This morning I was taken aback to spot a well-grown senior citizen walking hither and thither on my street, totally confused. He appeared to suffer from some skin disease. He also seemed to belong to a good family abandoned on the street.

He looked dazed and scared at the passing vehicles and would not dare go anywhere near anybody. He felt the safest place was the ditch and so went into it, struggling all the way. 

Yes folks! I am talking about this Alsatian dog, which was abandoned by its heartless owner, just because he was old and sick. Wanting to help him, I fed him and it was pathetic to watch him eat and drink. God knows for how many days he had been hungry! How could people be so heartless and selfish? They want pets, as long as they are hale, healthy, ferocious and useful. The moment they fall sick and become useless, they dump them on the streets.

 This was not the first case. I have seen many dogs of various breeds roaming around the streets, rummaging for food in the dust bins and running away from the stray dogs, which scare them.  After having enjoyed comfortable lives in secure homes, imagine the agony that these creatures have to undergo to be orphaned all of a sudden!
 
What hurt me more was the fear of people around and comments like, “maybe the dog is rabid. What if he attacks us?  He needs to be driven away.” I called up the animal welfare organisation, Compassion Unlimited Plus Action and they were kind enough to send across their ambulance. The dog, which was already full of gratitude for me just for those few bread crumbs, milk and water and faithfully slept opposite my gate, though not trusting me fully to enter my compound, silently walked into the ambulance.

My heart sank to see the lovely dog looking out of the window with love and gratitude. I only hope he gets well and gets adopted by some good soul.

We talk so much of people not caring for senior citizens. But who thinks of the poor animals suffering when abandoned? Everybody knows how strays are treated. The rising number of old-age homes is a sign of illness of the social fabric and the family system! What can you expect from such a sick society?