Ode to dogs, cats and being humane in Bangladesh

I have long been bothered by a unique form of guilt.

My dog, a 7-year old Japanese Spitz, has been forced to live within the bounds of my human world.

People do horrible things to animals. Seeing a horse being beaten by his carriage owner on a roadside in Uttara, while on my way to work, made me go into fits.   

So to ensure no harm came to my dog, I left her with very few prospects of socialising with four-legged friends. The fact that she shuns the company of other dogs alarmed me even more. 

Overwhelmed with the fear that my mothering has turned dear Puggie into an imbecile, I looked for a way to find her friends.

A day out for dogs and cats organised by Obhayaronno at Dhaka's Gulshan Ladies Club on Friday.

I’ve always known about Obhoyaronno – the animal welfare organisation headed by Rubaiya Ahmad, which after three years of tireless effort, stopped Dhaka city authorities from killing stray dogs in 2012.

They were holding a ‘Doggy and Kitty Day Out’ at Gulshan Ladies Club Park on Friday, so it was my chance to see them at work more closely.

 Like a nervous parent who takes her child on her first play date, I stepped into the event arena. Being an animal-lover, above everything else, I revelled at the sight of so many furry friends and their human companions, unlike my dog.

Moving on, I was looking through what Obhoyaronno had in store for the day.

Five puppies were lying peacefully within a playpen while children petted them carefully. By noon, four of them were adopted.

A day out for dogs and cats organised by Obhayaronno at Dhaka's Gulshan Ladies Club on Friday.

A grooming station was ready for cats and dogs.

Snacks of various kinds, pet accessories by Jatra, T-shirts and buttons were up for sale.

A puppet show and live music were also on the way. Dhaka owed its ‘no-cull city’ status to Obhoyaronno and it was having its first fundraiser.

 Among the attractions, was a photo booth with Shadhu, a three-legged dog, but I could barely tell before my sister pointed it out.

A couple had rescued him from Karwan Bazar in 2014, said Habibullah, who held his leash. They brought her to Obhoyaronno’s only clinic in Mohammadpur’s Bosila. Shadhu had probably been run over, he said. His leg caught gangrene and had to be amputated at the clinic.

Puggie could not be allowed to miss a photo opportunity with this spirited survivor.

A day out for dogs and cats organised by Obhayaronno at Dhaka's Gulshan Ladies Club on Friday.

Habibullah, approximately in his 40s, is a dedicated worker at the Bosila clinic where 15 dogs were getting free treatment now. “I have 12 more dogs and cats at home.”

He called to me quickly saying the couple who rescued Shadhu was there. Hasib and Rumana Rahman surely deserved praise.

 “We saw him lying injured when we were both going to work at Karwan Bazar. He was still there when we were coming home and we both decided to take him to Obhayaronno’s clinic, the only place we knew,” said Hasib Rahman.

“No CNG or rickshaw would take us. One agreed after we offered extra fare, but the driver kept complaining saying the dog was filthy and made us get off at Asad Gate. But thankfully another came along and agreed to take us.” 

We were surprised to see him so healthy and happy just a few days after we dropped him off to the clinic, said Mrs Rahman, as she patted Shadhu.

I was waiting to congratulate Rubaiya Ahmad, who spearheaded the cause to protect animals after her dog ‘Kashtanka’, vaccinated and wearing a collar, was killed in an anti-dog drive by the city corporation in 2009. Ahmad was then working with the UNDP.

A go-getter, Rubaiya had roped in the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Humane Society International (HSI), the US-based orgnisation that works on animal protection issues.          

 

A day out for dogs and cats organised by Obhayaronno at Dhaka's Gulshan Ladies Club on Friday.

“This was my revenge,” she said. “They used to kill adult stray dogs by injecting them with magnesium sulphate and bash puppies to death against their vans to save costs.”

“The authorities already knew their process wasn’t working to stop rabies or anything. So after a lot of help, we eventually convinced them that these dogs be vaccinated and sterilised instead.”

She credited senior officials in the local government for their help and especially Gowher Rizvi, the prime minister’s international affairs adviser, for lending huge support and calling Obhayaronno’s initiative ‘his favourite’.      

But sterilisation was expensive, she said, and the HSI paid for the first 1,000 dogs. 

 Since then, Obhayaronno has vaccinated and sterilised 10,000 free roaming dogs in Dhaka, besides rescuing hundreds of puppies and kittens from all over the city.

In 2014, it secured a High Court order to ban dog-culling, bull-fights, goat-fights and cock-fights all over Bangladesh, besides getting the legislation on animal cruelty redrafted and submitted.

The vaccination drive covered 33 Wards, all in North Dhaka.  Sixty more Wards were still left in the capital to cover.

Street dogs that have been vaccinated can be identified by their nipped ears, Habibullah had reminded me.

“But one clinic isn’t enough. We need two CNVR (catch-neuter-vaccinate-release) setups. We are also working to set up a proper private clinic with all facilities by next year.” 

For this, Obhayaronno will be working in coordination with the HSI, who for the first time will set up a chapter in Bangladesh and stay for two years, said Ahmad.

I asked when other stray animals in other Bangladesh cities will get help. “We’ll have to finish here and move to other parts.” 

 It was noon by the time our conversation ended. I’ve been listening to people who brought their Deshi dogs, Labradors, lhasas, Collies and Shih Tzus and got insights on how animal companions can teach kindness and responsibility.

Most of these visitors had grown up seeing plenty of dogs and cats being nurtured by their families.

Some said they faced comments, prejudices and had to change apartments because most had no-pet policies. These were experiences shared by me and my pet dog as well.

Even though she chose to remain a snooty princess on her play date, after a day seeing Obhayaronno at work, it felt good to have met the right pack.