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A passion for pets

Mangaloreans are at home with a variety of birds and animals they adopt as pets, writes M. Raghuram

BEST FRIEND It's not just cats and dogs Mangaloreans prefer as pets. Even the humble white mouse is a great and non-judgmental companion PHOTO: M. Vedhan

French poodles are for the French. German shepherds are for the Germans. Mangaloreans are now falling in love with the Indian mongrel and homey cat, and adopting them as companion pets. So it's not exotic Siamese cats or those dusky great Danes, labradors or German shepherds that have pride of place in their hearts anymore.

People have realised over the years that these pets give unconditional love, are easy to maintain, are immune to many diseases and will eat anything from common sardines to a lump of rice or a loaf of bread.

Special need

Moreover, Mangalore is seeing a special need for pets. Nuclear families are on the rise. Old folks, housewives, children who are home alone are becoming a common sight in the city. If not for security, then it is for companionship the pets are most sought after. There have been Mangaloreans who have had monkeys, toddy cats, rabbits and white mice for pets.

Mangalore is not new to animal life — smaller wild animals and wild birds are easily found within city limits because it still retains patches of forests left in the middle of the urban areas — Kadri, Ashoknagar, Urva, Shaktinagar, Lighthouse Hill, Valencia, Kottara and many others. Mangalore, despite being a fast-growing mini-metro, has an area of 75 square kilometres of fertile thick green belt and large lung spaces which play home to a good number of species of birds, rodents, and small predatory animals. The most commonly found species in the city precincts are toddy cats, feral cats, porcupines, black-naped hares, mongooses, flying squirrels and shrews.

Many homes in the centre of city have witnessed nightly visits of toddy cats, which are known in local parlance as beru or alpuchche, foraging for fruits, vegetables and a few urban morsels of bread and wasted food. They often rummage in attics and scare people with the unexpected rattles and scrabbling noises. These nightly visitors, though, may not be looking for anything more than a chickoo or a banana. Once they have had their fill, they vanish into the night never to bother the neighbourhood for next few days, says Suma Ramesh of Animal Care Trust.

She herself has a toddy cat as a pet. In her shelter at Shaktinagar, she houses stray animals and birds and treats them for diseases and infections, and solicits adoptions from animal lovers. She finds that Mangloreans are gracious hosts for pets.

Apart from the Animal Care Trust, Prem Chaaya, a private trust, is also is engaged in pet care. Started in 2002 Prem Chaaya is a brainchild of Clifford D'Souza. The shelter which has 57 dogs and 83 cats has now moved to Bajpe to a spacious and congenial place for abandoned pets, including different enclosures for dogs, cats and other odd animals and birds. D'Souza, while appreciating Mangaloreans for their love for pets, also expresses sadness over how some pets are abandoned once they show signs of disease or old age. In recent years he and his son Jeevan D'Souza have found dogs and cats belonging to exotic breeds languishing on the streets. They rescue such animals from the hazards of the roads. The D'Souzas point out that once the pets are out of their protected environs and have to face harsh surroundings, the abandoned animals undergo tremendous stress. They also would have lost their natural instinct for looking for food and finally they end up diseased. Prem Chaaya holds pet care awareness campaigns from time to time.

Vet care

The City Veterinary Clinic near Urva Marigudi has started offering services like sterilisation and neutering, pet grooming that includes dental care, nail trimming, ear cleaning and also giving the pet medicated baths. The facility also has board and lodging facilities for pets for a nominal fee for owners who intend to go out of station. Those who like to know more can contact Jeevan D'Souza on 98550-03130 or log on to www.premchaaya.org

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