed to adopt it in September of 2015. This dog had not lived with its family for even a year when on that fateful night he did what countless number of animals have done the world over..
The family was fast asleep, oblivious to the raging flames in one of their air conditioners. The dog sensing something amiss started pacing in the room, jumping on and off the bed and barking. The couple woke up because of the commotion but the curtains were drawn hence they couldn’t figure out the dog’s odd behaviour and what the racket was about. Only when they opened their window, did they come to realise that their lives were in peril. The family was saved from what may have been catastrophic. They are glad that their daughter had been so adamant on adopting the dog that proved his love and loyalty for his new family.
Another episode played out with Natasha Hemrajani, an independent photographer from Parel. Hemrajani loves walking on the Marine Drive promenade and happened to chance on the Vigilante Dog Squadron (as she fondly calls them) opposite NCPA. These self appointed pooches have taken it upon themselves to protect all the lone women walking along Nariman Point. They run upto women furiously wagging their tails, vying for their attention. When Natasha sat down on the wall to enjoy the cool breeze, the trio sat around her, chasing away any shady looking men, with their incessant growling and barking. Natasha noticed that the dogs didn’t bother men accompanied by women… She says that she has always loved animals but fell in love with them just a little more after this amazing experience!
When it comes to love, we could all take a lesson or two from our animal friends. They don’t differentiate and just love unconditionally!
urdhvi 