Before the start of the tourism season, stray dogs could be seen at most beaches, leaving some worried about the animals’ future. The situation has changed with the animals now in minority as human population on the beaches has increased.
Perceptions about dogs differ, but through time they have become an integral part of human society, and at times even seem to enjoy more benefits than us.
Recently, a bitch littered five pups in an open colony. On the first day, the mother picked each one by the nape of its neck and placed them in an enclosed area, out of the reach of other stray dogs.
The mother watched over her pups and enjoyed the attention she received from people. As the pups opened their eyes and began to move around, the mother gave them more space.
As they grew and turned chubbier, the numbers of pups began to dwindle.
As they grew and turned chubbier, the numbers of pups began to dwindle. It became obvious that humans were at play and slowly the pups were being separated from their mother due to humans wanting to adopt the pups.
From five, the mother ended up with one, and the duo were seen roaming together in search of food. Until one day, a vehicle ran over the last pup. The mother appeared inconsolable – wailing, barking at the sight of four-wheelers and just licking her dead pup.
The municipality van picked up the dead pup the next morning, and after that the mother kept sniffing around the area where the pup last was. She was not to be seen around the place later.
A few days later, at another place, a lady was seen feeding cake to a dog. She fed him every slice, and the dog ate it all giving the impression that a beggar has no choice.
Man, by nature, does good for another in return for some good having been done to him.
“Mama,” asked a child passing by, “is the lady cruel for feeding a dog cake. Aren’t they supposed to like meat and bones? Would that lady like it if she were tied and given grass to eat?” The mother steadied her footsteps away from the truth.
It is easy to say a dog is a dog but difficult to understand the animal. And yet, it is a pleasant realisation that they too feel and possibly feel more than we do. Man, by nature, does good for another in return for some good having been done to him.
A four-wheeler hit a stray dog the other day, and in seconds, all the other dogs ran towards their injured friend. It looked like there was little they could do to help their friend.
Most dogs sniffed around the place, ostensibly looking for blood, although there were no traces visible. This ritual left one wondering at the magic of the sniff. That evening, when some human placed food before them, they waited for the injured one to first have his share and only then did they tuck in.
After thinking about the behaviour of dogs and having observed them through the eyes of a child, they seem to be a few steps ahead of us – more caring, for sure.
After thinking about the behaviour of dogs and having observed them through the eyes of a child, they seem to be a few steps ahead of us – more caring, for sure. We as humans do things expecting something in return, but dogs do not and that is striking.
Striking because we consider ourselves superior to them, when in reality, they appear more human than us. In fact, just the act of tying a dog or taking a dog on a leash for a pee and not letting the animal free should be looked on as an inhuman act.
Yet, we have people who boast of giving the best to their dog – best feed bought in packets in malls and not bones that need to be cooked and then served. Robbing a living being of freedom is a crime but is something we humans will never accept.
That humans are falling behind animals in the way of living is an indication that the connection between us and what is right and good is slowly being lost. We may have all the money, all the luxuries, but of what use is it if we do not understand the value of life?
