As you get home, the first welcoming sign is the family dog,
happily wagging their tail to expressing their happiness on seeing you. If that
is not enough, to show their excitement, you may even get the tip of your nose
licked as they stand on their hind legs to greet you. Known as man’s best
friend and the ultimate stress reliever, there are medical studies to prove
that dogs, and pets in general, can reduce blood pressure and depression,
bringing on a renewed zest for life.
Vicky Havanur from Bambolim is passionate about his pets:
Kitty, a Persian cat, Igor, a pit bull, and Olive and Bruno, both pugs. Living
in a house with a backyard, the pets enjoy their outdoor time. “Igor has bitten
at least ten people as he is very aggressive and doesn’t let anyone inside the
property. He only listens to me and my family. Kitty, Bruno and Olive are very
sweet and they have no problem with people. Pit bulls are protective by nature
and have to be trained before they reach adulthood. They are my stress busters
and it is great to see how they react to everything around them,” says Vicky,
who is just one call away to rescue snakes in the vicinity.
However, has cities are getting overcrowded and even
villages are changing their skylines, pets that once had wide acres to run
across, have to now adjust to apartments and leashed walks in the park. “Due to
personal reasons, my husband and I, and our dog, Boxer, had to shift from
Pernem to Panjim. Finding an apartment close to work was quite a task as most
landlords didn’t want small children and pets. They complain about the flat
getting messy and the barking of dogs disturbing the neighbours,” says Maria
Fernandes. But the family kept searching until they found a place that would
welcome Boxer; the search took two months.
Dollar, Sirach Ferros’ pug, enjoys all the facilities in his
owner’s Porvorim flat. The nine-year-old pug is well trained and enjoys his
freedom. “Pugs are show dogs so Dollar could easily adjust in the flat. He was
just three months old when he joined our family. He only barks when someone
rings the door bell or anyone gets closer to his food. We don’t have too many
neighbours in the colony and his bark is not that loud to disturb anyone.
Earlier, I used to take him out for walks but now he prefers staying at home,”
says Sirach, who keeps Dollar at his grandmother’s house when he has to be away
from home for a long period of time.
Pascoal Rodrigues and his family welcomed Zilli, their
labrador, to their St Cruz flat, eight year ago. Growing up with the family,
Zilli has never been on her own. “Zilli is taken for her morning walk and then
a walk in the evening. In the morning, we open the door for her and she runs
down the building. Everyone in the neighbourhood knows her. She has a bark for
every need, when she is hungry, thirsty and wants to go out. As everyone is
working, our jobs don’t allow us to go on family vacations but whenever we
visit our village, St Jacinto, we take Zilli in the car. She get fidgety but
once in the house, she is comfortable,” says Pascoal. Though Zilli barks when
someone enters the flat, the neighbours are now used to her. “So far, we havn’t
received any complaints from the neighbours. They too must feel safe with her
barking,” adds Pascoal.
This goes to show that more than the locale, what a pet
really needs is a loving family. This World Animal Day, give your loving pet a
special treat and a hug as warm as the one he gives you… All they want is time
and love.
