Sando and
Lucky: Tale of two dogs who got lucky
World Animal Day falls on October
4
By Visakha Tillekeratne, Animal Welfare
Trust
It was a call of desperation, from
a kind lady living in the Nivasipura Housing Scheme
in Ja-ela about six months ago. She had taken under
her wing a big black teddy bear like dog with bulbous
legs and was feeding and caring for it. It had been
roaming the streets without food or water after being
dumped from a van, presumably abandoned because of its
swollen legs.
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Sando when he was in the Animal
Hospital |
But this Belgian Shepherd cross-breed
was only suffering from Filaria, which can be cured
so easily if detected on time. The Animal Welfare Trust
has named him Sando because of his strength and courage
to live and to love us in his own way without revenge
and retaliation, even after such cruelty from humankind.
Sando is in a class of his own – he fights only
with those of his own size but is so tender, like a
gentle giant, with puppies.
When Sando was taken over by the Trust
he was traumatized, as he should be. The Trust put him
into an animal hospital to no avail. For three months
he was in a kennel which provided space for him to turn
around and little else. He was not bathed properly and
the food provided was inadequate. The medication is
minimal. But he survived and came into a home-run little
shelter.
The change, thereafter, was enormous.
He is a happy dog, remembering all his social skills.
Sando loves to play and has taken on his role of being
a watchdog. The Trust found some wonderful vets who
have operated on his legs. He is Sando – a strong
dog indeed. Maybe he will find an exceptional home one
day. Now, Lucky is a different character. His pedigree
is doubtful -- maybe the offshoot of an offshoot of
a Dalmatian during colonial times, being predominantly
short haired, black and white, tall and long, a spare
and muscular frame, with elongated legs which enable
him to scale any wall. Give him a choice between a Rolls
and a David Pieris (three wheeler!) he would choose
the latter.
It is obvious that Lucky is from a
home where he has been loved and most probably taken
about in a three wheeler. If he sees one, in he gets
in, then onto the seat and then onto the back rest.
Lucky, the lovable dog is regularly up on his hind legs
giving anyone around a big hug.
Cruelty comes in different shapes.
Lucky got its name because he was one of the last rescued
from the “Killing Fields” -- the dog pound
in Colombo.
And the Trust has decided to tell
the story of Lucky and Sando as all the issues concerning
animal welfare, particularly dog welfare is portrayed
in their respective stories. Lack of responsible pet
ownership is the main issue. Abandoning animals when
the going gets tough is rampant. Sando is a case in
point – taking a pedigreed dog, without due consideration
to the gravity of handling and caring for such a dog;
lack of affection and kindness and neglecting the illness
of an animal. Even though there is a need to educate
the community, surely most of these issues come with
common sense.
The authorities need to wake up to
the clarion call of President Mahinda Rajapaksa when
he gave the directive – ‘No seizing, No
killing’. But do we stop there, or are we all
waiting for an increased explosion of rabies to have
an excuse to go back to our old ways of the kill?
What about cats? Cats as we know multiply
much faster than dogs and are more resilient. A creative
programme has to be put into place to control the cat
population as catching a cat is a challenging task.
A cat immunization programme is important. When there
are too many cats in a place like a market or a school
the usual way is for the CMC to take the cats to the
dog pound! Believe it or not. We have in our office
Tiffy and at home Pixie from the dog pound.
The Trust is discussing the pros and
cons of cat cafes and dog diners now. Do not be alarmed.
These would be designated places in hotels and restaurants
where scraps can be collected to feed and attract the
animal, which in turn can be trapped and sterilized.
Let’s take heed of what Mahatma
Gandhi said: “The greatness of a nation and its
moral progress can be judged by the way its animals
are treated.”
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