It's a story filled with apathy and pathos... and even a touch of greed.
I was driving out to do some errands. I passed what I could tell was a body of a dog lying on the side of a road. I paused to feel sad and then I was going to go on with my day. But as I drove closer, I noticed that it was breathing. Heavily.
I pulled to the side and walked over to see that the dog was shivering rigorously, but was probably unconscious.
Almost dead, I thought. Somehow almost wasn't a peaceful way to part ways.
I made a few calls... quite a few of my friends are dog enthusiasts, and generally good people. Today, however, was unfortunate timing.
I had to do this alone.
I tried Blue Cross but the number wouldn't connect. I tried the SPCA but nobody answered. This was discouraging.
I called Dr. Sagar, one of the more reliable vets in the area but he didn't answer either. Vets are usually disappointing. I understand that they lead busy lives... and I suppose they're usually very helpful in any animal situation but I couldn't help but feel disillusioned at this point.
But my emotions didn't matter. This dog did.
Dr. Tulpule's clinic was open the last time Anuj and I saved a dog. I assumed he'd be open this time to kill one.
After signing my name in the visitor register of the society outside which this dog was lying, I got the reluctant security guards to help me put this poor guy in the back seat of my car, over a heap of newspapers I had just organised, thanks to Viraj.
Drove carefully to Tulpule, by myself... thinking about the possibility of actually rescuing this dog, and then wondering where I'd be able to take him and leave him so that he recovers. Thinking ahead is a practical concept... and it usually dissuades us from attempting to help. Even if we want to help, one can't or won't ignore the consequences of getting involved... and it is a very depressing truth.
Thank you Indian Authorities, for doing very little to make us feel safe and comfortable putting money into your mostly incompetent hands.
Tulpule said that this dog had distemper and needed to be put down immediately. Five minutes and a 100 rupee syringe later, his heart had stopped. Right there, in the back seat of my car.
I was instructed to drive down the road, and place the corpse near a big yellow garbage bin, so that the PMC would come and pick it up soon. I parked, and opened the door to start removing the body. It was considerably heavier than before, and now there weren't any reluctant security guards around to help. I asked some passerbys... but I guess this wasn't their idea of a good way to spend their evening.
There I was, standing outside my car at a bridge near a gutter, trying in vain to lift the body of this astonishingly heavy but limp dog. Lifelessness is detrimental to mobility, I concluded.
Finally, a fellow walked by me and said that for a hundred bucks, he'd help. I sighed... but accepted. We disposed of the body.
And then I drove home... errandless.
Stray dogs on the streets are logistically inconvenient. Don't get me wrong... they make for great companions as you're strolling over to the local supermarket etc... but dog-lovers or otherwise, you have to acknowledge this. It's a harsh reality.
Co-existence with dogs doesn't often come up in a neighbourhood's list of priorities.
Some dogs may lead happy lives, but most of them live in fear and don't get food very easily.
They're hit by cars or killed by disease. Those that survive get to play "sticks and stones" with your children.
They live to survive and want not love, but mercy.
I don't know a solution.
What I do know is that this happens too often and ordinary people with good intentions don't ordinarily step out of their way to do something. Heck, neither do I.
I've learnt to rationalise and dismiss. "This is nature... this is analogous to a deer being eaten by a lion."
Today I just happened to be in the mood to help... and happened to have the time to help.
It was a coincidence.
We can't rely on coincidences any longer. There needs to be a central and standardised approach to rehabilitating animals.
Stop buying dogs, we have enough on the streets!
Go visit the pound near the RTO... it'll melt your heart and then turn it to stone.
If you're someone who can help or know someone who would have been perfect for me to have called today, get the word out!
Advertise! Use your blogs and your tweets, your facebooks and your personal contact at the newspaper.
Do people care? Yes. They care. I've seen them care. Just make it easier for them to transform their concern into something tangible. Enable them. Enable me.
----
I had to kill a dog today. And I didn't know his name.
1 syringe of euthanasia juice: 100 rupees.
1 willing, albeit industrious man to help me with the corpse: 100 rupees.
Time taken to sign the visitor register: A minute more of suffering for the dog.
The cost of the lesson I learned today: Priceless.
No wait.
The life of this nameless dog.
----
There are some things money can't buy. And I'm pretty sure nobody really cares about them.
