The first time I saw the dog, it was standing outside the locked gate of a building two houses down from mine, staring intently inside and whimpering. I assumed it had been locked out by mistake. The next time, which was probably the second time we drove down that day with the stuff we were moving to the new house in the locality, I saw the same dog being chased by some strays.
With a dirt collar and a small length of metal chain hanging from it, it looked scruffy, but still too well bred to be a street dog. It is a local friend who dropped in the next day who told me the sad story. The dog’s owners had last stayed for a week in the building (which was a sort of guest house) outside which the dog now waited, and when it was time for them to go, they simply left the dog behind.
How do they do it, these dog owners, abandon a pet they have taken responsibility for, a pet that they have loved (I presume) and one who loves them and sees them as family? How different is abandoning a dog different from abandoning your human baby? Wouldn’t it have been better to at least euthanize the dog, give it a love-filled decent farewell, before they left?
The next day the abandoned dog was found dead, run over by some car or other.
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©Shail Mohan 2015
Shail's Nest 
The saddest thing is the bewilderment in the eyes of the dog.
Yesterday’s Hindu carried an Open Page write on the same theme. I tell you, why get a dog, if you cannot treat it like your child? Asking endlessly, in all the classrooms I go to, and I tell them the heart breaking condition that the dog finds itself in, I hope that it will at least let some of them make up their minds to stay committed, or not get one at all!
I have to steel myself each time I leave mine behind (in good hands, I must say). I can’t begin to imagine the bewilderment these babies feel, cared for one moment and out on the street the next. 😦
It is a commitment and those not prepared for it simply should not keep a dog. I know you understand this perfectly.
Looks like faith, compassion and humanity is becoming extinct….
I’m not surprised because it doesn’t happen only to dogs but people as well sadly. I just can’t imagine doing that with my (potential) pets. Having a dog or any pet is like having a child, companion, or whatever. The bond is so strong that you feel that attachment. Hate it when people think they are just “animals” and have no purpose in life. I understand that sometimes difficult situations arise where pet owners cannot keep their pets any longer, but it’s no excuse to just throw them out in the street like trash ! At least they can give the dog to a shelter where someone else can adopt it and care for it. Sometimes I wonder what has happened to this world and why faith and humanity has disappeared. No one cares about anything or the sake of others, even in disastrous situations. Only because now people are doing such similar acts to other people, even young children. Saw on the news the other day where an uncle who was supposed to watch his young nephew basically neglected him for weeks while the boy’s parents were on vacation. The poor kid who was only 8 years old was pretty much locked up and fed on ramen noodles while the uncle was out partying and drinking ! Another incident where a women who was crying for help as she was having chest pains in the middle of a HOSPITAL FLOOR and NO ONE bothered to help her or get her into the ER. Unfortunately she went into cardiac arrest and passed away. Where’s the humanity, compassion toward others? We should be faithful to EVERY creature on this earth ! I feel it’s shameful that our beloved animals, mainly dogs, have to teach people the concept of ‘unconditional love’, because humans can never love each other without expectations/standards. Hence I love dogs. Am sure I can learn more from a dog, than people! (But you’re an exception Shail, have learned alot from you :))
Anyway, speaking of that, a friend of mine have shown me a video, of what faithfulness should be like where we show love toward every being on this earth, even if we don’t know them. Luckily these Singaporean guys are some of the very few people who show faith and compassion towards those who are struggling and just need to feel love and compassion. They show this through taking in a stray dog who was extremely sick and was dying and made sure the dog was comfortable as he was in his final moments. It’s a powerful video and will warn you that it can bring tears, but I feel it’s a good example all should watch and follow. Loved this and hope you watch it.
Ugh! How horrible!! I see it happening all to often here too but at least there are many Humane societies that take in the poor critters.
Oh dear….that’s so sad, that it made me teary eyed !
For all the love they give so selflessly, this is the least the humans can do – find another shelter for the dog. Leaving it on the road with no where to go is such a terrible humanitarian trait.
I cannot understand this cruelty. Why pet a dog and then abandon it? I cannot fathom how people have the heart to do it. I have seen a similar situation in my locality when the dog was abandoned apparently because he was ill. The poor thing used to whimper and look around with bewilderment at all passers-by. My Mom used to feed him and even got him medicines…but I think the shock of being abandoned was too much to bear. 😦
I’m sorry I read your story. It was beautifully written but so sad.
Judy
When I think of my friends who will kill and die for their dogs, these stories seem so unbelievable. These people could atleast have given the dog to someone. Im sure there must be many who will happily adopt the pup.
Though I am terrified of dogs, I have many friends who have dogs (more than one some time) and they are so so attached to it. They are full of stories about their dogs. So much of love in their eyes for their dogs. When I say wow they say this is nothing compared to the way they love you.
A couple who broke up becs the girl is super scared/disgusted with his dog.
A friend of mine who wouldn’t go to sleep without hearing her Rocky’s wuff wuff. Another friend who went into depression when her dog Passion died (and bit my head off when I suggested she get another dog. Stupid of me, I know).
Another friend who has hour-long one-sided conversations with his Dawn.
One who refused to go to boarding school bcs she couldn’t bear to part with her Boss.
This one just breaks my heart…
This broke my heart. Especially thinking of the dog waiting there for them, with this hope that they’d return.