There is hope yet!... Thanks to all the people who have stepped up to be heard things are progressing. Here are some updates and talking points that you might find interesting.
Moving along...
1. Support has been coming in from all quarters, pet owners and others too
2. Attempts are being made to get an appointment with the CM to discuss this
3. The media have been very supportive and have helped the cause immensely
Points we want to make...
1. Involve owners and vets and people who know what they are talking about in decisions that effect all of us
2. We need the authorities to focus on animal welfare and not just random rules
3. Enforcing a limit on number of pets may actually CAUSE people to abandon their pets which will just make things worse
4. NGO's already have their hands full without having dogs with a perfectly viable home being dumped on them too.
5. The focus should be on ethical and responsible breeding and care of dogs and not on taking dogs away from loving homes
6. Since the BBMP will play the 'nuisance' card at some point...we should be able to set out a plan of action for people whose pets disturb the neighbours - perhaps training or therapy that can be state assisted in some manner.
7. Also to safeguard people from vindictive people cooking up charges of noisy or aggressive behavior from dogs - there needs to be a guideline of what constitutes a dog that is a threat or a nuisance to others.
8. We would also like to have facilities for our dogs in return for the increased licensing fee that we will be paying.
Please get your thinking caps on people, and mail or comment additions and improvements to all of the above. A big thank you to those of you who contributed the ideas above! Keep 'em coming.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Dog'gone' BBMP
So its been a while since I posted and that I can put own to a contradictory combination of laziness and being crazy busy. But something has come up that has shaken every dog-lover out there, out of inertia and into outrage.
Yep - the BBMP's new proposals have been causing quite a stir in the doggie fraternity and I thought it may be best to put this rant in writing so we can all get together and make something coherent out of it.
What I propose is that we take what we have so far and add to it with inputs from all of you...that way our approach to the 'protest' will be well thought out and leave no room for the powers that be to poke holes in it.
We obviously don't want to be unreasonable - so what we would like is to take the hash that the BBMP has come up with and fine tune it to make SOME semblance of sense, and that's where you come in. Please read the rest of this article and mail in with your suggestions too.
These are what I have so far:
1. People in flats can have only one dog and that has to be of a breed approved by the BBMP: Okay, makes sense, sort of - only they have not taken into account that dogs are social animals and need to have company so two dogs is not an unreasonable demand. Also who decides what breeds and what do they base it on? If you have a large dog that is receiving adequate exercise and not bothering the neighbours - on what grounds would this be against the law?
2. People in homes can have only 3 dogs and if they have more the BBMP can seize (SEIZE?? what are they? Assets?) the dogs and AUCTION them or have them put down: Seems like they are not aware of the fact that for most of us our dogs are family and it would be the equivalent of us taking one of their children and selling them to the highest bidder! At no point is the welfare of the animal mentioned - only that the mighty BBMP has 'decided' that it shall be so. (In other words they are okay for people with one or two dogs to starve and ill treat them as long as it is just one or two)
3. All dogs to be micro chipped: Fine - but tell me again - where are those microchip readers?
That's just the tip of the proverbial iceberg and frankly it just gets more stupid. Someone actually spoke to the BBMP and here are some of the idiotic and uneducated statements that came from one of the representatives.
1. ALL dogs are eventually deserted by owners, unless they are highly pedigreed.
2. Pet dogs are getting out and mating with stray dogs increasing the population of strays!
3. If you have more than three dogs - give them away to your friends!
4. If we can have a law restricting people to having only two children then why not one for dogs (and please note here he quotes the "hum do humare do" slogan! - and these are the twits running this country!)
Please - PLEASE - think about what you have read so far and send me your thoughts and suggestions - every little idea counts so please take a minute and write in... for your dogs - past and present...
Write to petchef.blr@gmail.com or alternatively leave a comment below with your name.
Watch this space and I will keep you posted on whats going on.
Yep - the BBMP's new proposals have been causing quite a stir in the doggie fraternity and I thought it may be best to put this rant in writing so we can all get together and make something coherent out of it.
What I propose is that we take what we have so far and add to it with inputs from all of you...that way our approach to the 'protest' will be well thought out and leave no room for the powers that be to poke holes in it.
We obviously don't want to be unreasonable - so what we would like is to take the hash that the BBMP has come up with and fine tune it to make SOME semblance of sense, and that's where you come in. Please read the rest of this article and mail in with your suggestions too.
These are what I have so far:
1. People in flats can have only one dog and that has to be of a breed approved by the BBMP: Okay, makes sense, sort of - only they have not taken into account that dogs are social animals and need to have company so two dogs is not an unreasonable demand. Also who decides what breeds and what do they base it on? If you have a large dog that is receiving adequate exercise and not bothering the neighbours - on what grounds would this be against the law?
2. People in homes can have only 3 dogs and if they have more the BBMP can seize (SEIZE?? what are they? Assets?) the dogs and AUCTION them or have them put down: Seems like they are not aware of the fact that for most of us our dogs are family and it would be the equivalent of us taking one of their children and selling them to the highest bidder! At no point is the welfare of the animal mentioned - only that the mighty BBMP has 'decided' that it shall be so. (In other words they are okay for people with one or two dogs to starve and ill treat them as long as it is just one or two)
3. All dogs to be micro chipped: Fine - but tell me again - where are those microchip readers?
That's just the tip of the proverbial iceberg and frankly it just gets more stupid. Someone actually spoke to the BBMP and here are some of the idiotic and uneducated statements that came from one of the representatives.
1. ALL dogs are eventually deserted by owners, unless they are highly pedigreed.
2. Pet dogs are getting out and mating with stray dogs increasing the population of strays!
3. If you have more than three dogs - give them away to your friends!
4. If we can have a law restricting people to having only two children then why not one for dogs (and please note here he quotes the "hum do humare do" slogan! - and these are the twits running this country!)
Please - PLEASE - think about what you have read so far and send me your thoughts and suggestions - every little idea counts so please take a minute and write in... for your dogs - past and present...
Write to petchef.blr@gmail.com or alternatively leave a comment below with your name.
Watch this space and I will keep you posted on whats going on.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
I know! I know!
I did make that resolution to write everyday and I haven't - but I will. (Famous last words I tell you.)
So the Pet Chef household has expanded by one dalmatian who is currently being wooed by Beagle and Pug who seem to have suddenly realised that girls exist and are not to be growled at and fought with! All is well!
We are off on holiday for a few days and looks like all 5 of us are going. B&P have never gone on a long trip so i am wondering how they will handle it and D is fidgety in cars so actually I am wondering how I will handle it! Wish me luck people.
So the Pet Chef household has expanded by one dalmatian who is currently being wooed by Beagle and Pug who seem to have suddenly realised that girls exist and are not to be growled at and fought with! All is well!
We are off on holiday for a few days and looks like all 5 of us are going. B&P have never gone on a long trip so i am wondering how they will handle it and D is fidgety in cars so actually I am wondering how I will handle it! Wish me luck people.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
'Grr"eat to know...
The only sweat glands a dog has are between the paw pads!
(That explains the toe jam!)
(That explains the toe jam!)
Friday, April 16, 2010
Hachiko
Today I was surfing the web and was reminded of something I havent thought of in years...
I remember as a girl I would read the story of Hachiko and cry till my head hurt. It was, to me the most tragic tale ever. For those of you who dont know it - it is about an Akita called Hachiko who walked his master to and from the station every morning and evening. One day the master has a heart attack at the university where he works and does not come back on the evening train. He dies. But Hachiko goes faithfully to the station every day for the rest of his life (8 years more I think) every evening, waiting and searching for his master in the departing crowds. He died sitting in the very same spot he had waited in all those years.
The story is true and it happened in Japan, and till today there is a statue of Hachiko at the station where he would sit and wait. Hachiko is something of a hero in Japan even now. The devotion and immense love that he showed is something most of us can only hope to see in our lifetime. It still makes me cry.
So go read that story...or see the movie they adapted the story into "Hachiko-A Dog's Tale" and see for yourself what true and unconditional love looks like.
I remember as a girl I would read the story of Hachiko and cry till my head hurt. It was, to me the most tragic tale ever. For those of you who dont know it - it is about an Akita called Hachiko who walked his master to and from the station every morning and evening. One day the master has a heart attack at the university where he works and does not come back on the evening train. He dies. But Hachiko goes faithfully to the station every day for the rest of his life (8 years more I think) every evening, waiting and searching for his master in the departing crowds. He died sitting in the very same spot he had waited in all those years.
The story is true and it happened in Japan, and till today there is a statue of Hachiko at the station where he would sit and wait. Hachiko is something of a hero in Japan even now. The devotion and immense love that he showed is something most of us can only hope to see in our lifetime. It still makes me cry.
So go read that story...or see the movie they adapted the story into "Hachiko-A Dog's Tale" and see for yourself what true and unconditional love looks like.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Back in a jiff
Incase you are wondering about the silence - I made the mistake of getting involved in something totally not PC related and boy is it killing me!!!! I should be able to ditch it by today - or tomorrow at the very latest...after which I have lots of new exciting things coming up for you all. And yes, I have actually managed to plan and do some of those on the side when I was not being stifled by the work at hand! :-)
So dont give up on me just yet - in the immortal words of Arnie Bhai..."Aah'll be Bach!"
So dont give up on me just yet - in the immortal words of Arnie Bhai..."Aah'll be Bach!"
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
'Grr'eat to know...
It is a myth that dogs are color blind. They can actually see in color, just not as vividly as humans. It is akin to our vision at dusk.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Speaking of Food....
Over the last couple of months I have had a lot of people ask me why I chose to start Pet Chef, so I thought this would help explain.
This is not a new idea. Three years ago I got my Beagle and a couple of months later my Pug joined the family. I grew up with dogs and love them to bits but growing up it was always my poor mother who had to deal with the feeding and cleaning up after them. Once these two arrived - I was on my own and had to make so many choices for them.
When I moved to Bangalore I had a 16 hour a day job and was hardly home so I had to settle for getting a fish just so I would have someone to talk to when I came home. But I spent a lot of my time dreaming about having a dog again and what life would be like if I could come home to a wet nose and doggie breath! So anyway - eventually the job was swapped for one that was more flexible and my two brats made an entrance.
I promptly went out and checked for the best food that was available and actually did a lot of research on doggie nutrition. This was about the time the whole melamine scare happened and I remember sifting through pages and pages of info to make sure that what I was feeding my babies was not among the recalled and high risk food.
Anyway - the long and the short of it is that I sorted that decision out, but I was still being stared at every time I had a snack or meal. I have even had my crazy Beagle steal a chilly off my plate and scarf it down with no apparent reaction! It got me thinking - while dogs like their routine and don't take well to constant changes in diet, that doesn't mean they don't appreciate good food! So every now and then I would make them a special treat that would be their version of my chips and pizza and cake minus the sugar and salt and preservatives and other nasties.
I considered selling my stuff back then but I was still kind of stuck in the rat race and the only person I asked for an opinion was horribly discouraging so I just went back to making things for my two and put bigger plans on the back burner.
The big change came last year when I had to have surgery and was told that my lifestyle had to change or I would be going back to the doctor sooner than I thought - and the first thing that came to my mind was that I should resurrect the plan and see where it takes me this time.
So here I am - and I'm looking forward to being able to give all your dogs the same yummy break from the everyday food that mine have enjoyed so much. I have a policy that I will never make for a dog, something that I am not willing to put in MY mouth - so, while some of you may not like the taste of the treats since they are usually low on salt and bad-for-dog stuff - they really ARE healthy for you AND your dog!
This is not a new idea. Three years ago I got my Beagle and a couple of months later my Pug joined the family. I grew up with dogs and love them to bits but growing up it was always my poor mother who had to deal with the feeding and cleaning up after them. Once these two arrived - I was on my own and had to make so many choices for them.
When I moved to Bangalore I had a 16 hour a day job and was hardly home so I had to settle for getting a fish just so I would have someone to talk to when I came home. But I spent a lot of my time dreaming about having a dog again and what life would be like if I could come home to a wet nose and doggie breath! So anyway - eventually the job was swapped for one that was more flexible and my two brats made an entrance.
I promptly went out and checked for the best food that was available and actually did a lot of research on doggie nutrition. This was about the time the whole melamine scare happened and I remember sifting through pages and pages of info to make sure that what I was feeding my babies was not among the recalled and high risk food.
Anyway - the long and the short of it is that I sorted that decision out, but I was still being stared at every time I had a snack or meal. I have even had my crazy Beagle steal a chilly off my plate and scarf it down with no apparent reaction! It got me thinking - while dogs like their routine and don't take well to constant changes in diet, that doesn't mean they don't appreciate good food! So every now and then I would make them a special treat that would be their version of my chips and pizza and cake minus the sugar and salt and preservatives and other nasties.
I considered selling my stuff back then but I was still kind of stuck in the rat race and the only person I asked for an opinion was horribly discouraging so I just went back to making things for my two and put bigger plans on the back burner.
The big change came last year when I had to have surgery and was told that my lifestyle had to change or I would be going back to the doctor sooner than I thought - and the first thing that came to my mind was that I should resurrect the plan and see where it takes me this time.
So here I am - and I'm looking forward to being able to give all your dogs the same yummy break from the everyday food that mine have enjoyed so much. I have a policy that I will never make for a dog, something that I am not willing to put in MY mouth - so, while some of you may not like the taste of the treats since they are usually low on salt and bad-for-dog stuff - they really ARE healthy for you AND your dog!
Welcome Doggie People...
...to the Pet Chef blog. I am hoping that this will be a fun place for all you dog lovers to share stories, opinions, news and experiences. I will also have regular articles with useful information that you may be interested in. If you have something you want to post - send it to me by mail and I will be happy to oblige!
To get things started - here is something I got by email from someone in Canada - its quite amazing and very sweet!
To get things started - here is something I got by email from someone in Canada - its quite amazing and very sweet!
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