It's a dog's life

N. NANDAKUMAR

THE PFA column in the Young World has been telling children never to be cruel to animals and what you should do to prevent such acts.

Yet, all around, animals are being treated badly. Not just bullocks drawing overloaded carts, nor roadside vegetable vendors beating strays cows which try to drag away a cabbage or some brinjals. Not just school boys stoning a stray mongrel, just to hear it yelp and see it limp away. Those are common sights, the acts not done wantonly.

What happened two Sundays ago was an example of utter callousness. Those responsible cannot be forgiven, I hope they read this and feel ashamed of themselves. They certainly knew what they were doing - and that what they were doing was wrong.

It was at a dog show organised by the Bharat Kennel Club for the V G P championship. Reputed names, no doubt, so one expected the best. But, sad to say, that was not so. For one thing the weather was hot, sultry and the surroundings dirty. Then there was a water shortage.

It was obvious from the start that everything was going wrong. Participants had to wait for a long time before their turn came. "I had to wait for 45 minutes. My pups were so tired they couldn't even stand before the judges," said one owner.

At the judges' arena, there was utter confusion. Owners had, for some reason or the other, let their animals loose in the enclosure. The children nearby, in their own playful way, kept trying to attract the animals - and there were plenty of ways to do that. One was to throw stones at the pet. Little did they realise that some dogs were tense, excited, and some were angry.

It was not as if the judges were unaware of all this. They seemed, and looked, indifferent. They could afford to be, for they were comfortable under a shamiana which kept the sun away and had had enough refreshments to ward off hunger. The animal owners, at least those who did not have those perks, went to get them. Understandable. But didn't the gentleman - who went out to get a soft drink for himself and his family - know that he ought not to have left his two Golden Retrievers (luckily both were friendly fellows) loose like he had done? These two huge animals were running round the place as if they were at home. And they amused onlookers with their playfulness. But not all the animals were as harmless as those two.

Many a Pomeranian bared sharp teeth at those who tried to pet them. Many a daschund turned a stiff upper lip at anyone who showed signs of friendliness. One family's driver had a difficult time keeping in check a daschund and four pups, and waiting for the owner. He took the pets to an autorickshaw outside the venue, spread a bedsheet there and looked after the animals.

I'm sorry I have to end this story on a sordid note. Someone had left a Great Dane tied to a tree, or a post, and went out. It broke its chain and ran all over the place. Women pulled their little ones to safety, others watched with glee from far. Meanwhile, a Golden Retriever left whatever it was doing and went after this giant in a brindle coat. That was the end of the tether and leash for the latter. To end this dogfight, do you know what the owner of the retriever did? He and his family pelted the Great Dane with stones. It howled in pain and ran, but not before sinking its teeth deep into its counterpart's behind.

This is not the way to conduct dog shows. One should learn how to treat animals - certainly not like they were treated that Sunday.

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