Pet peeve

WHEN SUNITHA Ramesh moved into her new home in a quiet, residential pocket of Mahalingapuram, she first met her neighbour on the road. Looking for their weeks old Lhasa Apso pup, she remembers that the distraught family was literally in tears over their missing dog.

A while later, Sunitha purchased a German Shepherd pup for her nine-year old daughter Dhriti. The puppy, Lisa, went missing two months later ("The usually padlocked gate must have been open for just 10 minutes"). When their daughter returned from school, she was inconsolable. Admits Sunitha, "It was terrible. It's like losing a baby."

Sunitha had spent Rs. 3,000 on the acquisition, another "about Rs. 3,000-4,000" on vaccination shots plus other necessities like a leash, bowl and dog food. Yet, when they lost their pet, money was the last thing on Sunitha's mind. But it was, quite clearly, on the minds of those who had stolen the puppy.

Animal rights activists from the Blue Cross and People for Animals have established the existence of a thriving dog-thieving trade in Chennai. A discernible nexus appears to exist between professional thieves, household help, security guards and even certain veterinary clinics. Says Sriya Chari, whose two-year old Dalmatian was stolen, "We never even imagined that people would want to steal pets."

Owners try every option available to them, to recover the lost pets. Sunitha gave a police complaint, of which nothing came out. Sriya pursued every lead there was. She pieced together the modus operandi from eyewitnesses around her home as well as the neighbourhood autorickshaw driver, followed the trail up to a cafe in Alwarpet, after which it ran cold. She also advertised in newspapers and her efforts got her many false leads, crank calls and letters.

Explains Sriya, "It's a popular misconception that all dogs are aggressive. Not all pets are guard dogs. Even the most ferocious looking dogs sometimes never bite. It would be fairly easy to steal a friendly creature."

Another couple report a very intrepid story. After posting ads and leaflets for their missing dachshund and hybrid terrier pups, they too endured callers "looking for a quick buck". The lady then went searching in every clinic and followed up 'For Sale' notices in the Free Ads pages. She insisted on being particular about only a certain kind of puppies - and specified descriptions which matched her own dogs. She was offered the dachshund by a vet clinic in Thiruvanmiyur and got her pet back by paying for it, again. The terrier she traced the same way except the situation got nasty this time and she was "dealing with the kind of goondas she should not be near." Now insisting on anonymity, the couple simply "wish to be left alone". There was a spate of such incidents about a year and a half ago leading to the conclusion that there was a professional gang at work. Animal rights activists persuaded the then DCP, Crime, Sandeep Rai Rathore who spared a patrol vehicle for the hunt. Cops in mufti along with some activists and owners followed leads to the tenement-lined by-lanes of Vyasarpadi. In these filthy slums, where the impoverished dwell in sub-human conditions, they found pedigree dogs.

Activists even chased an old man walking two huge, tanned Dobermans - dogs which are rare as they are valuable. Also sighted was a splendid St. Bernard, whose market value is pegged at no less than Rs. 1-1.5 lakhs. The investigation resulted in the lodging of an FIR but no formal arrests fructified. The trade has been found to cross State borders and the slums of Kotturpuram and Adyar have been identified as hotbeds of such crime. Those who steal and sell are even known to offer (presumably forged) paperwork which includes essential certificates of the Kennel Club of India for "an extra Rs. 500."

Another businessman, who does not wish to be named, lost his Labrador pup, while the family was on vacation. This happened inspite of having a well-protected home with "a lot of loyal staff and security". The pup was last seen playing near the gate. His experience with the police was a more positive one (he describes them as "very co-operative") but his six-month old pet was never found. All of these animal lovers have acquired one or more dogs now but the memory of their loss is as fresh as the recently revived spate of pet robberies.

For families who raise animals, what's at stake is, very literally and with no pun intended, a dog's life.

LALITHA SRIDHAR

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