A day in the life ... Here are a few quick stories and photos of a typical days outing with animal care and meetings with friends . . .
Danni
Danni was another one of those dogs, who somehow just shows up ..
This picture , as many others, does not really show how bad off she appeared. Skeletal, bad skin, infections, and a head that just seemed too big for her body to hold up. And oh yes, a nursing mother. People who were ususally stoic to these kinds of scenes were shocked at her condition. Many people wanted to help her, but she remained elusive, and only sometimes coming out into public sight.
She was initially a bit shy and wary, but eventually gained trust and regularly came for food and affection. One day she actually took me to her home, to show me her pups, and her human family. Yes, she had a family and they were doing their best, but her condition was not good. Over time, with skin treatments, deworming, very good food, she blossomed. She had a gorgeous character, and a bit of a sense of humor. Danni like to hide from upper vantage points and watch me look for her. When I found her, she would not come, but would jump up and down in the air, wagging her big shaggy head from side to side. It was a comical and endearing sight.
The puppies were gorgeous, black and tan, clearly offspring of the neighboring Doberman Romeo. Very little about them looked like the delightfully shaggy haired Danni, except for one... Black and tan like her father, but with a few ruffs of hair encircling her ankles, wrists, and a little shaggy mustache, and oh yes, she had the Danni dance! I came up one morning with food, and Danni did her bouncing dance, and to our great amusement, shaggy daughter mimiced this performance, with joy and smiles. We all laughed. It was all I could do to resist grabbing her up in my arms and carrying her away. But this is impossible, and in the back of my mind, was making silent plans as to how I could at some future point convince the family to let me have Danni. I was that fond of her.
The puppies were eventually placed, but they kept the male, and with Danni looking her best, I did not have to come every day. So I would come up casually, no worries in my mind regarding these two, no sense of need or urgency. And then it hit me. The fear and sadness in the grandmothers eyes.
Danni?
She just shook her head and looked to the rest of the family members for help.
Bagh, bagh ...
Tiger? I asked incredulously.
Tiger.
They took me to the spot up the hill. It was what else, a garbage dumping ground were many animals would go looking for food. The jeep drivers confirmed the report. My lovely Danni had been dragged off by a tiger.
Life of a street dog in India. Life and death of a street dog in India.
Baba and Bubbly
Baba, Bubbly, and all
Danni
Danni was another one of those dogs, who somehow just shows up ..
This picture , as many others, does not really show how bad off she appeared. Skeletal, bad skin, infections, and a head that just seemed too big for her body to hold up. And oh yes, a nursing mother. People who were ususally stoic to these kinds of scenes were shocked at her condition. Many people wanted to help her, but she remained elusive, and only sometimes coming out into public sight.
She was initially a bit shy and wary, but eventually gained trust and regularly came for food and affection. One day she actually took me to her home, to show me her pups, and her human family. Yes, she had a family and they were doing their best, but her condition was not good. Over time, with skin treatments, deworming, very good food, she blossomed. She had a gorgeous character, and a bit of a sense of humor. Danni like to hide from upper vantage points and watch me look for her. When I found her, she would not come, but would jump up and down in the air, wagging her big shaggy head from side to side. It was a comical and endearing sight.
The puppies were gorgeous, black and tan, clearly offspring of the neighboring Doberman Romeo. Very little about them looked like the delightfully shaggy haired Danni, except for one... Black and tan like her father, but with a few ruffs of hair encircling her ankles, wrists, and a little shaggy mustache, and oh yes, she had the Danni dance! I came up one morning with food, and Danni did her bouncing dance, and to our great amusement, shaggy daughter mimiced this performance, with joy and smiles. We all laughed. It was all I could do to resist grabbing her up in my arms and carrying her away. But this is impossible, and in the back of my mind, was making silent plans as to how I could at some future point convince the family to let me have Danni. I was that fond of her.
The puppies were eventually placed, but they kept the male, and with Danni looking her best, I did not have to come every day. So I would come up casually, no worries in my mind regarding these two, no sense of need or urgency. And then it hit me. The fear and sadness in the grandmothers eyes.
Danni?
She just shook her head and looked to the rest of the family members for help.
Bagh, bagh ...
Tiger? I asked incredulously.
Tiger.
They took me to the spot up the hill. It was what else, a garbage dumping ground were many animals would go looking for food. The jeep drivers confirmed the report. My lovely Danni had been dragged off by a tiger.
Life of a street dog in India. Life and death of a street dog in India.
Baba and Bubbly
Baba, Bubbly, and all
There are streets that are lined with beggars, Babas, and dogs. They keep each other company, form social circles, and communities of survival. Many people walk along these rows distributing bits of food, as they so feel moved. When I first arrived, I thought this was a depressing site, and with a bit of aversion, would make my way around this road, bypassing these sights. Until I became accustomed to the reality of these conditions, and made regular walks, with conversations and offerings, and found friendships and joys, notwithstanding the difficulties of these lives. There is often a charm to these outcasts and misfits, with whom I find I am regularly at ease. There are many ways to live a life, and hardships and joys come in many forms. This Baba was one of my favorites. Not only did he care for animals, but he had a strong character and his own charm and humor. He has since moved on, but while he was here, with his dogs, we made friends.
He had many dogs around him, and was quite good at understanding their behaviors, and at offering his care, sharing as much as he could. The offerings of 3RS Parleji biscuits seems to be unending in these rows of being, and the dogs get their shares from the babas. The newest edition, he named Bubbly. I thought it was a bit optomistic, considering her condition in those early days, but ok.
Surprisingly, after medicines and good food, Bubbly thrived. She grew into a beauty, and is still alive and very well as I write. She is extraordinarily intelligent, and she charms the local roadside residents daily.
Hari OM Bubbly and Baba
SPOTTY
Ay, ya, yai. What is this small black and white Border Collie style puppy doing with a leg rubbed raw, red , and the size of a baseball bat?! It was quite an unbelievable site. Daily bandaging, antibiotics, good food, etc. ... she improved. She was wonderful about having her dressing changed. Her bad habit was, however, that she liked to lie under the parked auto rickshaws at the roadside where she had made her home, and I often worried that the accident would repeat itself. She was energetic, lively, curious, and all the things a good puppy should be.
I wish I could say all ends well, but although the leg was nearly fully recovered after some weeks, her ability to cross the roads did not improve. With puppy abandon, she darted out onto the street and was killed, I was told.
He had many dogs around him, and was quite good at understanding their behaviors, and at offering his care, sharing as much as he could. The offerings of 3RS Parleji biscuits seems to be unending in these rows of being, and the dogs get their shares from the babas. The newest edition, he named Bubbly. I thought it was a bit optomistic, considering her condition in those early days, but ok.
Surprisingly, after medicines and good food, Bubbly thrived. She grew into a beauty, and is still alive and very well as I write. She is extraordinarily intelligent, and she charms the local roadside residents daily.
Hari OM Bubbly and Baba
SPOTTY
Ay, ya, yai. What is this small black and white Border Collie style puppy doing with a leg rubbed raw, red , and the size of a baseball bat?! It was quite an unbelievable site. Daily bandaging, antibiotics, good food, etc. ... she improved. She was wonderful about having her dressing changed. Her bad habit was, however, that she liked to lie under the parked auto rickshaws at the roadside where she had made her home, and I often worried that the accident would repeat itself. She was energetic, lively, curious, and all the things a good puppy should be.
I wish I could say all ends well, but although the leg was nearly fully recovered after some weeks, her ability to cross the roads did not improve. With puppy abandon, she darted out onto the street and was killed, I was told.
She lived on the side of the road, and there are no crossing rules for dogs and beautiful Border Collie style puppies, and others.
Ashram Pups 2011
The neverending ashram pups ... new edition, 2011. One by one, a new wave of pups were tossed into the ashram. Make that, sometimes, two by two, three by three, etc...
Unfortunately, this seasons crop came with its own illnesses. Namely, parvo virus. It spread quickly, of course, and nature took its course. With no rhyme or reason as to who would, should survive, based on strength, general health, age, etc. eight survived. The remaining eight were a happy, and strong lot of varied size, shape and color. From our lovely almost laborador, Julie, to the sweet natured beagle looking cross Tommie, to her no relation brother Bairo, later known as Motu. A big golden bear of a dog, who loved to eat and wag his tail and play all day, and eat and wag his tail and play all day.
They all lived quite contentedly, and the seldom used garden, which was first taken over as a hospital ward while the treatments were going on, automatically became their home. They were in. And although there were a few grumbles about dogs in the garden, no one had quite enough clout or heart to be the one to throw them out. As they grew, the confines of the garden became too small for many of them, and they started their natural explorations. This had its own set of casualties, on the roads, with vehicles that speed by and have no time to stop for dogs. Three were lost this way, and reverentially buried on sacred ground. More came to take their place, and for the most part they happily coexist, with squabbles, and power dynamics, but all in all, a good life, better than most.
