When stray dogs are given a home, where they are loved, and they love back in return, it is an experience that reaches out of the crude dimensions of life.
When neither for money or for any financial gain, animals are cared for with love and due respect, the person involved forms a direct link with something beyond the material world.
This feeling is not enjoyed by an employee of an animal welfare centre, as he or she would be doing the job for money like any other job, but for a person who is giving his time, energy and resources to care for animals that have no other place to go and need care, the experience creates a spiritual opportunity, an opportunity to link directly with a greater consciousness.
From my experience I also know that though many people may talk a lot about animal welfare as it is fashionable to portray oneself as an "animal lover", very few are actually willing to go through the trouble and expense of looking after stray and homeless animals in reality.
I never like to associate with such people and shun the company of such people. Reality is a day by day situation with a lot of hard work and constant care.
Our Jeev Raksha Kendra does not have servants as I find that reliable servants are impossible to get for this kind of job in this part of India.
Arup and I do the work ourselves. When I am unable to do so or Arup is not here one person has to do the entire job in addition to other work. Vaccination is also important.
Each dog has his or her own temperament and own character. Each dog requires personal attention and care. Problems come up every now and then and the problems can vary from tick infestation to the treatment of diseases. Proper feeding is necessary for each dog and the feeding bowls have to be really clean. Water has to be changed regularly for drinking purposes.
Cleaning has to be done twice a day, so it is all hard work. Yet, it is a rewarding work and the love, genuine and pure, that the canaine friends give us is worth all the pain and labour that we have to take to run this canaine welfare centre presently having fourteen inmates.
They have their own run about time in the garden and feel very much at home with us. Love creates a relationship that is without social hypocrisy or pretensions.
It is of no use to tell other people to adopt stray dogs as in northern India people are not interested in such work unless they get paid for it or gain a lot of social milage out of it.
In any way no one will care of stray dogs by doing the work himself or herself in this region of India. My own world free from the compulsions of social hypocrisies and pressures, accommodates the canine welfare centre with love and consideration within my limited resources and abilities.
by Prabal Pramanik