Man's best friend

Man's best friend

I had not focused on the issue of officially sanctioned massacre of street dogs in Bangalore as my previous posts on animals had drawm lukewarm or no reaction.But I am posting this today in response to a request received from the animal lovers of bangalore who have been active in protesting this cruelty against innocent animals. It is a sin to be silent when such things happen. Sometimes what is tragic is not the "strident clamor of the bad people but the appalling silence of the good people."

In this e-mail,Jeremy d'souza, an animal lover describes this operation:"thousands of animals have been subjected to death by strangulation, crushing their skulls with boulders after bleach thrown in the eyes to make the animal blind and docile."

These bloggers here tell you about the stories they heard during yesterday's march in bangalore protesting this cruelty in this post
"Everyone had a story to tell. Horrible stories. Dogs dragged out of their homes and taken away. Dogs killed in brutal ways. One man would block the drain once pups were inside and light a fire at the entrance. There is no need to describe what happened"

Animal lovers are not condoning the recent killings by stray dogs - but all we are saying is that there is a more sensible and humane way of solving this. Dogs have been on our streets forever? why is this problem so huge all of a sudden and why are the measures so cruel? Please also read a lovely post by Anita here on this. Sushruta's updates and startling revelations here.

If you feel that such extreme measures are uncalled for and with proper vaccination and sterilisation, it is possible to co-exist with dogs,please go and sign the petition here.

I have said this before in a post and say it again:
"Please raise your voice in protest against cruel treatment of animals for they cannot speak."

If you don't agree with me and are happy with the way the corporation and governement are going about this, I respect your opinion. But I am switching off comments as this issue is not open for a debate here.

I will leave you with a poem by Oliver Goldsmith:

Elegy on the death of a Mad dog
Good people all, of every sort,
Give ear unto my song;
And if you find it wondrous short,
It cannot hold you long.

In Islington there was a man,
Of whom the world might say
That still a godly race he ran,
Whene'er he went to pray.

A kind and gentle heart he had,
To comfort friends and foes;
The naked every day he clad,
When he put on his clothes.

And in that town a dog was found,
As many dogs there be,
Both mongrel, puppy, whelp and hound,
And curs of low degree.

This dog and man at first were friends;
But when a pique began,
The dog, to gain some private ends,
Went mad and bit the man.

Around from all the neighbouring streets
The wondering neighbours ran,
And swore the dog had lost his wits,
To bite so good a man.

The wound it seemed both sore and sad
To every Christian eye;
And while they swore the dog was mad,
They swore the man would die.

But soon a wonder came to light,
That showed the rogues they lied:
The man recovered of the bite,
The dog it was that died.

P.S: Other sites of interest:
Logicnothysteria
Bestfriends.org
EVANA
SaveBangaloredogs
Anirban