Last year, around this time, or maybe a bit earlier, there was a sudden deluge of puppies in the park. They were everywhere, in every shape and color. Around 10 of them born to two mothers but being brought up as one pack. Both mothers nursed the litter, and I often wondered if they could tell their puppies apart from the other's or if the puppies could tell the moms apart. It was a heart-warming sight, these little balls of fluff playing in their little paradise.
But the lives of stray dogs are full of tragedies. Their numbers dwindled, the first time it happened, the brave little warriors seemed to slowly lose a bit of their spark. They kept quiet for days and mourned, along with us, who cared about them. The mortality rate for stray dogs is quite high and one of the most frequent causes is human related activities. These beings who have genetically adapted to love and bond with humans have now become unwanted in the same human society.
Over the year, I observed how the confident puppies slowly became timid, how the group dwindled and finally how they were forced out of the park, onto the streets. They had been reduced to a group of 3 with one of the moms and 2 pups remaining. They seemed to have joint forces though with another pack of dogs though. When winter came, I stopped seeing them or the other pack altogether. I wondered if this was the impact of the Supreme Court order.
A few days back I finally spotted their mother early in the morning, back at the same spot, outside the park, waiting for the kind humans who come with food for them. Then I spotted two of the pups now grown up one-year olds. And then suddenly jumping between the mom's feet I spot a small puppy, trying to suckle, whom the older siblings seemed to be guarding.
Nature and time have their own way of healing the tragedies that life inflicts on you. There is so much to learn from the natural world and animals - pets, strays, wild ones, ones in captivity, any kind. Resilience is one big lesson. I still remember the dejected looks on these little ones, when their numbers slowly reduced, how they would lie down curled up on the pavement, lost and directionless. Now they seemed to have taken up residence in a green patch just next to the park, which is full of trees. They have expanded their pack by taking in another group, though I suspect it was the other way round! I've now seen more tiny pups there and all of them (including the two older pups) running together and playing. I wonder if they see a reflection of their lost siblings in these young ones. Do they miss their lost ones like humans do?
And then there is Punch-kun, the macaque baby in a Japanese Zoo who thinks a plushie is his mom and who has stolen the collective heart of people world over. Not only is he an adorable little baby who makes you want to reach out and hug him, I think a lot of people also relate to his loneliness and need to be loved and held close. Also, his inability to integrate and yet the persistence in trying to make a place for himself.
Perhaps we humans like to imagine that animals are also going through emotions that are similar to ours, and maybe they do, but it's the stories that we resonate with that touch us the most.
P.S. I know that the new set of puppies, the older dogs and Punch-kun all still have life lessons to learn, but I my hope for them is that they continue to persist and thrive the best they can.
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