'I only wanna be with you'(click to enlarge)
The first time I heard her howl I ran out to see where the sound was coming from, and just couldn’t make out. Another neighbour also heard, “It brings bad luck!” she said. It’s definitely been brought about by some dog’s bad luck. Next time I heard the heart breaking, miserable howling again, I saw her. She was alone in an empty, large balcony, a bowl of water and a little brown dog. I tried to cheer her by throwing biscuit and pedigree, and by whistling and talking softly...she being just a half grown puppy, got frightened. She had probably never been exposed to playing with humans, running with other dogs, going for walks or any other normal interaction that most dogs would take for granted.
First I thought the dog was left in the balcony when they go somewhere, so she can look at people passing by and not feel lonely. But now I know that that balcony is her world. I realise that they are decent people; they just don’t know that dogs have feelings the way we do. More than anything else, dogs need companionship; they like to be with us or at least with another dog. Dogs are social animals; separation anxiety kills them if moved away from their families or packs. Once they love you they love you for life.
Pets are a responsibility just like children. They need some exercise, a short walk, and more than anything else they need our company. If we do not like dog hair on the sofa, we should not keep a dog. If we cannot spend some time playing with a dog, or just talking to them, petting them, sitting with them, then why get a dog?
Can you imagine spending your whole life, alone, in a balcony? I feel so sad...I wish I could do something to help her. Not for this brown dog a joyous gallop in the green grass; she will not race, with her human companion, in the first drops of rain to reach home fast; she will never flop comfortably settling her belly on the cold floor, in the company of a loving family watching TV. No child will roll delightfully with her until both are shooed out to the balcony where both will continue their play, fetching a thrown ball, running and chasing, catching and swallowing biscuits (without tasting them, wasting them like Fredrick Algernon Trotville a.k.a. Fatty's Buster.) All these things happen only in my home.
Can’t they hear her cry?
I saw these delightful cartoons on Alankrita's blog, if you treat your dogs the way we do, you'll love them
http://virtualityforreal.blogspot.com/2008/03/trouble-with-dogs.html
16 comments:
They might me decent people, but they are totally insensitive,couldn't care less or are seriously clueless! Do you think you could mebe, speak to them?
If they are home all day, don't they hear her cries? Its possible that their balcony has a door and its closed with the dog outside. They should be made aware of it.
My aunt has this great dane at home, which is tied all the time, not petted, looked after by the help. Peer pressure is why they have the dog, all their friends have one at home, so they should too. I know all this because I questioned her about it and requested that the dog be pet and spoken to kindly...my point is we will never know if we do not try to find out. So pls don't hold back and as a concerned and friendly neighbor you could ask and suggest.
Never know, it could make a whale of a diff to the dog.
J
Thanks for your wishes on my page :)
a touching write up...
and you had me saying "aawwwwwwwwwwwwww" at that picture. too cute :D
mandira
i am on your blogrollllll!! i am happppppppppppy!!:D
thanks!
mandira
j they know the door is locked, they keep her alone in the balcony all the time. I agree with you about going and meeting them, might make a difference. If nothing else they can hire someone to walk the dog a few times a day, so that at least she will get out and meet people for that much of time.
I have made it a habit to look for her.
Yesterday it was very hot and our Mr Energy was throwing and catching an ice cube, and suddenly we all thought of her, then my son took some ice cubes and sneaked up to a place from where he could throw them to her. Now she is not afraid of us. She tried picking an ice cube, but it was stuck to the floor. Then she made a game of chasing the ice cube sliding on the floor. But better then all this will be seeing if they will take her inside.
Mandira - That is the Lab that made me say, it's nice to be a Lab. He's a pain. He won't eat if we are all not around and giving him attention. Twice he had to be put on drip when my husband went and he just won't eat. Our other dog has realised that family members come and go, I stay there forever, so she has decided that although I am very low in the family hierarchy, she eats if I am around.
Hey cute pic!!! You are really a very sensitive person.Perhaps you can go and give them some gyaan!
I don't think I am too sensitive, it's just that I can't stand inhuman treatment of any kind to anybody. Yeah, you are right, I will have to just go and speak to them. Tactfully...wish me luck!
aww...i miss my dog. beautiful pic. he died some years ago. what i love about dogs is their selfless love. no matter how late you come home, some heavy duty licking and violent shaking of the tail is guaranteed for you ;)
they are guaranteed to lower your BP..hahaha
Yes Philip I agree! I call them my stress busters:)And I like your description of the welcome with 'heavy duty licking', that's exactly what we get!
hmm.. yeah, my neighbours got a doggie too but he barks right wen its my nap time :-(
Maybe there should be a few questions to be answered honestly whenever a person/family is planning to get a dog. I think you need to talk to your neighbours.
emaan If a dog barks there is always some reason, just like when babies cry there is a reason. Maybe they do what my neighbors do. He barks for attention? Loud noises or fire crackers also make them bark,they can hear so much louder than us, it hurts their ears!
Seeing another person or dog walking into what they consider their territory can also make a dog bark.When our dogs bark, we check why and call them away.Only time my dog will not stop barking is when they hear loud fire crackers!Can we blame them?
Maybe if you should speak to your neighbours. I hope they understand because badly brought up dogs are unhappy dogs!
Dipali How right you are! It is so sad when people don't even know what they are doing when they bring a dog home. I did go and speak to my neighbours, and I met their college going niece and one of their sons. The boy studies in another city and seems to really love the dog. I said,"I realise that sometimes they can be quite a pain but we really cannot leave them alone all the time!" He said, "Actually she is not a pain at all, she is very well behaved, it's just that my mother does not like dogs!" So it was more of him agreeing with everything I could say, and adding more to it. He said he is taking the dog with him to Nagpur:)and apart for one odd time in the morning, I have not heard her cry. What made me feel good was the fact that the boy seems to truly care for the dog.
You know... the problem with dogs is that they think they are human... they seriously do.
You will like the travails of Bink...
http://virtualityforreal.blogspot.com/2006/08/busy-tail.html
He was(unfortunately) the apple of my eye... as human as they get..sleeping on the bed...et al et al...
And the Bedtime Stories Book, I have it.. its a must have for dog lovers.
Is this book available in India? I would love to read it:)
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