“To be greeted by someone at the door is wonderful,” says Jairam Seshadri who recently relocated to Chennai from Canada. After making the decision to adopt, the long-time dog lover got in touch with two young volunteers who had rescued and vaccinated an abandoned Indian puppy.
“Adoption is the best thing to do – why not save a dog that’s in need of a home?” says Jairam who adopted Rani, a dark brown female mongrel with angelic eyes whom he refers to as a daughter. He recalls that the rescuers (sisters Deepa and Padma Ramesh) and the puppy were all anxious about parting ways. He took the girls and the puppy to a local coffee shop for a chat to ease their minds and assure them of his commitment, and then took Rani home. “I also wanted to thank them for giving me a dog,” he says with a chuckle.
Rani transitioned quickly from a timid pup to a pampered family member, and keeps Jairam’s 87-year-old father company while he’s away. “She’s been a positive influence in our lives,” he says. Jairam is now considering adopting a companion for Rani who often studies her reflection in the mirror, possibly believing that the image is another pup.
“They’re like children, and shouldn’t be treated any differently,” he says, adding that he believes that those who treat their dogs badly are likely to do the same to people. He recommends that people take their decision to adopt seriously and commit to treating them with love and respect. “It is not right to adopt them for selfish reasons and then abandon them later,” he says of those who adopt on an impulse.
Says Deepa Ramesh of the moment her rescue met her new owner – “It was love at first sight”. She frequently receives follow-up pictures of Rani playing on Jairam’s lap as he drinks his coffee in the garden. “The joy you get from a pet is something you can’t get from anyone else”, she says, signing off.
