Street Dog Serenader

billyshake

I spend an awful lot of time with Indian street dogs. Some of you have followed the adventures of Susan, the boy dog who doesn't know I call him a girl's name because the dog can't speak English and, I suspect, he isn't very cool because he doesn't know Johnny Cash tunes.

Anyway, I had an epiphany this evening. The pack that lives across the street from my flat is made up of, in pecking order of Alpha to Omega: Karl who looks more like a medium size German Shepherd than an Indian street dog (I believe he was probably an abandoned pet); Sheila, all white and pretty and Karl's main squeeze; Two Tins who's black and runs sideways, then Gaja, then Sloopy. Sloopy is an old boy and I have a feeling that he had been Alpha a couple years ago in some other pack.

So I feed these guys two, maybe three times a week. I get old rice, some bones, and I buy a big bag of Pedigree (the only dog food on sale in my neck of the woods), then I mix these things together in a plastic grocery bag and take it out to the street. I always walk a block down to feed Susan first because he can't come near my neighborhood since Karl's pack moved in -- Karl will kick Susan's ass from here to Sunday. Susan doesn't have a pack. I think he's just plain to strange and stupid to know he's supposed to be in a pack. Anyway, I used to feel so bad that Karl wouldn't let the other dogs in his pack, other than Sheila, eat from the piles I laid down. I even tried to space the piles out so the others could eat while he was eating but he'd shit-rag anyone who came near any of the piles. I'm no bleeding heart, I know nature well enough to know this is just how it is. But it always bummed me out.

Tonight I saw a perfect example of why this pecking order with food is in place. Three big males came strutting down my street like they owned the joint. Two Tins came out to meet them first and he almost got his ass bitten off -- they weren't scared of Two Tins or Gaja at all (but really, who would be?). The intruders walked right into the driveway where the pack lives and started smelling around Sheila. Poor Sloopy crawled behind a big ceramic planter and pretended he was fallen statuary. Finally, Karl came out from around the corner of the building -- I believe he was pooping in privacy which I totally understand -- and went into a seriously vicious rage. He absolutely throttled the three younger, stronger dogs. It was very impressive.

From now on, I understand that Karl eats first and eats the most because he's protecting the lot of them -- even though he's mean as hell to Sloopy and Two Tins, there's no way he'd let anyone else screw with them. So even though old Omega dog doesn't get to eat much of what I give, I'm still doing him some modicum of good....unless you're one of those people who think I'm interfering with the order of things and doing more harm than good. I understand that point of view, but I don't agree. I love feeding the dogs and they're not becoming dependent on me because there's no rhythm to when or how much I feed them.

Still...anyone have any thoughts on feeding the dogs? I sure like doing it. I'm the weird white guy in my neighborhood who runs around petting and scratching street urchins. Eh. Makes no nevermind.

Hal

Sounds like your work gives something to both you and the dogs. I see absolutely no harm in it at all. There are times when "the natural order of things" is a worthwhile and noble cause, like for rain forests and endangered species. Less so for street dogs and polio and poverty, if you know what I mean.

PeakXV

Gees that was better than a 'Burgess Bedtime Story'. I feel a little sandy-eyed and ready to make that climb up the 'wooden hill' after reading that animated account.

Myself, I'm a little to worried about rabies to be hand feeding stray dogs in India but as long as you're careful & enjoy it .... go for it!

__________________
What lies behind us and what lies ahead of us are tiny matters compared to what lives within us.
~ Oliver Wendell Holmes

Don't go to India ~ Pre-trip Warnings & Misconceptions?

Nick-H

Rabies is not very common --- although it is a real risk. If I was spending time with the doggies, like Billie does, I would certainly get the jabs.

As it is, I spend time with mosquitoes instead

birds

Nice to hear your story! You are right, the leaders eat first and than the rest in order of seniority. Only exception are pups under 10 weeks, they are sometimes so cheeky they pinch the food from the big boss, which he tends to allow.

Feeding patterns are the easiest and quickest way for people with pets to change undesirable behaviour.

If the dogs are sterilised they would have had the rabies shots, so no worries. If not you may want to get the sterlisised? India has good facilities for that. If you call the Blue Cross they will come to pick up the dogs, sterilise and vaccinate them, and after three days or so, drop them back at your yard.

To do this contact:
The Blue Cross
Plot Number 403/9, Road Number 35, Jubilee Hills,
Hyderabad - 500033
Telephone: 2354-4355, 2354-5523, 3298-9858

People for Animals
1, Durga Bhavan, Rashtrapati Road
Secunderabad - 500003
Telephone: 2753-7542, 2473-8268, 98499-93374)

In principle it is done at no cost but of course donations are well received. Best to give those when they bring the dogs back.

You could also give them the rabies shots yourself, you can buy the stuff at the pharmacy, Rs.400 per bottle with 10 doses. 1ml per dog to be injected just under the skin in the neck.

But it would be better to get them sterilised.

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Of the estimated 500 million dogs in the world, approximately 75% are strays, of which about 25 million live in India.

drsacha

It is difficult for young kids growing around localities with pack of dogs mostly unsterilized. So much for animal welfare while the kids have no rights to live safe. Please do one more good deed, get the pack sterilized so that if the kid survives the vicious attack does not die suffering rabies.

__________________
Regards,

billyshake

Thanks for the info, birds. I have a feeling, however, that many of these dogs have been vaccinated and spayed or neutered because they ALL disappeared for about three days several months back. My Telugu teacher, who is also a veterinarian, says this is a program that does occur in the more affluent neighborhoods of Hyderabad.

As far as I go -- I don't know how long a rabies vaccination is good for, but I seem to remember it's a once in a lifetime thing, no? I had TWENTY shots directly into my stomach when I was about 7 or 8 years old. A farm cat got me good and they couldn't find it among the thousands of other farm cats so I had to get the shots. Damn was it painful.

I don't actually pet any of Karl's pack. They like to see me, of course, but they keep their distance for the most part and I never force affection on them. I'm quite content in watching them eat. There's something so damn satisfying about watching a street dog, normally accustomed to picking through garbage and fighting over scraps, eat a big helping of chicken, rice, lamb, and dog food (which I throw in for the vitamins). I'm going to look around at the markets next weekend for brewer's yeast, cod liver oil, garlic tabs, and powdered kelp. I don't know if I'll find any of that in Hyderabad, but I do know this stuff is great for dogs. I've been a "dog person" all my life -- not in that "Westminster Kennel" bullshit way, but the "have a farm full of rescue dogs" sorta way.

Oh, for what it's worth -- and should anyone be wondering -- the food I give to the dogs tends to be pretty stale food and not right for human consumption. I usually give my leftover biryani or fried dal and veggies to a family camped out near my flat. I don't know if this would work here like it would in the States, but I would LOVE to rent a simple room somewhere around the tent cities and do free tea and coffee a couple times a week. I worry, though, that people who don't need it may get greedy and come by, ya know?



You articulated it perfectly, Hal. When I was working with the ragpickers in Cambodia, you wouldn't believe the number of foreigners who actually believed -- and said as much vociferously -- that I was doing harm! That handing out rubber boots to kids who stand on a pile of methane-emitting, hypodermic needle-laden garbage, is turning them into a "dependent generation." Social Darwinists make me sick.

snowcrab

Right on!

__________________
http://indibliss.blogspot.com/

Haylo

WHAT vicious attack? You make it sound inevitable.

Anyway, sterilising is what you do to a dog to stop it from breeding, it will do NOTHING to prevent rabies.

This highlights something we were debating at last week's Cardiff IndiaMike meetup, the worrying lack of education as to the nature of rabies and its causes and prevention.

__________________
The world is mud-luscious and puddle-wonderful - E.E. Cummings, poet (1894-1962)

billyshake

You're right on that. It's a fact that MOST people don't realize that turning into a werewolf isn't like it is in the movies, it's actually pretty painful (though still very cool). I've tried to get the virus but it's never stuck. Until I can get bit, I'm using alka seltzer to make my mouth foam and a shaved down gorilla suit.

(I can hear my mother in my head..."Sometimes, you just need to shut up, Todd. You don't always have to say what's in your head."...Whoops, did it again.)

Haylo

Impatience, that's your trouble. You should KNOW that you have to wait for full moon if you want the full on lycanthropy experience to last.

You can, of course, practice your howling at any time.

billyshake

Does singing 'Werewolves of London' in the shower count?

Haylo

That partly depends on your voice. Do the other dogs start howling when you sing it? Remember to resist the temptation to shave your legs while showering. Every little helps.

(My mother didn't do so well on stopping me from speaking whatever drivel was on my mind either. Clearly.)

billyshake

Wish you'd'a told me that earlier. Sometimes I start shaving my neck and I just get carried away.

shahcharu76

i am an animal lover in mumbai, looking for homes for a lot of local puppies and kittens.
anyone interested in getting 1 home, please reply back.
@ billyshake,
though its good to help a few beggars, most of them dont deserve it. most of these people have become lazy, and dont want to work. a lot of times, i have tried asking them to carry a shopping bag for some distance and then giving them a packet of biscuits or so. but u know what they reply? when we get money sitting here, why should we work or carry ur bag?
next time, u want to help, i would suggest u rather get things for street children, who attend night schools and want to move ahead in life! there are a lot of ngos who need help, not only in terms of donations, but also things like pens, paper, clothes etc. i wud prefer donating things like these as compared to money any day!