BoBo the wild dog
There are wild packs of dogs all over India. Literally everywhere, practically on every street corner. If you're in a particular part of town, you might even see packs patrolling the area. They own it much like a gang and they are fiercely defensive. I've never been afraid of them, but I could see choosing to walk across the street or take another road home if I was alone at night.
Well, outside of Aditi we have two dogs. One is an unnamed female that is pretty skittish and the other is a male we've taken to calling "Bo Bo." He's a mangy dog. Brown, unkempt, his ear clipped to signify that he's been neutered to prevent breeding more wild dogs. He smells and when you pet him you can tell he has spent more than a few months in between baths.
These two dogs own our building, and they trust the people working there, just not the other people on the other side of the small hedge-- or any other dogs. They will often times play with each other (the two that hang out there) but will aggressively defend the corner from anything that they perceive as a threat. Regardless if it's a large cement truck, a errand boy with food, the pizza guy on a moped- you name it.
I remember fondly my cat, Pidders, that used to come home beat up from a long night of abusing cats that dare come into his territory, so I understand, in a way, how it goes.
Wild dogs are not treated kindly in India. When one has a litter of new born pups, they are kicked and abused without hesitation. They're a nuisance to most people and it's understandable in a place where food is scarce and there is a lot of poverty to compete with. Still, it breaks my heart to see a little puppy yelp at the hands of another.
Anyway, needless to say, no one at work really pets them or anything despite them always being there. I have a hard time getting angry at animals, so I immediately started treating Bo-Bo nicely. As one would suspect, BoBo was untrusting at first and very hesitant, but eventually he got over it and nudged up against me. I leaned down to pet him and he just about died. He wanted love SO BAD. He sat back and put his paws up on my leg and was as patient as I've ever seen an animal be. I scratched his ears and pet him, though he was smelly and dirty, he obviously just needed some attention.
Now it's been a few weeks and I go to visit BoBo regularly on breaks. He's always patient, never disobedient (he stays outside when we go back indoors, despite the front entrance being wide open), and seems happy to see me.
BoBo, my animal friend away from home.
Well, outside of Aditi we have two dogs. One is an unnamed female that is pretty skittish and the other is a male we've taken to calling "Bo Bo." He's a mangy dog. Brown, unkempt, his ear clipped to signify that he's been neutered to prevent breeding more wild dogs. He smells and when you pet him you can tell he has spent more than a few months in between baths.
These two dogs own our building, and they trust the people working there, just not the other people on the other side of the small hedge-- or any other dogs. They will often times play with each other (the two that hang out there) but will aggressively defend the corner from anything that they perceive as a threat. Regardless if it's a large cement truck, a errand boy with food, the pizza guy on a moped- you name it.
I remember fondly my cat, Pidders, that used to come home beat up from a long night of abusing cats that dare come into his territory, so I understand, in a way, how it goes.
Wild dogs are not treated kindly in India. When one has a litter of new born pups, they are kicked and abused without hesitation. They're a nuisance to most people and it's understandable in a place where food is scarce and there is a lot of poverty to compete with. Still, it breaks my heart to see a little puppy yelp at the hands of another.
Anyway, needless to say, no one at work really pets them or anything despite them always being there. I have a hard time getting angry at animals, so I immediately started treating Bo-Bo nicely. As one would suspect, BoBo was untrusting at first and very hesitant, but eventually he got over it and nudged up against me. I leaned down to pet him and he just about died. He wanted love SO BAD. He sat back and put his paws up on my leg and was as patient as I've ever seen an animal be. I scratched his ears and pet him, though he was smelly and dirty, he obviously just needed some attention.
Now it's been a few weeks and I go to visit BoBo regularly on breaks. He's always patient, never disobedient (he stays outside when we go back indoors, despite the front entrance being wide open), and seems happy to see me.
BoBo, my animal friend away from home.