By P Mohan Chandran
Isn't it funny that the same humans who swear by their loyalty towards 'man's best friend', also squirm at the sight of a street dog wagging its tail in their direction? Yes, my dear readers, today we unravel the conundrum that is the human-dog relationship, especially those involving our neglected street warriors.
Our typical Homo Sapiens, when faced with a street dog, turns into a version of Nostradamus, predicting with utter certainty, "This dog is a menace, a ticking time bomb!" But ask them when was the last time they fed a hungry dog or gave it water, and you're greeted with the wide-eyed innocence of a goldfish that's seen the castle in its bowl for the 'first time'.
Our dear humans, they find it more economical to pay the municipal worker a couple of hundred rupees to dispose of a dog's carcass than to buy a 5 rupee Parle-G packet for the poor soul when it was alive. Isn't this the perfect display of a 'penny wise, pound foolish' attitude, you might wonder?
And then there's the biting saga! Oh, the unjust persecution of our canine brethren for daring to respond to provocation! Young lads tease the dogs, make crackling noises, and instigate them to bite. But who gets the blame? Our mute canine friends, of course! The perpetrators are our fellow humans, who run away scot-free, barely reprimanded. Perhaps it's because, unlike dogs, humans have been blessed with the 'right to remain silent'—a right they exercise liberally when it's time to stand up for these animals.
You see, there's an ironic reverse in the letters of 'DOG' to spell 'GOD', and it's not without meaning. Dogs, these so-called street menaces, are perhaps the epitome of forgiveness. For every stone thrown at them by 99 humans, they remember the one human who showed kindness, extending their love and loyalty to even those who hurt them. Imagine if humans could practice the same grace! Instead, a single dog bites a child, and the cry rises to eliminate all street dogs. It's almost as if humans fancy themselves as sole proprietors of Earth.
Every dog indeed mirrors God's unconditional love and forgiving nature, but what do humans reflect? A rigid refusal to coexist with other beings? An audacity to claim the world as theirs alone? And they still call themselves 'human' while forgetting the essence of 'humanity.'
So, let's end with some food for thought. If we consider ourselves superior to animals because of our intellect and moral compass, isn't it time we used these virtues for a more compassionate coexistence with our four-legged friends? After all, if we can't extend kindness to a creature known for its loyalty and love, do we really deserve to be called 'humans'? Are we nurturing our humanity or are we letting it go to the dogs?
Do you think dogs & dog feeders are easy targets?
Yes, the good and weak have always been soft & easy targets.
No, we still have people who respect dogs & dog feeders.
© 2023. P Mohan Chandran. All Rights Reserved.
15062023
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