I know I have tested your patience these past few weeks with constant posts related to raising awareness on the plight of the Stray Dog. Thank you for being so loyal and interested enough to keep coming back day after day.

So here it is now – the BIG reveal…

The clue in that ‘blink-and-you-miss-it animation’ mentioned here was the bag I am carrying.

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Tote Bags

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Yes!! The Poonchh Collection includes Tote bags among other things.
And here is that bag…

Oh! and did I mention, it’s available in over 20 colourways?
This entire collection is based on three simple stray dog silhouettes which have been used to form a variety of designs.

And do keep track of my Facebook page, as I plan to keep posting more images there.

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Cushion Covers

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Truth be told, this whole collection started with cushion covers, which was the first home accessory that I thought of doing.  One thing led to another, and I ended up with a whole range of accessories

The cushion covers are plain with a single dog print on one side, and on the reverse side, the same print forms a pattern. This allows for the cushion to be displayed on either side.

The cushions are made in cotton canvas and poplin, the highest grade that I could find.  The finishing is impeccable and includes interlocking on all seams and a zipper on the bottom of the cover.

And again, they are available in multiple colourways

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iPad & Laptop Sleeves

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I have done a range of iPad and laptop sleeves too!

The laptop sleeves  fit a MacBook Air 13″ beautifully. It’s a little snug on a MacBook Pro 13“. And then pretty much all the Netbooks fit in with a little wriggle room on top.

Available in 15 different colourways!!

The sleeves are made with the finest cotton canvas  and poplin and screen printed  with loving care. The inside of each sleeve is lined with polar fleece to keep your iPad/laptop safe from scratches. It also has a soft padding to ensure a shock free existence.

The trimming is real leather so you can only dry clean or spot clean.

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Clutches

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Uffhhh!! I forgot to tell you about the clutches… yeah, I have those too!
Available in two sizes no less and in multiple colorways again

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Phone Sleeves & Key Pouches

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And then there are also some more assorted goodies.

There are sleeves for your phone, an iPhone 4 fits beautifully. And most Nokia and Samsung ones do too.

I also made a little key pouch (for want of a better word here). It’s pretty neat!
Can carry a phone on one side, money or cards on the other and keys on a ring.

It’s a very good ‘all-in-one/all-I-need’ kind of pouch.

And there are some art prints of my paintings and sketches available too.

And like I said before- Do keep track of my Facebook page, I plan to keep posting more images there.

I will post a comprehensive catalog on the site closer to the date of the exhibition: 10-12th Feb 2012.

These sketches are of Kajal. She is a beautiful dog, that Rakesh of VoSD, picked up on a recent trip to Goa.  She was a little bruised, battered and lonely when he found her. Today, after four months of unconditional love, she positively glows with good health. I am not sure what prompted him to decide to adopt her out of all the other strays on the beach… but I am glad he did.

She has the most intense eyes, as if rimmed with jet black Kohl- hence her name. These sketches are done in Pen and Ink and are approx. 10″ x 16″ each.

I have painted her before (you can see that portrait here).

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

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

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.