The feedback I often get on my animal-feeding/animal-rescue posts is
that it’s heartening and inspiring to read about people like Ravi and Manoj and Pratima Devi and the many others who are doing so much good
work. This is true, of course, but it’s important also to remember that
all this is a drop in an ocean. For every heartwarming story about an
animal being saved, there are dozens of other depressing cases where no
meaningful help could be provided: with RWAs and other residents
impeding rescue efforts, or the practical difficulties of getting hold
of a frightened/timid animal that needed medical aid, or weak pups dying
of Parvo.
(Too many
grisly stories to list, but it was particularly sad to hear yesterday
about a resident Mother Dairy cat — who had delivered kittens just 3-4
weeks ago — being run over late at night by one of the many
irresponsible drivers who are letting out all their pent-up lockdown
energy by zipping wildly down the roads. The kittens had only recently
opened their eyes and were very dependent on the mother; a local
cat-lover has temporarily taken them in to feed them, but I don’t think
she will be able to keep them for long.)
Which is all a
roundabout way of saying that at times like this, one has to still keep
sharing the good stuff when possible. Here are some images from the
latest feeding expedition to the Indian Garden Park. My Dogs in Saket project collaborator Moutushi Sarkar and I went along with some food, but organiser-in-chief Rohit
Chakrabarti had gathered a number of others together this time.
Youngsters from an NGO, as well as volunteers who work for the German
Embassy. A couple of them had come from as far as West Delhi, and it was
great to see the reserves of compassion and empathy they have at their
age. When I was in my twenties, despite my mother being such an
animal-lover, street animals were on the periphery of my consciousness —
I would never have taken this much time out for them.
There is a
video below of a few dogs swimming, hippo-like, in their private jungle
pool. And another one of a dog eating directly from a young feeder’s
hand, while another dog observes and learns (these forest animals take
some time to get used to the feeders). And the photo, a nice
composition by Rohit, has the alleged co-authors of the Dogs of Saket
book that is in cold storage for now (unless one ends up
self-publishing.)
P.S. As always, anyone who is interested in coming along to the Indian Garden Park, most welcome. Rohit tells me there tends to be a feeder shortage on Wednesdays.
Which is all a
roundabout way of saying that at times like this, one has to still keep
sharing the good stuff when possible. Here are some images from the
latest feeding expedition to the Indian Garden Park. My Dogs in Saket project collaborator Moutushi Sarkar and I went along with some food, but organiser-in-chief Rohit
Chakrabarti had gathered a number of others together this time.
Youngsters from an NGO, as well as volunteers who work for the German
Embassy. A couple of them had come from as far as West Delhi, and it was
great to see the reserves of compassion and empathy they have at their
age. When I was in my twenties, despite my mother being such an
animal-lover, street animals were on the periphery of my consciousness —
I would never have taken this much time out for them.
There is a
video below of a few dogs swimming, hippo-like, in their private jungle
pool. And another one of a dog eating directly from a young feeder’s
hand, while another dog observes and learns (these forest animals take
some time to get used to the feeders). And the photo, a nice
composition by Rohit, has the alleged co-authors of the Dogs of Saket
book that is in cold storage for now (unless one ends up
self-publishing.)
P.S. As always, anyone who is interested in coming along to the Indian Garden Park, most welcome. Rohit tells me there tends to be a feeder shortage on Wednesdays.
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