With thanks

Mad Dogs Trust would like to thank APARNA, KRISHNAN and SAVITHRI for their very kind donation  given in memory of their dearly loved JIM. May his memory bring a smile to your faces.

We hope to see you soon.

Vishnu – Lost and found…..

Friday morning I got a frantic call from Penny informing me that Vishnu was not be found anywhere. I spent the day worrying about his well being and was immensely relieved that night on receiving an email from Penny saying that Vishnu has been found.

In Penny’s words this is what actually happened:

“Got up Friday morning, did not see Vishnu anywhere. During breakfast – no Vishnu. Called for him all over the house – no Vishnu. Looked around Breach Road – no Vishnu. Went up and down Fort Kochi on a motorbike – still no Vishnu. Then I even learnt how to make a poster (which I planned to distribute, offering a reward to anyone who found him), worried sick as Vishnu is very shy and timid, maybe frightened and hiding somewhere. At the end of the day I was back to my room absolutely exhausted and there was Vishnu, sleeping peacefully under my bed.”

I burst out laughing as Penny ended her story on a very serious note. “I am not amused,” she said gravely.  She is still not on talking terms with Vishnu. I wanted to take some photographs but Vishnu refused to budge from his safe haven upstairs, under Penny’s bed.

Vishnu ...in a pensive mood

Bobo – Another instance of human cruelty …..

Is this how we treat our best friend?????

Bobo is a majestic and handsome brown Doberman Pinscher. He was abandoned by his previous owners. He was found wandering the streets bewildered, in a state of shock, frightened into timidity. He was suffering from acute malnutrition, thin as a rail, covered with wounds, neglect and abuse written all over his sad body. People don’t realize that dogs who have been domesticated cannot take care of themselves if they are just abandoned one fine day. They will be as helpless and exposed to danger as our human children would be if they get lost.

Bobo took days to emerge from under the table he took refuge in the MDT house. He is still shy and wary of new humans he meets. I was immensely touched when he quietly came up to me to make friends when no one was around. In spite of all the terrible experiences he has been through his eyes were tranquil, as if he wanted to tell me that he still had faith in human beings. I looked into his intelligent and expressive eyes, which spoke volumes – more than a thousand spoken words. I reached out and touched his head. He did not shrink away. My heart went out to him. I felt ashamed of being a member of the species that treat their best friends the way Bobo’s previous owners treated him.

We have lost two loved ones….

We have lost two loved ones, Gigi and Mani.

I have written a blog on Gigi previously, about her battling cancer. She had to be euthanized to save her from further pain and anguish of a lingering death.

Mani was on our re homing page. Found wandering in the streets. Came in with a necklace. Extremely good looking, proud and regal. She posed for some extremely fine photographs, as if she knew she was here was a short time and they will immortalize her. She died a month ago, she had a virus she could not throw off. She was around 7 months old.

Mani.... the supermodel

Cocoa and Kitty

Cocoa and her baby kitten really catch one’s attention as you walk through the Mad Dogs Trust (MDT) house. Dogs and cats are supposed to be mortal enemies but the scene is quite different here. “All our dogs are cat and house trained!” goes the MDT re homing motto.

Cocoa is a 2 year old street dog, now residing at the MDT house. She has all the signs of being pregnant but suspected of having a ‘phantom’ pregnancy. In the meantime, she has adopted a small kitten as her own.

Kitty is yet to be named. She was thrown over the garden wall one day, just like most of the inmates here.  She squeaked desperately as Penny rushed out to find her. As soon as  she was introduced into the MDT household, Cocoa took her under her wings and they are always together now.

Cocoa and her kitten

Gigi

Gigi is a street dog who was taken in by a foreigner, Fabio, living in Fort Kochi. Fabio already had another dog called Katerina. When Katerina gave birth to puppies she became intolerant of Gigi’s presence. Fabio was compelled to send Gigi to the Mad Dog Trust house.

Gigi happily settled in there until she was diagnosed with cancer. She was given appropriate treatment, sadly she isn’t responding to chemotherapy. Most probably she has to be euthanized to spare her further pain and suffering.

We all love you Gigi for your gentle self and sweet ways.

Motherly Mary

If you step into the Mad Dogs Trust house any time of the day, you will find the place spic and span, with a pleasant odour  of disinfectants; in spite of the fact that a number of cats and dogs of various breed, shape and size lounge happily on and under every piece of furniture.

Mary, a longtime human member of the Mad Dogs Trust house, makes this possible. Mary is always with a smiling face and a pleasant disposition. Penny says,”She is the backbone of the Trust. We all get cuddles when needed.”

Our Mary

Distressed Dido

Dido is around 7 years old. She was brought in with a hip injury, probably hit by a vehicle. She was pregnant but the presence of the baby could not be detected under x-ray due to excessive fluids. Dido was paralyzed waist down from suspected nerve damage due to a fractured hip. Dido gave birth to a puppy which did not survive. This made her extremely sad and depressed. Fortunately, after giving birth Dido can move her hind legs again. Hope fully she will regain complete motion of her limbs and her sunny disposition once again.

Dido on her way to recovery...

Madame Lola and her chair ….

Lola is a pretty and young resident of the Mad Dogs house and she loves her chair. True to her breed she is nocturnal and guards her territory with great determination. So Lola stays out at night working hard defending her dominion. During the day she relaxes at the Mad Dogs house on her favourite chair. She is extremely possessive about her chair. If someone happens to occupy it when she is not looking, she feels offended. Being too much of a lady to create a ruckus, she delicately takes her seat next to the intruder, and then slowly nudges him or her off the chair.

This is MY chair...

Goodbye Ulysses….

Ulysses is no more. He was scheduled to undergo an operation today. His condition deteriorated alarmingly and he had to be put to sleep. We lost a friend today. Goodbye Ulysses… You will always be alive in our hearts…

Near this spot are deposited the remains of one who

possessed Beauty without Vanity,

Strength without Insolence,

Courage without Ferocity,

and all the Virtues of Man,

without his Vices.

This Praise, which would be unmeaning

Flattery if inscribed over human

ashes is but a just tribute to the Memory

of Ulysses, a Dog