Sunday mornings, I usually wake up at the call of my maid but one such day I felt an unusual sound outside my house. As I came out I saw Abeer, my 4-year-old kid looking out through the window, he then rushed to me-
Abeer: Mom mom mom, come with me!
I asked “kya hua Abeer?”
Abeer: Seeeee there’s a dog, can we please take him in?
I pulled him back and told him to be careful. I then poured some milk and bread crumbs in the bowl for the puppy, the moment I turned to fetch a cup of coffee for myself I heard the puppy gobbling up the food. Since then, Abeer religiously started waking up every day to meet his new friend in the morning with a bowl of milk.Ever since then Simba (as Abeer confidently named him after the protagonist of his favourite movie- ‘The Lion King’) has been his best companion.
I and my husband were sceptical whether or not should we raise our child with a ‘stray dog’, but we were convinced. We dared to shelter a stray dog and somehow it turned out to be the best decision we made as a family.
Abeer has found a confidant in Simba. He has Simba’s back every time he is on for a mischief and Simba trots behind him like a protective guardian! The first thing my kid does as he steps in the house is to rush to Simba and as a matter of fact, the impatient Simba always welcomes him wagging his tail on the door. The whole day he goes bossing around; “Come here Simba!”, “Are you hungry Simba?”, “Come let me give you a bath”. The mutual admiration kept blooming over the months. And today they complement each other just like two puzzle pieces.
Well, Simba wasn’t a purchase, nor a purebred, he was one of those homeless animals who spend their lives tumbling on the streets. I can proudly say that I adopted a stray dog, who is now an important part of my family. We cannot live without him. My kid adores him and is growing up with him.
Benefits of Animal-Human bond
Being around a pet since the childhood has helped my child improve his social behaviour. Animals lessen children’s anxiety levels and keep them physically active. I believe we receive the most benefits, whether they are emotional, psychological, physical, educational, or spiritual. We provide them with shelter, food, and affection; in turn, their antics cause us to laugh, their loyal presence helps us cope with stress and disturbance, and their perpetual eagerness inspires us to persevere. Willing, reliable sidekick and an esteemed companion, our Simba encloses everything we wish for in a great friend.
Benefits of adoption
We can never get over the canine-stars of the Bollywood movies, be it ‘tuffy’ from Hum Aapke Hai Kaun or Akshay’s co-star in Entertainment. Despite the fact that the exotic breeds have hypnotic effects on us, we should never turn a blind eye to the unprivileged animals. There are multiple perks of adoption, we all know dogs today cost us a fortune, by adopting an animal you save money. Adoptions can also reduce the risk of animal abuse by a significant percent. By adopting a homeless animal you can spread the word to those who are unaware of the wonderful animals awaiting homes in shelters and rescue groups. And don’t forget you SAVE A LIFE!
This World Animal Day let us pledge to stand against animal homelessness and animal abuse. The bond shared with animals enhances the human life by positively influencing both the health and the well-being. Now, it’s our turn to reciprocate loyalty!
