When it comes to speciesism, India is a study in hypocrisy. On one hand, the country refers to cows as ‘holy’, while dogs, which also have mythological significance don’t receive the same treatment.
As per Hindu mythology, dogs are the mount of Bhiarava, the fearsome form of Shiva; but the state of pooches on the street is quite the opposite of what it is in religious literature. They are so scarred by the cruelty met out that when a hand approaches to pat them many flinch. It takes time to gain their trust. The plight of twenty-five million Indie dogs thus falls on the country’s dog lovers. Many activists and organisations in the city try hard to spread awareness about Indie dogs and promote the idea of ‘adopt-don’t-shop’.
One such adoption drive for Indie dogs was organised recently in a Café Coffee Day outlet near Cubbon Park. Twenty pooches arrived with their foster parents, looking for a new home. The showstoppers of the adoption drive were dogs with disabilities and adult dogs with unusual life stories. Fifteen puppies were up for adoption, along with three specially-abled ones, and two with sight impairments. All the dogs up for adoption were vaccinated and dewormed, and ready to move to their new home.
Metrolife spoke to a few pet parents at the drive.
Starline and her dog Cinnamon were one such duo. Starline says, “Cinnamon was run over multiple times in the streets, and now he needs an amputation. I have been fostering him for a couple of months. I had to postpone an international trip because he needed me. Despite his injury, he is just like any other dog. He recovered quickly and is happy and energetic and friendly. I love him, but my work commitments and all the travelling don’t allow me to have him full-time,” said Starline.
Ramya and her puppy, Sunday, who was named after the day she was found, were also at the event. Ramya met Sunday while walking her own dog along 12th Main Street in Indiranagar. “My dog barked at her and she got really scared and ran into heavy traffic. We went after her to save her and picked her up. It was hard to let go of her, so are fostering her till she finds a new home”, says Ramya.
Kiran Kumar from the Green Army Force was also at the adoption drive with a litter of puppies whose mother passed away. An avid animal lover, Kiran does regular rescue drives for both dogs and cats across Bengaluru. “Indie breeds are highly underrated. People don’t realise that it takes intelligence and courage to survive in the streets, and these dogs do it well. Since these dogs live in misery, the love that they reciprocate is immeasurable, and they are perfect companions,” says Kiran.
Elitism is a human concept, and a good dog does not have to be a pedigree breed. Since ‘desi’ dogs live in the streets and are acclimated well, experts believe that their endurance and strength, and adaptability is better than the exotic breeds, who require a lot of maintenance. Indie dogs (the Mudhol Hounds) have been recruited by Indian Army’s Remount and Veterinary Corps for over three years now. Bengaluru cops too have been recruiting Indian Pye-dogs, commonly known as the Indian pariah-dogs for night patrolling and criminal identification for over a year now as they are as intelligent and can be trained just like any other breed.