Ascent of Dog….
A young couple is walking by with their cute little Pomeranian. I am sure this puppy is bringing them all the happiness in the world. I have been doing dog watching for a couple of years. In Seattle, estimated 50,000 puppies go to offices every day. They accompany the office-goers to spend the day in the office. Dogs in New York are very different. They are majestic and very sophisticated like their owners. These pets have the ‘arrived’ look on their faces.
A few years ago, I read a book — The Ascent of Man, by Dr.J.B. Bronowski. He has beautifully narrated about the evolution of man and how the human being got culturally adapted to the changing environment. Youtube videos are available, and I recommend seeing these videos in case you have time. I am yet to find a similar series for a dog.
The pet dog has also evolved over a while. As I walk along the Hudson river, I see many pets walking by- Bulldog, Pug, Labrador, Beagle, German
Shepherd, Golden Retriever etc. They are on a leash, and the owners are carrying the small plastic bag for collecting the poop. In New York and other cities in the US, the owner is responsible for managing the poop and depositing in the trash containers. In India, the story is different. The land is free for all and dogs can relieve themselves at any time, and there is no restriction on where and how these pets can do the job. The owners are happy that they need not do additional work and that their homes are clean.
Interestingly, here in the US, the pets do not bark at each other. They are very friendly to each other, and there is some silent conversation among themselves. I am sure they are trained well to behave themselves when they meet their counterparts. They must also be wondering why human beings talk so much. According to the World Health Organisation, there are about 35 million stray dogs in India, and 20,000 cases of Rabies every year. Bangalore estimate is about 200,000 stray dogs and 3000 instances of Rabis. I am yet to find a stray dog here.
In Bangalore, when Vara and I go for a walk, we encounter at least 20 stray dogs. While Vara is happy to look and talk to them, I am terrified. There is a huge commotion when a dog enters from the other lane. The hell will break loose, and there is heavy barking on the street. Humans walking on the street need to run for safety to avoid any dog bite. There are also pet lovers in the community who want to protect stray dogs, and they have a powerful voice. There is a world of difference.
I am at the Museum of Dog located at 101, Park Avenue. The entire museum is dedicated to the dogs and managed by American Kennel Council. I learn that this is the only museum in the world for dogs. I had some difficulty in locating the museum. There are many exciting things to do in the museum. ‘Meet the breeds’ kiosk helps you to explore different breed’s features, traits and history. ‘Find your match’ helps you to identify yourself with a particular kind. For kids, there is a tour guide app. called Arty to go around the museum. There is also a 2000-year-old paw print, a 30 million-year-old fossil of a dog and a giant wire sculpture of a dog. There are several figurines, sculptures and paintings for dog lovers and this is a must-see museum in New York.
I learn from the literature that selective breeding by human beings and interbreeding has helped the evolution of the dog. Dog spas, clinics, recreation centres, classes, special saloons, food stores, dog parks and schools are good examples to show the attention the dogs get in the US. There is a huge business model built on pet care. Maintainance costs of a dog, such as grooming, vaccination, veterinary care, medications food are also alarmingly very high.
You could also read another story : No Dogs on Tybee Island Beach — Tybee Island, Georgia.
To end the story, my cousin provides me with an amusing anecdote. “ My hair cut costs US$ 14, my wife spends $US 100 for her hair, and I have to spend the US $ 200 for trimming and grooming of Peaches.”
