Dear Animal Lovers, Some you know that I foster Indian pups (street pups) for sometime and get them adopted through adoption drives or through PetPals in "The Hindu". Now, I'm fostering a special pup named Teddy. His story had come out in PetPals : The Hindu : FEATURES / METRO PLUS : Standing tall with Teddy Please read!
hello pintu / custard.. you are doing such a great job.. I kept telling my family to adopt a dog but my hubby and son were hell bet on a lab and so we got our Harley.. who I ofcourse love the most.. but I wish I could adopt an Indian dog... K
Thank you so much Kelly!! Nice to know that You want to adopt Indian dog. I too have breeds only Sure, in future when we can have anther dog, we can opt for Indian one!
Nice article and kudos to your work! I do have one disagreement though....I do not think its a sin to breed a purebred dog. I think that both purebreds and street dogs should be able to co-exist on this planet. I do disagree though on the popular Indian belief that one should only go for purebreds. For myself, I would love to adopt a street dog in the future. I am sure their hardy constitutions will give a pet that will be a member of the household for a long time. My current cat is a rescue from the backyard here and I could never have found a better companion at any price.
Thanks Kanaka! Thanks tashidelek, for sharing your thoughts! Its also a sin to breed Indian Dogs. But we, humans don't breed Indian dogs for various reasons. We breed only pedigree to either make money or as a sincere duty for our pets. When you just browse about puppy mills, kill shelters, you will understand why I say so. We shouldn't mistake that these happen only in US. It happens right here in India - i.e. the number of dogs who are homeless, abandoned is very high. Every week, in Besant Nagar, Chennai, you can see one abandoned Purebred dog. People who move place, just abandon their dogs and go. Then, animal activists join hands in rescuing, sterilising the dog and then finding a good home. This is not easy as it sounds. Each volunteer have dogs in their home to take care and then, they have to do this for the welfare of the dog. An Indian dog can survive on the streets, but very difficult for a breed. You already seem to know about it! So happy to know that you will only have an Indian dog and most importantly you have a rescue cat.. Since I have only breeds at home, I look Up at people who have rescues! :thumbsup An excerpt from Dogs and Cats: Doing What Is Best for Them | PETAIndia.com Problems With Purebreds So-called purebred breeding (breeding animals for a certain appearance or set of characteristics) has caused a wide range of health defects in animals. For example, "flat-faced" dogs such as bulldogs and Boston terriers experience respiratory difficulties because their shorter breathing passages make it hard for them to deal with hot weather and can cause them to suffer complications when they're under anaesthesia. The excessively wrinkled skin of bloodhounds and Shar-Peis make them prone to skin infections, Dalmatians are often deaf and other purebred dogs suffer from epileptic seizures, hip dysplasia, painful back problems, etc. Of course, all this occurs because humans think they can improve on nature. Sadly, while breeders "custom-design" millions of dogs and cats each year, countless equally deserving dogs and cats languish without food or love. Now, I have 3 Dobermans - mom and her two sons. We had 8pups home. All went for adoption. Benji was returned the next day. Simba, being my favourite was given to a farm, so that I can visit often. We had to bring him back home (at 8months) as they did not care for him properly. He was just bones and skin when he came home. Till today, we are searching and trying if some good family will adopt them! They are now going to be 3years! :bonk Since I have Dobermans and have browsed a lot about them. Every breed has a big negative like hip/joint problem, heart problem, eye problem, etc. Dobermans are more prone to heart diseases. Believe it not, my previous dog Pintu died out of a heart problem. he is normally a very healthy dog and had very good immunity too. I agree that there are breeds who have lived healthy all their life with care from good humans. But don't you think when I brought 8 pups into this world, I have reduced chances for 8 Indian dogs to find a loving home?! Any dog is a dog. Whether he comes in a Indian body or a Dalmatian or a Pug, he is going to love us in the same way! So, why to promote dogs to come in pedigree bodies? nor I'm saying to promote Indian dog's breeding, I'm just asking people to adopt Indian dogs instead of pedigree! I'm so eager to know what you feel.
Custard: My dad was a veterinarian, having his own large animal hospital here in USA. I grew up seeing it all...you don't need to lecture me. I still contend that there is nothing wrong with responsible breeding of dogs, either of purebreds or street dogs...thing is India has a sad lacking in responsibility when it comes to animals. This is one of the hardest things for western tourists to witness in India...the rampant cruelty to animals and the abysmal lack of knowledge about care of animals. On the one hand it is blah blah blah cow is god, monkey is god, elephant is god but on a day to day level folks don't raise a hand to help the animal in front of them. Some time back I read a thread by vijiiyer whom I think all of us can agree is a nice elderly lady. She was talking about moving and how she just up and left the family cat. Didn't find a home...god knows what happened to the cat...it made me sick thinking about it. So if Viji can do this I think we can expect most Indians will do it. Until Indians are educated on the ethical care of animals and take some moral stance on it, animals are going to be abused. And if the daughter of the family is treated as many are right now, how will a street dog or cat expect better treatment? ( I have probably offended many by this post ...please don't bash me too hard.)
Hello Tashidelek mam, I'm so sorry that my reply made you feel that I have lectured you! probably the length of my post was long, so you thought I was trying to tell you so many things? You shared your views and I shared mine. I still know what I have said is right, till the number of dogs gets to normal rate, sterilisation is the most important solution. I totally agree with the rest of what you have said about how things are very bad in India and education on ethical care is very important. Great to know that your dad is a Veterinarian. You sure know more things about animals, than me. Looking forward to learn more from you. Also requesting you to join this group : Vegans - IndusLadies as, by being Vegan, one get to help many animals in a simple and easy way. So, you might be interested. Thank you.
Hi Yummy custard !! Now how on earth did I miss this wonderful post beats me ! :bonk:bonk:bonkSOREEEEEE!! Anyway at least I can claim to be the first to know Teddy's story from none other than your dear self a few months ago . Remember when we spoke on phone ? you narrated the whole sad story which eventually had a very happy ending thanks to you alone. We discussed about breeding and serilisation too earlier.I am all for it too . Is teddy still with you or have you found a loving owner .Whenever I read such pieces I wish I could just gather up all homeless or ownerless doggies and take care of them forever.That is just a pipe dream which will never come true....but you dear Custard is the real heroine ...you are going out there and doing such an exemplary job as you did in Teddy's case .How I wish I could too.As the years that rest on my achy shoulders do not permit me to run as fast as I wish, I shall remain content to cheer you on to go forward with even more speed for all your good deeds that will prove to be balm to the injured bodies and souls of all such devoted loyal doggies. Please do post pictures of Teddy along with Ruby,Simba& Benji too.....love to see them!
Thank you so much Paulina mam!!!! That was so very encouraging! I think I need such encouragement at tough times like these! Yes, Teddy is still with us. But I'm looking forward to find him a very good deserving home as soon as possible. For your age, you are already doing a big job of having two loving souls and taking care of them. I'm so happy that you encourage people to sterilise their dogs! Thanks a lot for the appreciation! Yes, will get their pictures soon. Those in FaceBook can see him here : https://www.facebook.com/#!/media/set/?set=a.293651877326361.79585.100000446526739&type=3 and Teddy also won the award "Survivor of the Year, 2012" at Blue Cross Wacky Mongrel Dog Show".
