Samit

In Mayurbhanj, Odisha, a street dog saved the lives of 30 children. A snake was in front of them, ready to strike at any moment. Just then, the dog leapt onto the snake, fought it, and killed it—but died itself from the snake’s bite. People harbor intense hatred toward street dogs. Most of these dogs wander around hungry. They approach humans in search of food, but people mix poison into the food and feed it to them. Foam rises from their mouths, and the dogs die. They are beaten; their legs are broken; vehicles are deliberately driven over them. The dogs die. People keep foreign breeds as pets in their homes, while native dogs lie starving on the streets, and it does not bother them. Hundreds of local dogs are poisoned and killed, and no one seems to care. To me, helpless, starving street dogs and cats are more valuable than humans. If I could, I would shelter them all, give them good food and comfortable beds. I do not want to see any dog or cat on the streets. I want to see them resting peacefully on soft sofas and beds inside homes. Those who do not love dogs and cats—who beat them or poison them to death—have very hard hearts. I fear them. I fear them more than I fear venomous snakes.