Sunday, November 11, 2012

Lunacy or sainthood ?






India has tens of millions of stray dogs. Life for most of them is brutish, violent and short. A daily battle for survival on the hectic streets. Most are thought to be rabid.  Across the country some 20,000 people are estimated to die from rabies bites every year. Frightened dogs lunge out when cornered, attacked or taunted.  Packs form. In the last few years the population of street dogs has been further swollen by middle class families abandoning their pedigree pooches when they tire of looking after them. Nothing sadder than the sight of an abandoned labrador wandering the streets, head down. Nobility brought low. Better never to have known love.

The saintly little Jain lady who runs the animal hospital is undaunted by all this. Barely five feet tall and wrapped in layers of clothing that keep out the early morning cold she patrols the streets.This is when the traffic is lightest and the dogs are at their most active. Broken glass removed from a paw here, an eye cleaned there, Frontline applied to a coat teeming with fleas, a puppy taken back to have its broken leg set, a runover dog in the gutter feeling human warmth for what will be the first - and last - time . The government helps pay for sterilizations but in a country this size it's hardly a priority for funding.

The wildest of dogs look calmly into her eyes. A form of communication that defies western verities. The Jain lady claims that souls talk through the eyes.  Love for the unloved and unlovable.

Angus , Presbyterian through and through, wants her to set up a registered charity so that she can receive donations and employ more staff. '' The way things are at the moment you're only scratching the surface ". The little lady looks back uncomprehendingly.  ' Ah ! But at least the surface is being scratched '.

Lunacy or sainthood ?




24 comments:

  1. I suspect that rather a high proportion of humans later canonized as saints were during their lifetime regarded by many as lunatics.

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  2. Sainthood, but she doesn't care about it, I am sure.

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  3. I have to be honest. I don't know if I could ever travel to India because of the dogs. My heart goes out to them, and those like 'the saintly little Jain lady,' who aren't able to help all of the dogs, but are making a truly difference to the ones they do--In my book, she's truly a Saint and truly a gift.

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  4. The tears are falling..that is so sad for all those dogs. I knew the stray dog population in India was a problem, but somehow read through your eyes makes it even more real.
    The little Jain lady is a Saint in my book, no sign of lunacy at all.
    If you could persuade her to set up a Paypal account for donations, I would be the first to send in a donation, or maybe you can create one on your page for this purpose...just a thought.
    My prayers are with her and all those dogs, who she is scratching the surface to help.

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  5. When I think about all the suffering animals endure at the hands of humans, and the dogs and cats that are abandoned, unloved, and euthanized en masse, the world seems a very cruel place. Thank God there are still people like the little Jain lady. Your post reminds me of the parable where two people are walking along a sea shore that is littered with millions of washed up starfish. One of them is picking up starfish and throwing them back in the water. The other asks: "Why do you bother? There are so many, it doesn't make a difference." The first one looks at the starfish he is holding, and before throwing it into the sea, he says: "Makes a difference to this one."

    Definitely a saint.

    Purple Magpie and Mitzi the Dog in California

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  6. Like Kim at Golden Pines, travelling to countries like India and China would be too distressing for me because of their animal welfare issues. Thank goodness for that lady, who makes such a difference for those little souls she comes in contact with.

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  7. So sad for those dog's lives. Definitely saintly.

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  8. What a beautiful woman to do what she can for the dogs she comes across. It also reminded me of the starfish story. It matters to that one dog that gets to have some loving contact. I am having a hard time even writing this as tears keep coming up. I would certainly donate to this woman and the dogs she helps. Perhaps a charity set up in a certain dog's name?

    Thank you for sharing this story.

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  9. no words.
    she is another mother teresa. only for dog souls. i see no lunacy in her. only courage and love.

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  10. Such a tragedy for the poor innocent dogs. Such an inspiring example of the best in the human spirit for the courageous Jain lady.

    Not too far from our shores...in a beach community in Puerto Rico...a similar story. Stray dogs and a devoted woman who tends them daily.

    Saints among us.

    Joan

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  11. A heartbreaking and horrific situation. I am stunned and so very very sad.
    Saint, most positively.

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  12. A kind soul. You could always er umm say get an address for people to send her small donations to help with her dog care. For good cause it really doesn't matter if it is tax deductible or not, so long as funds are used for the matter intended.

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  13. My heart actually hurts! Is there any way you could help her set up a charity? I know donations would pour in from all your faithful followers.

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  14. Go Angus go - all the way with you and the charity! Ever seen 600million.org - about sterilazation with a biscuit? There are about 600 million stray dogs on this world - I should tell that Kiri who now the it is autuum is bored in the house and empties my cupboard. Hope to hear more of Mother Theresa for dogs. Glad you are home safe - Lady Font, too.
    Best dogtailwishes Susanne, daisy, Foxiie and Kiri

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  16. Your post today breaks my heart but yet I am happy too because at least these poor animals have this precious woman in their lives.

    Blessings,
    Janelle, Maggie Mae and Max

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  17. the Jain lady - Saint; the dogs - sad, so sad and your photographs eloquent. Let us know either about the charity or an address to send to; don't care about tax deduction...thanks for opening my eyes and heart yet again.

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  18. A saint without a doubt.
    Humans are judged by how they treat each other and their animals and in some places we have nothing whatsoever to be proud of.
    We can't as individuals solve the world's problems all by ourselves but that shouldn't deter us from doing our bit, however small.

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  19. Heart-breaking! If there is a way to send money to her, please let us know.

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  20. Oh God.
    This made me hug Edward and Apple even tighter.
    Tears my heart right into.

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  21. A kindred spirit to Ghandi, who so wisely said 'You can judge a nation by the way it treats its animals.'

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