Animal Birth Control

A single pair of dogs can in their lifetime alone see between 60,000 – 70,000 in progeny.

It is not possible to control that huge number on the streets. Not only is it illegal to kill a stray dog but it would be inhumane to do so. Add to that woes of abundant garbage as ready food supply, territorial instincts, disease and an indifferent, and at times, plain scared  ever exploding human population- what do you get?

Disaster of epic proportions waiting to happen!

How can we change this situation?
Better garbage Disposal and Animal Birth Control.

If that first pair are spayed/ neutered. Then the cycle ends. They live out their life of about 3-5 years on the streets and it’s over.

What can you do?
Call your local Animal Welfare center and follow up on the ABC program in your locality. FYI- an already spayed or neutered dog will have it’s ear notched (a little bit of the tip cut off).

If it’s not effective enough, then do what these little girls did. They spent their own pocket money to spay a community/street dog they named JLo. Read/see their story here.

Or get it done yourself. It won’t cost you more than one fancy dinner!!

Note- This animation plays in a loop three times and then stops. To replay after that, you will need to reload the page.

Have you ever seen anyone that’s cornered, battered or bruised, constantly looking over their shoulder in fear?
Tired and scared even of their own shadow?

I have.

Just open your eyes and look around. It’s the same for animal or man. When you’ve been beaten down once too often, there are only two options – Either you roll over and die or you get back up and defend yourself.
Either option is bloody and negative.

The outcome can change if we change.
Stop the hurting. Intervene with love, affection, understanding, awareness….

Do you have it in you do that?

This portrait is of Heer . It is done in acrylics on canvas and is 10×12 inches.

No man is an island. There is space for everyone, if we only change our perspective.

Affection doesn’t cost you anything. It is the same across social, economic, religious, cultural or even geographical boundaries. It’s one of those rare gems that when you use and ‘deposit’ in the safekeeping of another… it comes back manifold.

If you are planning to get a dog, take one off the street today.

You really can, and it WILL make a huge difference in the final analysis. The Indian street dog has so many more advantages to a pedigreed dog, that’s been in-bred and over-bred…

First, it has the best genes in the business!
You have heard of Darwin’s theory of Survival of the Fittest, right? Well, it not only survived, but thrived. So that’s really good stock you have there.
It’s healthier, more resistant to disease, won’t get obese and will hence cause you less stress in the long term.

It will give you as much affection as the pedigreed dog, if not more. If generations of conditioning is anything to go by… it’s hard wired in them – they crave that love. But, that same neglect of generations will mean that on days that you are too busy in the hum drum of your life…they will survive the lack of attention. They will just stay next to you in a show of silent support.

And if for emotional reasons (like mine – I have always had a Labrador), you want a particular pedigreed dog, then please adopt an abandoned one from a shelter. Or  adopt one that is long past it’s ‘sell by‘ date at a breeder’s.

Trust me, even a pedigreed  over grown dog at a breeders, does not have a pretty life. His only mistake, he grew up. The same is the case with abandoned pets. You would be surprised by the number of pets that are left on the streets, abandoned because they grew out of their cute puppy dog stage!!

Please don’t ‘pay’ to get a dog!
Help stop this vicious cycle of breeding and over breeding.

And if you still must, then please go to a registered breeder.

And lastly, please never abandon a pet.

We love, care for, coax, and cajole our little ones.
Sometimes, it’s about tough love and then sometimes about just irreverent play.

But, it’s always about leading by example.

This portrait is of Raju. It is done in acrylics on canvas and is 10×12 inches.

The best known medicine to cure almost all ills, is love and affection.

It can make the difference between hurt and healing, between sadness and joy, between possibilities and reality.

For ‘Motu‘ the puppy in this picture, food and medicine given with a loving hand, made that difference. Today, he is  robust, healthy, and a very handsome dog.

Unconditional.

We all long for it.
Some are luckier than others when they receive it.

I have learnt in my life that one sure fire way to get it, is to love a dog.

It works every time!

Mi casa, es su casa.
My house is your house.

I don’t know of one dog that won’t share it’s home or space with you, if you just show it a little affection.

Sadly, I can’t say the same for us humans though.