We the humans know how bad it feels to face neglection. It hurts when one throws a straight no at your face. The miseries seem endless, troubles unending and we feel as if nobody is standing beside us as a support. We are shattered, lonely and sad. All the bright, wordly colours of life look bleak and dull.
Animal emotion is a complicated arena, but it seems the scales are slowly tipping toward the opinion that animals do have emotions, although some skeptics remain. The debate surrounding the scope of emotions animals possess derives from two main complications: the potential for anthropomorphism (humans projecting their own traits onto animals) and the inherent difficulties of studying emotions in nonhuman species.
Such emotions must have evolved out of a social necessity. Animals, once involved with others learn such social necessities. Hence a slight mistreatment from your side can upset your beloved friend. The relationships with pet animals are very mutual, we find a source of happiness, playing with them gives us a scope for physical exercising and the attention we give to them is returned manifold times through constant company they give us. Not only we talk to our pets without even thinking if they understand our language or are interested in them; animals when not in direct contact with us make up for a pleasant watching through their playing, jumping around and other surprising activities. Animals at home are a complete element of surprise because everyday we get to discover a new aspect of our pet. When you let down this very source of joy, you break its trust. Dogs empathize and sympathize with humans and in turn expect just a little encouragement from us, their masters. If we fail to provide so they become depressed since thy too need plenty of attention, care, love and time. If they are left alone and hardly taken outside for strolls, he is likely to feel and remain aloof. We, as the proud, responsible owners, also have some commitment towards them which we ought to fulfill other it will feel useless and unncessary to you. If someday you return home tired from work and your pet dog suddenly starts jumping on you, demanding to be taken outside for a long walk, we usually put it away. He does understands well that you will not take him out and will, instead move away with a bowed down head and a dejected heart.

Usually animals, especially dogs show attention seeking behaviour from their very puppyhood age. They communicate to us by showing actions or even barking, pawing at your hands, whinning etc which is perfectly normal. We try to stop their behaviour by yelling at them because we get annoyed. This discourages them. Like any other living creature, animals are also a basket full of emotions. When we, the all powerful humans stop them from channelizing their energy in the correct direction, they get depressed which at times may lead to an aggressive behaviour. This can later on become uncontrollable. Simply buying an animal and keeping it at home is not enough. Just bathing and feeding it daily and giving this the name of love and care is not enough. We become selfish and mean with the bonds we share with them. Do we take them for granted? Surprising to hear that we ourselves do not know this answer because we are so overloaded and preoccupied with our own worlds. Since we are their closest companion, we need to understand their psychology better. They have different needs, their own way or method of approaching things and their own workings of the brain. It may want to spend quality time with you to be happy and satisfied. It doesn’t like being left alone. When they do not get it, normally, they will react resultantly. Then, we cannot merely judge it as BAD or GOOD behaviour.

We vow to love whatever pet animal we bring home and when that vow is broken, the animal’s heart is broken. Animals love humans. Why can’t we love them back? Pet owning is a wonderful experience but if we are busy and as a result neglect them, we can never call ourselves ‘the responsible owners’. Maintaining a social bond with your pet companion is a lifelong process. So do not think that simply buying a pet dog and having a walk or two with it completes your task of showing generosity towards it. Training them, caring about them is also a good way to hook up with your pets. If you treat your dig like a showpiece meant only for decorating your household and not to treat it humanly, you simply don’t deserve to have them. Your pet will love nothing more than being commited to you for a lifetime. It will never doubt your love, your intentions nor be jealous or possessive. It will never get bored of you. It will not mind if you shout at him for minutes. Such a generous creature your pet proves to be. Such noble manners is he gifted with. The love from animals cannot be found elsewhere. It is said that animals constitute a small part of our lives but for them we are their whole lives. It will never demand materialistic things and fussing that you otherwise have to provide in case of others. All it needs is you to play with him often and give him some love. So, when, though you do not have to put in any effort to woo it, please do not neglect it by sheer means. Make your beloved animal feel loved.

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December 25, 2004.

Joanne’s family is highly ecstatic. It’s their first Christmas in the newly acquired sea-facing house in Ramanathapuram (costal village in Tamilnadu).  The house is filled with frenzied activity. Why only the house, the entire island was engaged in the week long preparations for Christmas and New Year. The smell of sweetmeats overpowered the smell of sea. Joanne was happy, but tired, because she hadn’t slept for nights together. She was yawning her head off. At least tonight, she was expecting to get some sound sleep.

Now three year old stray dog, was just a puppy when he had wandered into Joanne’s plot which was under construction. Joanne and her son Jason, had come to supervise the construction work and from nowhere this stray pup clung onto Jason.  He immediately lifted him and held him tight to his bosom. He named him “Josiah”. A cleanliness freak Joanne, still couldn’t say no to her son Jason holding a dirty little stray pup. As time passed by, she started to have an affinity towards Josiah. Josiah was a dog who found extreme pleasure in discovering leftovers of chicken that goes into the dustbin. Sophistication was never a part of him.

He was never cranky but a no-nonsense and happy-go-lucky pet. Yet, his behavior has been very unusual from today morning. He refused to eat anything. Even his most favorite dishes failed to tempt him. He seemed to be frightened with the sound of sea and would go nowhere near it. This was so not Josiah. Why was he avoiding water? Has he got rabies? This very thought, sent shockwaves down Joanne’s spine. Evening brought no relief too. He kept moaning and made curious noises. His disturbed movements assured her that something was surely wrong with him.

Approximately 1300 nautical-miles apart, on December 25, 2004, Max (a six year old golden retriever) also behaved peculiar. His moaning was gut-wrenching. His cries reminded Sukarno (his pet-parent) of the day he could never forget.

November 2, 2002

The whole Sumatra Island was shattered by a massive earthquake of 7.3 magnitude. It was followed by an equally devastating tsunami which washed away 994 buildings, killing 3 and injuring several people. Sukarno’s house couldn’t make it through the earthquake. Many of his relatives were injured and some went missing too. Max behaved in a remarkably similar manner, exactly on the day before the calamity rocked the island. The memory is still fresh and the wounds deep. Sukarno never wanted to see the furious revenge of nature again but he was not lucky and his wildest fears came true.

December 26, 2004,

Planet Earth witnessed one of the deadliest natural disasters. It was the third largest earthquake with a magnitude of Mw 9.1–9.3. The entire planet vibrated as much as 1 centimeter which triggered other earthquakes even as far as Alaska. Tsunamis in Sumatra are relatively rare despite frequent earthquakes. The ‘2002 Sumatra earthquake’ is said to be a foreshock, pre-dating the main calamity by over two years. Only if Sukarno had taken Max’s instincts seriously, he would have had a chance to survive which was not to be. Sukarno, along with his fellow islanders, were not there to see the next day and Max was orphaned.

Joanne could no more see Josiah’s quandary. But on a holiday season, the vets were in no mood to work. Joanne had no choice but to immediately pack off Jason and Josiah’s essentials to travel to Paramakudi (20km away from Ramanathapuram, Tamil Nadu), where her cousin practiced as a vet. Joanne didn’t regret her decision as she could celebrate Christmas with her cousin and Josiah too, was getting back to his normal self.

The next morning, when Joanne switched on her TV, she was shocked to know that the entire island where she lived, in Ramanathapuram, fell prey to nature’s wrath and none survived. Is it her concern for Josiah’s health or is it Josiah’s sixth sense that made them escape the impending danger?

Most of the pets and wild animals escaped the December 26, 2004 earthquake and tsunami. Well before the giant waves struck, elephants, dogs, horses, cats and birds (most of them being pets) moved to higher grounds in Sri Lanka and Sumatra; the same happened in Thailand. Apparently, dogs and cats ran up the hill tops, and at Galle in Sri Lanka, pet-parents were puzzled when their animals refused to go for their usual morning stroll at the seashore.

Another prominent incident happened in Haicheng (a city in China) on February 4, 1975, where the officials evacuated the residents shortly before an earthquake of 7.3-magnitude hit the city. The decision to evacuate was basically due to the fact that almost all inhabitants had observed ‘’progressively unusual activity’’ among animals like dogs, horses, cats, pigs, and cows, as early as two months prior to the quake.

The mankind which boasts of possessing sixth-sense, spends millions in scientific research, yet neither has it been able to predict accurately nor could it act swiftly wherein the ordinary animals who possess only 5 senses, foresee such disastrous calamities coming. Perhaps they are so attuned to nature that they pick up subtle vibrations or sounds in the earth, and may even respond to subterranean gases released just before the earthquakes, or respond to fluctuations in the Earth’s electrical field.

Even though there have been documented cases of unusual animal behavior prior to ‘acts of god’, many scientists are skeptical and dismiss these as ‘non-sense’ that people share, after any disaster occurs.

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What could be more rewarding than giving a second chance to a homeless dog whose family moved and decided not to take him along or one born a stray in an empty warehouse or give your love to a dog from an abused home. Whatever his story, there is a dog out there who wants to put his sad life chapters behind him and write a happy ending with you.
Adopting a dog from a shelter is another scope for finding a perfect partner at home. Do not fear of bringing a ‘damaged material’ to home. Shelter Dogs are often very loving and eager to win your heart. You are not only giving a grateful pooch a new leash of life, you will gain a faithful friend who will brighten your every single day.

I assure everyone that if you bring such kinds of dogs home, your life will change for the good. Arthur Conan Doyle once said that ‘a dog reflects family life’. Dogs make our lives complete. Its amazing how much love and laughter they bring into our world. They teach us about living each day with unbridled exuberance and joy, about seizing the moment and following your heart. They teach us to appreciate every single little thing- a walk in the woods, a fresh snowfall etc. As they grow old and achy, they teach us how to show optimism in the face of adversity. They show selflessness and above all unwavering loyalty. So why need a human partner when animals are so much better?

In today’s world, to be on the top requires immense hard work. Work for unending hours, no food, no quality sleep, no space, no outings and relaxation. In such situations, one craves for some companionship. Any kind of comraderie is welcome. One who listens calmly as you vent out your everyday frustrations, someone you can unabashedly crib to after a tiring bad day at work, someone who will never complain, always be there beside you, everyday, punctually, whom you can share your happiness and achievements with. They will never be angry on you, never backstab you, never show jealousy and will never fake this friendship. This is where a pet dog comes to your rescue, showering unending love, faith, honesty, loyalty and joy. There is no other source of comfort than a pet at home. Choosing the correct one according to your convenience is all that you need to do.
A dog remains on your side from the main door of the house, wagging its tail, jumping over-enthusiastically like it’s been waiting for long extended years. It gives you company as you contemplate the bigger mysteries of life. The best thing about dogs are that they know exactly what you need from them, they leave no opportunity to impress you. If you are in a happy mood, they will love to play with you. If you need comfort they will comfort you with a rub or a nudge. If you want solitude, they will switch on to become silent onlookers. They will give you all that they are capable of without irritating or disturbing you. A dog will follow you blindly. Whichever command you give, hey are always at your beck and call.
Dogs are trustworthy. You go out with your entire family, keeping your dog at guard; no burglar will dare to break inside. Your dog will sit bold and strong on the main entrance, with his big, angry eyes sparkling in the darkness,thus scaring away every possible intruder. Never will they think of coming back again.

There are many couples who plan to buy a new dog immediately after marriage. Since, they are always tensed about the safety of their newborn. Besides, there is also your dog who needs attention frequently. Whom to give more time? How to make the dog accustomed to this new family member? Your pet dog is an excellent babysitter. They are loyal and protective. Nobody’s going to hurt your baby when your dog is curled up around him. Your baby will grow up to become a wonderful person if kept in contact with your dog because they are highly inculcated with moral values which babies will learn quickly from them.
Dogs are also great friends of the elders. Growing old is an inevitable part of this journey of life which everyone undertakes. It comes with a reduction of worldly duties and responsibilities. But sadly, it also comes with a fair share of health troubles, slow recovery, onset of isolation, less quality time with the family etc. Pet dogs are the best effective way of combating lonliness and keeping the vulnerable heart healthy. Dogs understand them. They take love as well as give love. They bond up with the elders easily by giving a patient ear for everything they have to say and repeat and dogs respond sincerely. Your dog will make them feel wanted. They uplift their spirits, keep their morales high. They ensure their safety and comfort. Communication between the two becomes a regular feature of their daily schedules. Dogs treat the elders sensitively which keeps them calm; this is a proficient support system when the person’s health is degrading fast. Your pet dog is a passive companion to everyone who needs them the most.

So when you have an all-rounder doggy partner at home, independent, caring, honest and a good listener, why do you need somebody else? Because no other human being can assure you with the permanency of your relationship, but dogs can. Not a single person is trustworthy but a dog is. Every single person acts superficially but a dog never does. Every single person is bound to change but a dog? Now you know the answer.

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