Stress
and Joy of Keeping a Pet
"Dogs
have given us their absolute all. We are the center of their universe. We are
the focus of their love and faith and trust. They serve us in return for
scraps. It is without a doubt the best deal man has ever made."
– Roger A. Caras
More
than three decades back, when I reached our home from office in the evening of
hot June of Delhi: my wife came running from the other end of the street and said;
that one of our neighbours a little far away had expired that evening: I wanted
her to confirm that it was not he but his father who was old enough and
suffering from many ailments had expired: which did not prove true. We went
again to offer condolences and express grief to the bereaved family. What we
found to our surprise that his pet a small sparkle white dog was sitting near
the dead body with watery eyes in silence as if he knew what had happened. Days passed all rites were over and the pet
was always present. People, at home, subsequently told that the pet never took
food once the father figure had passed away and finally in ten days or so he also
passed away: obviously in grief of his keeper. That is how the pets behave some
time. This is not the sole instance I have seen, there have many more. There
has been one thing common in all – the love and loyalty - hall mark of the
world of dogs.
Hindus
believe that dogs are able see the Lord of Death before he arrives and perhaps
they are right. Dogs produce a peculiar bark as sign of such forthcoming
happenings and many people do not allow them to do so. It is God’s pet also and
scriptures say that it accompanied The Dharmaraj Yudhister alive to the Heaven.
Some people feed them regularly or otherwise to set their stars particularly
those intended to create hindrances in life, in order.
Two
years back nuclear family of my son living separately in the upper portion of
the house, one day told us - the two oldies living on the ground floor, that
they have decided, after a long deliberation among themselves, to have a pet: a
dog at home. Both of us were not in favour, simply because a pet means looking
after a being double the trouble of a human, unable to explain and express and
that it would increase burden of work on my son who is always hard pressed for
time being to look after two oldies, his wife and daughter, his son the sixth
member of the family being already away for engineering course. But we could
not prevail: they had their say as it happens these days wind blows that way. A
Golden Retriever male puppy lovely and cute one month young entered our home as
the seventh inmate and named Rambo meaning - an exceptionally
tough, aggressive man. This was the first ever entry of a pet in our home.
It
brought a bundle of activities with him almost for whole of the nuclear family
and occasionally for us too. Quickly we understood that voice of his bark was
different at different occasion, warning of a stranger, calling for somebody near,
want to eat and so on. It is how they communicate. In fact, a pet at home means
looking after an equivalent of at least two human beings. It has been so loving
and intimate that in winters it used to sleep in the quilt along with the my
grandson and grand-daughter and whenever it happened to be with us it would
jump to our lap but without a bite: always ready to eat if given bites as we
give to our own young children: enjoyed the massage of his ears, head and body
too, in such a situation how a human being with a heart can refuse his love: he
would hold the arm of the family member in his jaws without a bite and would
like to hug or be hugged. Slowly and also with training his aggressive style
has gone and now he is more gentle and behaves. He is looked after more by our
granddaughter than anybody else: our daughter-in-law still continues to be
afraid of him, despite him having given up his aggressive style of showering
love and affection.
He
was given number of vaccinations like children to save him from ailments and
also to protect our own family against inadvertent dog bite which did happen
and all the four of nuclear family got themselves the vaccinations.
One
fine morning my son found that there was a big mount on the back of the pet, a
cause to worry, when checked up with the Doctor he advised for a test for
malignant growth, it increased tension many fold in the family. Anyhow we got
the test done and when report came it was a sigh of relief that confirmed that
it was a benign growth and then the Doctor treated him accordingly: now he is
healthy but scar is still there.
Whenever
we have to go out for a few days first issue to be sorted out is how to arrange
for Rambo. If it is for a day or so we the oldies can manage the show because
his sleeping behavior is good: as soon as the lights are off firstly he pretends
and then actually sleeps but is always awake at the slightest noise or
disturbance and whenever we get up for washroom he would peep and then fast
asleep. When we are out for a week or so and he can be taken in the car he is
first to jump and occupy his place and would go to ease himself only at the end
of the journey. When he cannot be taken along with the family then can be sent
to Kennel Creech but it is costly affair may be as high as Rs.2000 a day: but
his single visit for a week have made him more humble and well behaved.
Keeping
pet clean is a big exercise. Occasionally he is taken to a Doctor for bug
removal. He is given a bath every week with a shampoo, he enjoys the bath
particularly in summer, the shake he makes thereafter makes one to take bath
again: so normally whosoever gives him the bath, takes bath above after the
prince has taken his turn.
Rambo
is friendly; likes to sit with the family and does what others in family do;
keeps the atmosphere lively full of activity.
"The
greatest fear dogs know is the fear that you will not come back when you go out
the door without them."
– Stanley Coren
In
fact, that fear of dogs is genuine as many a times when the dog is too old or
has some disease incurable, people leave them to die in open.
"Everyone
thinks they have the best dog. And none of them are wrong."
– W.R. Purche
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