The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : He continues with doggedness

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Mar 13, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

He continues with doggedness

Swathi Shivanand

EXPERT CATCHER: George Robert (right) in action. — Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy

BANGALORE: Traversing the country, this diminutive man is either an answered prayer or someone to hate, depending which side you are on.

George Robert, the dogcatcher from Coimbatore, became a minor celebrity when came here to assist in the dog catching drive as part of Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike's measures to assuage public anger after two children were mauled to death by street dogs this year.

With his deep-set wrinkles furrowed in concentration, he listens to the question posed in Kannada. His rheumy eyes light up when he understands, and he replies animatedly: "I started catching dogs because my father would give me an anna every day. I could drink tea and spend money and act like a big man. All that money gave me quite a kick."

Originally from Palakkad, Robert's forefathers made catching dogs a family profession. Now working under the banner of All India Dog Catchers' Association, the profession has taken Robert and his five children to Mumbai, Mangalore, Ahmedabad, Surat and Ernakulam among many others.

Demonstrating the manner of catching dogs, he stands up and draws out an imaginary wire into a lasso. Through gestures, he shows the dog being caught by the neck.

The three main aspects in the art of dog catching, he says, is to keep public safety in mind, stay sober, and be trained well enough to catch a strenuously resisting pooch.

He is not secretive about his skills and has so far trained 140 men in the skill, including 40 for the Kerala Government in the year 1987. "I charge Rs. 5,000 for every person I train."

Occasionally his figures turn a little fanciful when he boasts that he has caught more than a crore dogs. However, despite his hostile intentions, he has not been bitten even once. Ask him the reason for dogs turning feral, he reiterates the line about garbage and meat waste and adds: "People also trouble dogs by hitting them with stones. When they are hurt and receive no treatment, the pain can drive them crazy."

"Streets are not the place for dogs to be. They are harmful to us as well as to themselves. I have seen children bitten by dogs. They have wounds all over their body. Some have been afflicted with rabies."

From Bangalore where he caught 2,000 dogs in four days, Robert and his team of 12 will later travel to Chikkodi and Mavalli in Karnataka.

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