A walk for the dog: -310-

 Anyone, who ventures out for a walk in the morning cannot miss this spectacle. A pet dog doing its rounds, in the company of its master or mistress. The dog needs the walk to address its nature's call. The handler takes it out, not necessarily to get some exercise, but to avoid cleaning up the dog’s mess inside the house. ChintaMany had a doubt, as he has no pets in his house, do dogs need an exercise to start their bowel movement? 

The pet, a rare breed or prized possession, comes out suitably dressed, In tune with the season. A leather harness to rein it in and a truncated conical contraption to keep its nose, tongue and mouth in check. Whatever the breed, a dog cannot resist its temptation to sniff, lick and ingest the offerings in the street.  A funny sight for the passerby and an irritant for the pet dog! 

In matching attire, the handler comes out, prepared with a baton. This baton serves two purposes - to ward of other dogs showing a keen interest in the pet dog on leash or as a protective gear for the handler to ward of aggressive interest focused on him or her by similarly leashed dogs or the born-to-roam-free street dogs. Sometimes, the passerby gets to be greeted by other regular walkers carrying sticks of different lengths for their own personal protection from the leashed and unleashed dogs. ChintaMany always got the feeling of watching a drama within a drama and it never failed to entertain him! 

He added the following doubts to the earlier ones, about bowel movement of pet dogs. Why the leashed pet dogs behave in an unfriendly manner towards each other? Is it due to different psychological perceptions operating in different breeds of pet dogs?  Or is it due to some unsettled internecine dispute being carried forward in their D NA? What makes the street dogs to gang up in strength, to display their aggression? Are they trying to protect their turf from the uninvited pet dogs, who lead comfortable lives as opposed to their homeless existence? Or, these street dogs operate on their own set of rules in dealing with pet dogs? He hoped to get the answers for all his doubts by himself or in consultation with experts or from the pet dogs and street dogs themselves. He liked the last portion of his hope, as it would give voice to the canine breeds! 

To clear some points of a different nature all by himself, he decided to guess what it they could be.  What the pet dog in harness would be thinking during its walks? The sights, people and vehicles will not interesting for it anymore, except for being a constant fixture on the scene, The dog might take them for granted. Returning from the morning walk, the pet dog goes to its allotted corner and may decide to think about its life in a high-rise apartment 

“I yearn for the freedom to be free from the harness and the home stay, sometimes in leashes restricting movement. I can live without the shouted commands and controls over my actions. I have no choice to decide what food to eat, or about the compulsory visits to a doctor and a hairstylist to get a shampoo bath. But occasionally, I enjoy the pleasure trip by a car or two-wheeler. What is the use? The thrill of chasing a vehicle or marking territory on the wheels of an automobile, is beyond my leash and collar life. These are all the sore points in my dog’s life. 

Pangs of envy overwhelm me, whenever I think of that street dog enjoying the pleasure of freedom, though it greeted and scared me with its ferocious barking. Within seconds, he or she could gather a dozen friends to join for a team effort, whereas I am not permitted to freely socialise on that scale. Meet and greet are strictly on chaperoned basis. After doing all these, the street dog could roam free, eat whatever food it likes and sleep wherever and whenever it wants. It can perform its constitutional duties, anywhere and at any time! If only I could exchange place with ....” 

From a classic to the ordinary, ChintaMany came down to pry open the secrets of a street dog. What a street dog would be thinking about its life in general and about the perks a pet dog would enjoy, as an entitlement in particular? 

He was on solid ground here as he had witnessed many street dogs in different localities and under circumstances. He could easily provide an overview at the drop of anyone’s hat, because he doesn’t wear one. After belting out the ear-splitting barks, at the passing by pet dog, the street dog scampered to the nearest fueling station, a fast-food joint, expecting a morsel or two for breakfast. On that day, it waited for a long time to get something to eat. After the breakfast, it gives a short chase to a passing two-wheeler and then breaks   off to a shady place for a well-earned rest and to think about its life 

“I am a veteran of many dog fights - wounded, licked and still proudly bearing the scars. I can only imagine the comforts a pet dog might be enjoying at this very moment. On reflection, my life is a constant struggle with environment, people and other street dogs fighting for the same spoils - food and shelter 

Life in a high-rise apartment would not hurt my paws. How I would look wearing nice clothes, the leather collar and harness! Instead of chasing 4-wheelers and 2-wheelers, I will be riding in one of them. This dream often flashes by my rheumy eyes. Of late I am having difficulty in sighting things clearly. Will I ever get the chance to swap places with that pet dog, for at least one day?” 

From the perspective of the handler, what this dog walk means? Here, ChintaMany was on the same road as the dogs -in-leashes, he could easily guess whatever goes in the mind of the handlers. 

“It is a walk for the pet but a comic side show for the others engaged in similar routine, with or without a pet dog. Sometimes, why my pet dog is leading or dragging me and at times why I have to lead or drag it after me? What it irritates me is its uncanny ability to choose the terrain - a downward or upward slope with a wanton inclination, to force me to fight for traction and balance. Once in a while, I have to haul its rumps off from the ground, where it had chosen to do a sit in strike. It could have done these things (except nature’s calls) at home to spare me the trouble?” 

After his walk, ChintaMany eased himself in to a comfortable chair. He listed the key take aways from the walk for a dog: 

The handler’s physical constitution (strength) hating the pet's constitutional walks. 

Handlers hate their pet dogs (for the walk).

Pet dogs hate their handlers (for mishandling them).

Pet dogs and street dogs don’t like each other (status-based issues).

Pet dog would like to be a street dog (A Midsummer’s dream)

A street dog would like to enjoy the life of a pet dog (Alice in wonderland).