We settled down on our seats in the train. It was a 17 hour
journey from Thiruvananthapuram to Madgao. An old man and a lady came in with a
6 month old baby and stacked about ten pieces of luggage under the seat and on
the upper berth opposite to our seats. It was a cubicle for four people. Ten
minutes before the departure of the train, a couple came in, brought a huge dog
inside and made it sit on the seat opposite to me. They were the baby’s parents
and the old couple, who had come to see them off, went outside.
I have a very strong olfactory sense and already I was
finding it difficult to breathe with the dog’s smell filling up the cubicle.
The lady and her husband told me, ‘This dog doesn’t bite madam. Are you a
Malayalee?’ I nodded my head. I was literally in shock, thinking how I would be
able to sleep with this dog sitting at an arm distance and making it difficult
for me to breathe because of its smell. I saw its hair falling, and saliva
dripping on the seat. How could I open
my lunch packet with all this around? Just unthinkable! My husband saw my pale
face and went out. I prayed that he would be able to find a solution.
The TTE (Traveling ticket Examiner) came in and looked at
the dog. “He won’t bite, sir,” the man told.
“You are supposed to put mouth guard for the dog in the
train.”
“We didn’t bring the mouth guard, sir”
The TTE went out and told my husband that there was another
seat vacant and would ask them to shift the dog. Within ten minutes the dog was
shifted and I heaved a sigh of relief.
Dog, a faithful companion
Dogs are undoubtedly faithful companions. Trained dogs are
very helpful for blind people. Police departments get valuable service from
dogs. Many people love hugging dogs and let the dogs lick their limbs and face.
There are three types of people in India when it comes to attitudes
towards dogs. The first category is those who value dogs for companionship.
They are especially evident among the elderly and the poor. The second type is
those who have affinity for dogs based on religious beliefs. The third type of
dog lover is those trying to emulate India ’s former colonial masters,
the British, whose military leaders “always kept dogs.”
One recent survey found that about half of all dog owners
allow their dogs to sleep on the bed with them. A dog’s chance of sharing your
mattress depends upon your age and sex. The highest percentage of people found
sleeping with their dogs are single females between the ages of 18 and 34.
Nearly 6 out of 10 women in this group allow the dog on the bed.
For most people, having a dog in bed is psychologically
comforting. The dog serves as a loving companion close at hand, and it keeps
you from feeling lonely or insecure no matter how dark the night. The same
survey also found that 13 percent of the couples studied included a partner who
so objected to the dog being on the bed that it had actually become a point of
controversy and emotional strain in their relationship.
Associated problems
Almost 62% of U.S. households have pets, and more
than 161 million of these pets are cats and dogs. Unfortunately, millions of
pet owners have an allergy (allergic rhinitis) to their animals.
The proteins found in a pet's dander, skin flakes, saliva
and urine can cause an allergic reaction or aggravate asthma symptoms in some
people. Also, pet hair or fur can collect pollen, mold spores and other outdoor
allergens.
Contrary to popular opinion, there are no truly “hypoallergenic
breeds” of dogs or cats. Allergic dander in cats and dogs is not affected by
length of hair or fur, nor by the amount of shedding.
Most people are aware that allowing a dog to sleep in the
owner’s bedroom is not a good idea. We are all aware that doing so may well
create many problems. First, we do not know the future so keeping dogs out of
all bedrooms is simply a precaution. Dogs that have a drive to increase their
position in the family hierarchy will often try to sleep in the master bedroom.
There are many cases where dominant dogs have attacked the male owner to keep
him out of the matrimonial bed as their dog demands to take on the Alpha male
role in the family pack. It may well seem funny seeing a puppy protecting the
wife from her husband but when the dog becomes older; such attacks do a lot of
damage.
A Washington Post interview with a dog trainer stated that a
dog in bed is "a sign the dog is completely in charge. Get the dog off
your bed. It can make a bigger difference than anyone can imagine." How To
Be Your Dog's Best Friend, the dog obedience manual by the Monks of New Skete,
advises letting the dog sleep on the floor in your bedroom, but never in your
bed.
Some would want to keep a distance.
There are many people, like me, who would like to keep dogs
at a distance. Yes, they are also beautiful creations of God, but so is every
living and non living object in this world. It is a personal choice to decide
with whom and what one would like to have a close contact.
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References:
1. http://www.dogbehaviouradvice.com/readarticle.php?id=159
3.http://www.academia.edu/193702/The_Relationship_between_People_and_Dogs_in_Contemporary_India
4. http://www.thatpetblog.com/2011/08/03/dogs-in-ancient-culture/
5. https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/canine-corner/201409/is-dog-in-your-bed
6.http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/heavy_petting/2004/11/go_ahead_sleep_with_your_dog.html
