A dog's life - October 15, 2006

It may be difficult to understand the psychology of a dog, as it has its whims, moods, likes and dislikes. What is fatal about this animal is that it continues, anything notwithstanding, to adore the human species. I do not know whether the dogs' parliament has ever legislated against man, but it seems that the animal is willing to forgive and forget. Naturally, not always.

Recently I was attending a court hearing where a dog's fate was being decided. Although the death penalty has been abolished in Malta, and I do not regret that, the death penalty for dogs is still operative. What is worse is that the maximum penalty may be inflicted not for the most heinous crime, but even for slight bodily harm. Provocation does not mitigate punishment. What a dog's life!

I pitied the dog, whatever its faults, but I pitied even more the owners who were fighting hard for the survival of their 'next-of-kin', so to speak. Their haggard faces, their sullen looks, and their attempts to save the dog made them more human in my eyes. Some may say, "All this for what? For a dog's life?"

The story that I was told was that on previous occasions a youngster had ill-treated the dog, which finally reacted at the most inopportune moment. Animals may not be considered as intelligent but certainly they have memory, and the older they grow, their mental faculties seem to become more pronounced, possibly to compensate for the lack of physical prowess, or because age brings wisdom to them rather than senile dementia.

The dog did not bother about all other persons in a room, but recognised and attacked its assailant of yesterday. Was this dog pride, to prove its point that it should be treated as it deserves with respect, dignity and friendliness. I did not follow the story to its conclusion, as I was busy elsewhere. I sincerely hope that it was a happy compromise.

NGOs

There is no doubt that there are many organisations that are cropping up all over Malta, which through sheer voluntary work do their best to attend to the needs of the less lucky citizens of the animal kingdom. They have their reward, let's make it clear. That reward comes from a sense of fulfilment, the wagging of a tail, the recognition through a friendly bark, and the guarantee that tomorrow, or within a year, that bond of friendship is not subject to cheating or cooling off. I have seen young people at the Island Sanctuary, for example, who relax during weekends doing hard work with the animals in the complex.

My main concern, however, is with the SPCA. It is financed to a small extent by the government, according to an old practice, for housing strays. The strays are kept for a few days until reclaimed. If there is no owner, then there is only one solution. They are put to sleep. That is the euphemism for the gas chamber. In this case, the dog's fault is that it has no owner who can retrieve it from the dogs' home. What a dog's life! If a dog has a pedigree then in most cases it would be a treasured possession, often with a price on its collar. If its genealogy is complicated and not clear, then it has a price on its head.

I understand that when funds were collected to be passed on to voluntary animal welfare associations, the funds were destined for the neutering of the animals. That is really generous! What a dog's life to receive a present in the form of being castrated! In India, not so many years ago, to control explosive population growth, portable radios were donated to men if they agreed to be sterilised. Many considered that this was a dog's life for such males.

Catholics in the UK

Recently a friend sent me a Catholic magazine which carried information about an ecumenical service for the welfare of animals. Christians unite not to discuss about profound theological concepts or fine distinctions which have divided the Christian world, but to pray. That is fair enough, as all pray to the same God. What was interesting was that the Christian communities, through their Church leaders, were praying for animals and the needs of animals.

The story of a priest who prayed for his dead pet caused scandal in Malta. What a dog's life to be a dog in this country! It may not even rest in peace. As I was reared in the environment of the followers of Francis of Assisi, I find no jarring note in a communication with the One above regarding another creature, a handcrafted masterpiece in the equilibrium of this entangled world. "Brother Wolf" was feared, hated and hunted down by one and all, until someone who was enlightened enough called him "Brother".

That was an isolated episode in the story of man. Unfortunately a dog's life remains always a dog's life.