Things NOT to say to an Indie pet-parent!

I am a pet parent of 2 beautiful Indian mixed breed dogs named Ole Kumar & Thimpoo Rani. They have been adopted under different circumstances but I love them like crazy.  They are loving, caring, naughty as hell, rather brave when they need to be; all in all… a total catch!

Thimpoo Rani & Ole Kumar

Though now when I look around, I see more and more Mumbaikars adopting Indies, there is still a slight degrading look that many people give at humans who have Indie pets. I have had to encounter jibes like, “if you had to get a dog, why did you not get a foreign breed? Could you not afford it” – Yes I could, but I chose not to!!!

Some people want to sound very genuine, when off course they are not, “it is ok you got one, but the 2^nd one could have been a good breed” – Ummmm… No! My bachlings are perfect the way they are!

Then there are others who are blatant enough to tell me “Why did you have to get a roadie, they don’t look good!” OK..I was so pissed with that question that I had said, my dogs look much better that your face & I happen to love them… Needless to say, that ‘friend’ and I are not on talking terms any more.

It would be unfair, if I only glorified the negative side! I’ve known many who have gone ahead and adopted puppies off the road with the purpose of giving them a forever home and eternal love.

I thought I will check with my friends who also have Indies babies at home; whether they have faced similar issues and what is the one thing that should not be said to a person with an Indie dog (s);

Olive & Phantom

Radhika Borkar, pet parent to 4 adopted babies (2 Indies) has something rather interesting to say; “My mother loves my breed babies and refuses to let my indie babies come to her house, quoting that while the breed ones are more well-behaved and ‘Brahmin-like’, and the indie ones are the unruly ‘Dalits’. While her casteism related views are deplorable and hilarious at the same time, it also breaks my heart to see how people distinguish between pets too, on the basis of physical appearance. My indie babies are absolutely intelligent and loyal. They have a character of their own, based on random selection of genes. There is only one in this world like my Olive and Phantom. They do not conform to the regularities of any breed or any creed!”

Muttley

Shanta Nahar, pet parent to 5 adopted babies (4 Indies) says, “I would not like anyone telling me that foreign breeds are better than Indies. I have 4 Indies and a Labrador at home and they are all equally intelligent, loyal and loving!

Mr. Akdu

Bibhu Kar, pet parent to a beautiful Indie (Akdu) has an interesting point; He says, “4 years ago, a momma dog brought six little pups through our gate to keep them safe from the cold. One of them survived n became the most adorable member of our family. Mr. Akdu. I have no idea what breed he is, but he is the king of our home. A bit scared of big momma cats, playful with little kittens. Sometimes their protector from other tom cats, Akdu is a creature of diverse mentality. He is the centre of attraction almost always. He filled a void in our hearts and home, we thought we never had”.

As we see, not all but many Indie dog people have to face uncalled for comments regarding their pups. These reactions might seem funny in retrospect, but in all actuality, they are not! These poor babies deserve a home as much as the next dog. Plus having an Indian mixed breed dog/roadie/stray at home is like being an Indian in India;

• They know and are acclimatized to the Indian climate
• They are low maintenance
• You get same amount of love & affection as the foreign breeds (sometimes more because they are thankful for being rescued)
• They are as intelligent as the next dog so you can train them just as easily
• You did not waste thousands of rupees in buying a creature but picked it up with love and affection
• You gave someone a home and may be a life by adopting the poor animal off the streets, because not all puppies that are born on road live for very long.

The important point being adoption is always better than conducting a flesh trade of buying animals!