Our sutradhaars, both diehard animal lovers, discuss how friendly neighbourhoods play a key role in protecting and ensuring the welfare of these often-misunderstood street animals
Parag Phadnis who runs Eat Well Cold Storage and General Stores in Mulund, fosters two strays and ensures they are fed and kept safe. PIC/FIONA FERNANDEZ
I hope you and the missus had a memorable, happy Navroze,” exclaimed Lady Flora, as she gave her friend a bear hug; only she had the liberty to express herself in this fashion, despite knowing well the embarrassment it caused Sir PM. He wriggled out of it in a flash, and promptly handed over a box from Parsi Dairy Farm; it contained the silvery, delicious-looking Mawa ni Boi. “Thank you for the sweet thought. I was beginning to wonder if all was well at your end, when I didn’t get a response to my wish…” she continued, while carefully placing the sweet delicacy in her zipped, waterproof tote. Dry and safe from the incessant downpour that continues to wreak havoc across the city and its suburbs, the two settled into their preferred benches in the last rows of the cathedral. Even a sprightly neighbourhood stray had to take shelter by the porch, as the security guard fed him some biscuits and clean water.
“See, this is what is needed everywhere… empathy for these speechless street animals. All the bawas in the baug were extremely sad when we met on Navroze. The main talking point was the August 11 Supreme Court ruling centred on moving Delhi’s strays to shelters, as a result of the increase in dog bite cases in NCR. The dog holds a place of great religious significance in Zoroastrianism, and is regarded as a righteous creature, so the community is naturally upset, more so given the timing of the ruling, so close to Navroze. I was downcast, and wished I could don my robes all over again to defend strays. Perhaps, it’s why I missed replying to your wish,” Sir PM sighed.
“I feel your angst, Pheroze. These mute animals look up to us for protection, and with this news, we have let them down,” adding, “though I believe that after the strong public outcry, a three-member Supreme Court bench reserved the order on a plea for a stay on the previous ruling. Let’s hope there is light at the end of the tunnel. It’s a delicate matter and must be handled, sensitively,” she rued, glancing every now and then to see if the stray was doing okay. It was pouring outside, and the little dog was joined by another drippy friend. Both snuggled near the floor rug by the entrance, relieved at the sanctuary they found here.
“Just the other day, while exchanging Navroze wishes with cousin Khorshed, she mentioned a heartwarming development shared by her Anglo-Indian friend, Felicity, who lives in ‘far-off’ Mulund. The spirit of community living with strays was being played out in the truest sense,” Sir PM shared. Lady Flora was curious to know more about a new locality, and stopped munching from her box of salted crackers. “Go on, Pheroze; tell me more.” Sir PM continued, “Many shopkeepers and landlords of old-time housing societies take it upon themselves to foster streeties in their respective neighbourhoods. She spoke about how they offer them food and shelter near their establishments, thus ensuring they are safe and looked after; they also look into their sterilisation needs, medical treatment and timely vaccinations. At night, these doggos guard the area, thus creating a win-win ecosystem. Felicity also added how the trust between caregiver and the streeties goes a long way in also spreading the message to the rest. For example, an old-time cold storage and provision store that she’s been visiting since her childhood, not only nurtures this kind of atmosphere, but when customers visit, they too realise the overarching message of being kind to strays. I know it’s a small example in one corner of the city, but I am sure and I hope this is being played out elsewhere, too. These are tiny steps that go a long way in nurturing neighbourhoods and making all aware that they too are part of our population. Of course, like with any developing suburb, streeties are facing loss of space, with mega townships and towering residences that don’t necessarily welcome them…”
Lady Flora was listening intently. “I wish there are more Good Samaritans who understand the need of the hour, and spread the word that such simple, tiny acts of kindness matter most.” By now, the rain had thinned out, and the two doggos headed back out, not before showing their gratitude by wagging their tails and offering loads of PDA to the security guard. “At least, the common man is living out Mahatma Gandhi’s thoughts, when he said that ‘The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated,’ ” Sir PM signed off.
mid-day’s Features Editor Fiona Fernandez relishes the city’s sights, sounds, smells and stones...wherever the ink and the inclination takes her.
She tweets @bombayana. Send your feedback to mailbag@mid-day.com
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