Achu

For dog lovers - there are some dogs that are family and there are some other dogs for whom we'd like to get help. Whatever our relationship with the dog in question - we tend to get emotional and would like to do our best for them.

My own (highly subjective) opinion is that if you need to get help for a dog in Bangalore - then I would suggest you to approach Cessna Lifeline or your local vet.

I recently had a very disastrous experience when I sought the help of Nanny Woof and Animal Aid Alliance in Bangalore - because of the misrepresentations of a social welfare worker named Anoopa Anand. I initially shyed away from making my experience public as I could see this person loves dogs and is passionate about her work. And from what I've seen she is also scrupulously honest with regard to financial matters.

But then misrepresenting - when you are in social welfare - can cost others a lot as dogs, in particular, are an emotional investment more than anything. Some people, despite their good intentions, can still cause a whole lot of havoc because of their short-temper, carelessness, ineptitude, shoddy homework, dogmatic views and lack of foresight.

I had contacted Nanny Woof on October 24, 2013. I told her I lived in a rented apartment and was finding it difficult to have a husky and a cocker spaniel with me - given that my house owner and neighbours were objecting.

I told her that I needed to put them up for boarding - till I find better accommodation and my life stabilizes a little. I told her that roughly the period might be anywhere from a month to as long as 6 months. She offered my dogs a place in a shelter AAA was constructing at Devanahalli.

I called her again mid-November and she told me they still haven't finished construction. I called her again in December and she told me the kennels were still not ready and that she will get back to me. So far in all my interactions with her she was friendly, helpful and non-critical.


On January 4, 2014 - out of the blue - I got a call from her in which she asked me when I am putting up my dogs for boarding. I said I couldn't tell her immediately - I will call and let her know by end of day. To my utmost surprise, she angrily suddenly started off on this long rant - "Do you know how many dogs everyday are sick, injured, dying? This precious space at the shelter! There are so many needy dogs that I have turned away because I am keeping this huge kennel for Husky & Maximus. Do you know how big the kennel is? Have you taken the effort to come and see it?"

I was a little stunned and repeated that I will let her know by end of day - and I did - I told her I'll drop them off that very Saturday.

Disconnect - she acted like she had called me 5 times and I'd had kept delaying her and kept her on the hook - and she had to turn away dogs that needed help because of my inaction. When in truth it was the first time she called and I acted very promptly.

I just thought she had a bad day and dismissed it....

Worse was to follow.....

To be continued....

(PERTINENT FACT: The shelter we are talking about opened in January 2014 and now within the first week of March is in the process of shutting down)