Salaam to our stray superheroes

This picture has been used for representational purposes

Those handful of readers who follow this column will be pretty familiar with the fact that heritage happens to be the de facto favourite topic of discussion and debate. This time, I've decided to mix things up a bit, and talk about another kind of ‘living' heritage that is integral to our streetscape. Walk along, and you'll see.

My earliest encounter with a stray was as an eight-year-old. A large, plump pup, brown in colour, showed up at our doorstep [we lived on the ground floor of a building at the time] on a rainy day in August. He sat on the doorstep until morning, when my mother had opened the door to collect the daily newspaper, only to spot the adorable visitor, all drenched and curled up. Some warm milk and biscuits were immediately laid out for the fella. It was a school day, and I was torn between gulping down breakfast and snatching quick glances of the new guest who by now had snugly planted himself on that doormat as the downpour continued.

We decided to name him Jim Brown. It was oh-so-very Anglo-Indian, and pre-approved by my mother, also a dog lover. Soon, he became the darling of the neighbourhood, and took his role seriously - as a playful mate, walking companion, cricket match-disruptor, but most importantly, as watchdog. Our colony had a common pathway that was frequented by outsiders, thereby opening up opportunities for petty thieves and mischief-makers. This was the pre-CCTV era. Jim Brown never let us down, despite the fact that he was a few kilos overweight! That never hampered his lightning-fast reflexes. I recall so many episodes where suspicious characters would be alerted by his booming bark, only to be beaten black and blue by our overzealous uncles and their teenage sons. Jim Brown was always around until the show was done and dusted. We slept soundly at night because of this four-legged guardian angel. The only thing that freaked him out was a pomeranian who lived in one of the flats; he never could imagine how something so small could create such a ruckus!

Decades have passed since Jim Brown departed. After we moved homes, I was relieved to spot three strays make my new complex their home; what was even more reassuring was the fact that our residents, especially the bachcha party, were happy to take them under their wing by looking after them and of course, including them in all the fun and games. Watchful as ever, they are super-alert after dark, and are often the lone guards who are actually awake post midnight. Any suspicious looking individual - be it a delivery person or a vendor - even a new vehicle that rides in - is barked down upon by either one or all three until they leave the complex. Little wonder then that our designated security guards are best friends with them!

The reason to have shared this recollection and the more recent observation was to drive home the point of the selfless service that strays give us. While my complex offers them a safe haven, many are not half as lucky, where they are subject to awful treatment or beaten, attacked and whatnot. Recently, I had the good fortune to visit a kennel run by the Welfare of Stray Dogs (WSD) in Sewri. It's a shelter for abandoned doggies (and a few cattos) who've been rescued from the most heart-wrenching circumstances. Despite the pain, trauma or tragedy they would have possibly experienced before arriving here, the unconditional love from the welcoming party cannot be explained in words. And it feels like divine intervention that some of them get found by such animal welfare organisations across the city who care for them, cure them of their illnesses or injuries, day in and day out. It's a selfless act for selfless creatures. Yet, countless numbers still remain on our streets, hurt, harmed, uncared for. A wider umbrella of support is needed to make it a cause where more citizens are engaged in their wellbeing.

A new year often tempts us with new resolutions to make (and keep). Why not make one that will help care for a stray? And after you take the first step in that direction, the feeling is unparalleled. Trust me.

mid-day's Features Editor Fiona Fernandez relishes the city's sights, sounds, smells and stones...wherever the ink and the inclination takes her. She tweets @bombayana.

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