Footprints On Our Hearts -Furry Interview With Multiple Dog Owners: PART II

"A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than you love yourself." ~ Josh Billings

THE CONTINUATION:-

Dogs enrich us in small and undramatic ways every day—by making us laugh, keeping us company, and offering us unconditional love. Those who have dogs know that there can be no dull moment around them. There is a reason why dogs are our best friends and with best friends, craziness knows no bounds. Even though you probably spent a month and a half just deciding a name for your dog, not once have you called him by that name. You always chat up your dog. it's an alien language only you two understand. No matter how old you may be, I bet you still make funny faces at your dog, just to see the surprise on his face. You utter ‘let’s go out’ every now and then without any intention of taking him for walk, just to see him go crazy with the excitement and off course you've dressed your dog in the most ridiculous outfits. I am head - over- heels for dogs and so I wanted to share stories about the bond that most people share with their dogs amongst our dog- ruffin folk. My article focuses on 10 stories about the bond between dogs and their humans. I interviewed a couple of people who were kind enough to answer my questions and here's what they had to say about their furry friends...

Paws, Laughter And Kindness Comes With This Bloke. Kirsten Lobo Miranda Is A Mumbai Resident Who Is 26 Years Old And Works As A Flight Operations Assistant At Airodynamiks. His Entire Family Are Very Devoted Towards Helping And Caring For Abandoned And Wounded Animals. They Have So Many Adopted Dogs Their House Is Like Heaven To Us Animal Lovers. To Name A Few - Brett, Kane, Jet Volga, Simba, Chestnut, Sammy, Tara, Haley, Romeo, Scamp, Pompei .... The List Goes On!

These Dogs Are Well Trained And Go Up And About The Area To Do Their "Work" And Come Back To The House.

When Asked What Tricks His Dogs Can Do Kirsten Says, " They Can Make A Bowl Full Of Rice And Chicken Disappear In Under A Minute!"

His Dogs Don't Mind Befriending Other Animals Too Considering He Has Also Adopted A Cat And A Crow. He's Had His Crow And Oldest Dogs Live With Him For Almost 17 Years Now. That's Unbelievable!

"Stray Dogs, They Are Shown So Much Cruelty, But All They Have In Return Is Love." Says Kirsten And Continues To Say, "Whenever Its Bath Time, They All Try To Leave The House Together And They Crawl/ Try To Fit In Every Possible Crevice To Avoid Going For A Bath. The Funniest Thing One Of My Dog Did Was Bark At His Own Fart."

Is it Important For Kids to Grow Up With A Pet?

"It Is Very Important For Kids To Have Some Pets, It Teaches Responsibility And Love And The Friendship They Nurture Will Be In Their Memory For A Life Time."

How Do You Deal With Good And Bad Behaviour?

"They Get A Tap On Their Snout Or Butt For Bad Behaviour And Good Behaviour Earns Them Love. They Cuddle Up Next To Me."

Have You Ever Witnessed Any Bad Owner- Pet Behaviour?

"Yes, By People Who Only Have Pets For Show."

Sonal More Is The Founder And Facilitator Of An After - School Centre, Called 'Little Ones Learn For Kids' And Teaches Kids Between The Age Of 3-8 Years. She Loves Her Job And Has Been Teaching Since The Past 2.5 Years. Apart From Teaching She Likes Dancing, Reading And Travelling.

Tell Me Something About The Dog You Own?

"Pipa, She Is 2 Years & 11 Months Old Labrador, Small Correction I Don’t Own Her, You Don’t Own Your Family. We Usually Spend Time Together While Going To Bed, We Have A Special Massage Time, We Talk In Our Alien Language & I Get All My Share Of Kisses & Licks From Her For The Day", Says Sonal.

What Are Some "Special" Things She Can Do?? Any Tricks?

"She Is Overweight But She Is Faster Than Many Other Dogs :P She Sleeps In My Bed."

Does She Get Along With Other Animals?

"She Hasn’t Really Got A Chance, But She Sure Hates Cats."

What Is The Best Trick Your Dog Has Taught You?

"It’s Not A Trick, But She Has Taught Me To Be More Patient, Be More Caring & Affectionate."

What Inspired You To Name Her Pipa?

"I Just Loved This Name, Inspired From Pippa Middleton."

Speaking About Experiences She Goes On To Say, "Pippa Once Chewed A Few Alkaline Batteries & I Was Tensed, There Was No One Around To Help Me. I’ve Never Had A Dog Before So Wasn’t Really Sure What Was To Be Done. I Felt It Was My Mistake To Leave Her Alone. I Cried Hysterically Thinking The Batteries Might Harm Her, Thankfully She Was Fine. I Think Her Tummy Is Made Of Steel, She Eats Rubbish At Times. Lol I See It Everyday, Once She Is Sleepy She Makes This Funny Face Sitting In A Sofa, It’s Hilarious To See Her Drooping Face."

What Breed Do You Love The Most?

"Labradors & Golden Retrievers, They’re Naturally Very Loving, Friendly & Reliable."

What Does Pipa Love To Eat?

"Almost Everything, Chicken, Mutton & Ice-Creams Top The Chart Though Treats & Most Importantly The Love & Affection She Needs. She Doesn't Need Toys, She Rips Them Apart."

Orenstein Woner Is A 29 Year Old Web Designer By Day And A Musician After Work Hours. Not Only Is He A Football Fan But Loves All Dogs . He Owns A Parriah Dog Which Looks Like An Abandoned Pomenerian Mix Breed To Me Named Pheobe.

"I Spend A Lot Of Time With Them When I Get Back From Work. I Also Take Them To The Beach And Sometimes Bandra Too I Just Leave Them Free In Our Area And Make Sure Im Around Watching Them. Phoebe Loves The Cat Near My Building Very Well. Trevor Is A Little Reserved.

Phoebe Has Taught Me That When The Opportunity Arises, You Pounce On It. Until Then You Wait (Even If Its Hiding Behind The Car And Waiting For Delivery Guys On Their Bicycles :P)

Trevor Was Named By My Aunt. When I Was A Little Baby We Had A Dog Named Trevor Who Loved Me To No End. He Was Very Possesive And Protective Of Me. He Died Out Of Old Age. Hence The Name. Phoebe was Named By Me. When I Saw Her For The First Time, The Name ‘Phoebe’ Came To My Mind. She’s So Pretty That I Decided To Call Her So. Seeing The Two Of Them Everyday Is A Charm And A Story In Itself.

I Have A Neighbour Who Claims He’s A Professional Singer And Has A F*%#Ng Annoying Voice. He Sings So Loudly That Along With Me, Phoebe N Trevor Also Wake Up When He Starts To Sing. So This One Day Trevor Goes To The Window And Starts To Howl Along With Him, Whenever He Would Sing. It Was A Hilarious Sight To Watch. My Neighbours Heard That Too And I Havent Heard The Guy Sing Loudly So Far. "

A favourite Outfit?

"I Like To Dress Them Well During Winter. Phoebe’s Favourite Being The Royal Blue Top And A Barca Shirt :P. Trevor Has Just Started Staying With Us And Winter Is Coming. Still Have To Decide On A Good Shirt For Him."

Favourite Snacks?

"They Both Love Ice Cream. But I Avoid Giving Them Much Of It. Phoebe Also Loves ‘Alpenlibe’ The Raw Mango Flavour."

Meet Nash Mathews, 24, Originally From Mumbai, Currently A Business Intelligence Analyst Working With NEC Global In Pune. A Passionate MMO Gamer And Avid Reader. He Owns A Dog Named Mischief He's 7 And A Cross Between A Cocker spaniel And A Dasian.

Favourite Type Of Dog?

"Love Big Dogs , Better Guard Dogs, More Intimidating."

Funniest outfit you've made your dog wear?

"I Dressed Him In A Raincoat And Gumboots."

An Experience You've Shared With Him....

"The Most Interesting Story. Hmm Gotten Jealous Of Another Dog Around My Sister. My Dog Bit My Mom Defending My Sister, And He Never Bites."

He goes on to say, "When I'm Home He's Always Sitting On Me Or With Me While I Do Anything And Everything Be It Watching TV Or Working On The Computer. He's A Smart Dog. He Understands English, Pretty Well. He's Very Obedient And Protective. He Sleeps In My In My Sisters Room, Under Her Blanket. The Current One I Have Makes The Best Companion. They Are Small Easy To Maintain And Very Loyal , Loving And Highly Intelligent. Dogs Teach You To Love Unconditionally Regardless Of The Situations And Always Be Happy. He Knows When We're Sad. He Won't Leave Your Side. He Can Sense It I Think."

Favourite Treats & Toys?

"His Birthday Cake Is His Favourite Treat. His Favourite Toy Is A Soft Toy Bone That My Sister Got Him From Canada. He Will Not Allow Anyone To Touch It. When I Am In Town I Let Him Eat Whatever He's Generally Banned From By My Sister(On The Quiet)."

Have You Ever Witnessed Any Bad Owner- Pet Behaviour?

"Many, Leave Their Dogs And Go On Holiday. They Come Back To A Dog Starved To Death."

He Has a social media presence - Mischieff Mathews. You Can Find Him On Facebook.

Mumbai Resident Mohnish Rathod Loves Big Dogs Because To Him There Is No Better Feeling Than To Hug A Big Dog. He Is A Proud Owner Of A 7 Year Old Mix Mountain Abandoned Dog (Bhutia) Breed Named Dexter Who Is Infatuated With Chicken.

How Did You Come Up With His Name?

"I Always Thought He Was A Genius Ever Since We Got Him. At The Same Time, He Had A Mysterious, Almost Creepy Look To Him When We Found Him Especially Because Of His Fur Colour And Dreads On His Tail (Which I Dearly Miss) So I Named Him Dexter After The Cartoon Character (Genius) And Dexter The Serial Killer Grin Emoticon Smile Emoticon Wink Emoticon."

They Spend Their Time Together By Strolling Around The Neighbourhood Or Just Accompanying Each Other With Their Thoughts In Silence. Dexter's Super Power Is Scratching Himself While Rotating At A 360 Degree Angle, He Enjoys A Good Bath And Loves Tangling Himself Into His Bed Sheets.

What Has Your Dog Taught You?

He Says, "To Be Patient And Open With My Feelings And Emotions. Life Is Too Short To Not Tell Someone How Much You Want Their Affection Smile" And Goes On To Say, "When We Initially Found Him, We Would Give Him Food And Then Let Him Go Out In The Night. We Never Kept Him In The House. But He Would Always Land Up At Our Doorstep And Oftentimes Lay Inside The House As If It Was His. I Think He Was Pretty Confident That This Was Going To Be His New Home. You Have To Keep Dexter Away From Any Cylinders, Neighbour's Television, The Security Man Of My Building (Dexter Hates Him) "

What Is The Funniest Thing Your Dog Has Ever Done?

"Sleep On The Bed When No One Was Around The House And Then Pretend Like Nothing Happened When We Return. Needless To Say, He Wasn't Very Good At Keeping It A Secret."

What Breed Do You Think Makes The Best Companion, And Why?

"Labradors. They Are The Most Easy To Get Along With And Are Very Huggable."

Do You Have Or Plan To Build A Social Media Page For You Dog?

"No, He Once Got On The Internet And Was Overwhelmed By All The Bitches Asking For His Number. So Hell No."