IT'S A DOG'S LIFE

Aww...Isn't that Sweet

(Caught these two Puppies having a 'Cat' nap in Odisha)

This is the second time I am writing about Man's Best Friend....DOG. Earlier it was a narration observed from my visit to Varanasi, but today I am looking at the phrase, "its a dogs life", or rather its misnomer.

Can't get any Comfier

This idiomatic expression was first apparently coined in the 16th century denoting a miserable and wretched life. But perhaps in Europe from the 16th century onwards, owing to migration, coupled with scarcity of food, which  fueled the spread of epidemics that led to human calamity,i may also have witnessed domesticated animals, in particular dogs, living in total misery and despair.  

The Majestic Look

Two centuries before the above, the French nobleman Gaston III, Comte de Foix in his book Livre de Chasse (Book of The Hunt), praised his hunting dogs for their  loyalty and intelligence, which  goes to say, "I speak to my hounds as I speak to a man, and they understand me and do as I wish better than any man of my household, but I do not think that any other man can make them do as I do." The esteemed relationship that Gaston has with his dogs speaks volumes of the how his dogs would have lived their lives.

Taking a Boat Ride Crossing the Ganges River

But alas man forgets this bonding, when he himself is facing a rut. Animals which do not have any specific economic value would probably be the first to be neglected. Hence in the 16th century when calamity struck, dogs probably would have been intentionally freed to fend for themselves, joining their already roaming stray cousins. 

With less food on the table for man, leftovers becomes even lesser on the street to be scavenged, hence the animals resigned to a woebegone look. So there you have it , "its a dog's life."

A Lazy Afternoon at the Ghats in Benares 

A week ago a friend of mine posted the news of his dog,  Max,   passing away, accounting for the very good times the entire family had with Max, and also their last effort in saving Max. Max was old and his time was up, but none of the family members were willing to let go. Despite the Movement Control Order (MCO) by the Malaysian government, all effort was done in a state of the art veterinary hospital to save Max, but old age had set in with organs failing, and eventually he died. 

Dogs at funeral pyre in Varanasi

The death itself saw  another process where an actual wake was conducted to see through Max's final journey. The entire episode was not peculiar to me, because I have witnessed such emotional outpouring and grief amongst dog lovers all over the world. When our Abby and later Krystal passed on a few years ago, it was indeed a very difficult moment for all of us. Such was the life of Abby and Krystal who not only brought joy to our lives but everyone in the family, showered loves to them as well. 

 

Our Abby

Our Krystal

Today we  have Aryan and Athena, the rascal siblings, who had their teeth sunk in about everyone's footwear, including yours truly's Italian shoe. Anger aside, but never blamed them, Greeja says, "it is your fault, you know they will do it, then why keep the shoes near them." So thus is the status of our dogs at home.  

Many may remember the TV series "Lassie " of the late sixties and early seventies, where this darling Collie would always save the day, or even the movie Marley and Me, where Marley the incorrigible Labrador retriever  stole everyone's heart.  These "celebrity" dogs are simply too profound to ignore how dogs have impacted us. 

My Life In the Guitar Case

When Greeja and I were in Japan, some years back,  the one spot Greeja wanted to go was to the monument built for the dog named Hachiko, at the entrance of the Shibuya Station. Hachiko was a golden brown Akita breed, that stood for loyalty to its human companion. Hachiko's routine was to send his companion, a Professor to the Shibuya station, in the morning and waits for him in the evening to follow him back home. On one unfortunate day the Professor did not return home as usual because he died of a brain hemorrhage whilst teaching and Hachiko for the next 9 years, 9 months and 15 days came to the Shibuya Station every evening, rain or shine waiting for the Professor, till Hachiko breathed its last .  This true story was made into a Hollywood  movie starring Richard Gere as the Professor.  Thus was a dog's life, a faithful companion till the end. You  may have also come across many other similar accounts of a dog's unconditional relationship with thier owners and human companions.

Hachiko Monument at Shibuya Station 

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When the locked down was announced, one of the first things we did was not to rush to the supermarket to purchase toilet paper (not that we use it anyway) nor stock up our shelf with dry food, but we actually went to the pet store to purchase dog food, so that we have enough to see Aryan and Athena through the MOC.

Aryan and Athena

In the city of Vadodara, Gujarat, India, Hansa Roy a former geologist with an Oil&Gas company, feeds 250 stray dogs everyday. Such good samaritans are found all over the world, coming from all walks of life. The current COVID 19 pandemic had placed most countries in the world under MCO, a such not only that samaritans may not be able to feed the strays but even the strays may find it it difficult to scavenge for food as most eating places have also shut down hence left overs may also be scarce. 

Did You Call Me?

In Chennai, Blue Cross of India is cooking food for strays and have contacted neighbourhood volunteers to avail themselves at various pick up points to collect the cooked food for strays. To this end the Chennai City Corporation and the police have been cooperating in this effort. In Mumbai the Anubis - Tiger Foundation have pledged to provide animal food to Ahwaaz Voice of Stray Animals, to areas that the regular feeders aren't able to reach. Thus are the efforts taken in several cities in India, in the midst of the current pandemic. Similar efforts are being undertaken in many parts of the world to take care of strays, and in particular dogs,  which constitute the biggest number among the  the stray animals. 

Socializing

Why India as an example Well on one hand, there are thousands of workers who are out of jobs owing to the MCO, seem to have it worst there. Struggling on a day to day basis depending on alms provided for by the government or any other good samaritan organization, these people are in one tight spot with no availing avenue for solution. On the other hand, concerted efforts are being taken comprehensively by civil societies to take care of the plight of dogs in particular. So in a way the the dogs appear to have a better patron than humans. 

Who is walking Who?

Dogs have had special bonding with man since they were domesticated about 15,000 years ago. However scientists have divided opinions on this, as some of them are pushing it to another 15,000 years. Whatever it is,  the advent of the 19th century brought about the Victorian obsession towards dog breeding that evolved to the existence  of  the many breeds we have today, thus the fascination also increased.

Let's Hurry Up

From the primadonna dogs of the well-heeled to the strays on the street, it seems a DOG'S life is better of then that of many people in the world.

Don't Worry I am Here

So do you think "it's a dog's life" still  holds the original meaning, or maybe in the 22nd century English lexicon, "I'TS A DOG'S LIFE" means, life could not be any better?



Ravi Varmman
0820
Subang Jaya
03042020