Caring for Strays - a journey from head to heart
Mystic Yoga over the past many years has rescued and rehabilitated over 150 strays, mostly cats and over a dozen dogs as well. They are sheltered at Mystic Yoga centres spread across Kolkata. Though in every sense this is an animal shelter for strays in need of care and protection, the essence of Mystic Animal Shelter is highly personalized and with the caregivers aware of their individual needs, preferences, and temperament.
The pandemic-initiated lockdown added another dimension to our relationship with the strays of Kolkata. We had already exhausted our capacity to take in and shelter any more strays hence we chose to reach out to them wherever they were. The most difficult journey one can undertake is the journey from the head to the heart and it cannot be theoretical – compassion in action is the only true path. Based on our collective experience at Mystic Yoga Foundation we have outlined a few actionable for you to consider and perchance implement in 2021.
Over a period of next 12 months be committed to adopting 20-21 strays as a family. Adoption does not mean you need to take even one of them as an inhouse pet.
Adoption would mean you start identifying and feeding the strays near your home or workplace. Your desire to feed the strays needs to be backed by hands-on experience. It can take a few days to a few weeks to get acquainted with their behavioural pattern.
Dry Cat food works best for the cats and they love to eat in the privacy of the night. Leave some before going to bed and make sure the cat food is out of reach of the stray dogs. This will ensure the safety of the cats as well as the cat food. Small cartoons can also keep the cats’ cosy in winter months. With some trial and error, you can form a working relationship with the strays. Just try to be aware daily and you will fine-tune your offering to serve them best.
Marie biscuit is the simplest food to share with stray dogs. Though biscuits do not really constitute a meal, it helps them stay alive and keep going as they get some starch and sugar. Be generous with the portion size.
If you can stretch yourself a little more, offer them rice mixed with leftover fish or chicken. If you are cooking specifically for them, cook with just a pinch of turmeric, no salt or oil is required. You can buy the most economical ingredients you can get your hands on. Unless the strays are habituated from early on, most Kolkata dogs cannot eat rice-dal, khichdi, dalia etc.
Some families allow one or two strays to sleep in their garage or ground floor porch if any. This helps to protect them from winter dew, rain, and scorching sun in the summertime. Used Gunny bags is a wonderful gift for the strays during winter months. They will also be immensely thankful for a little hay under some sort of a canopy, further hay does not cost you anything much.
As part of your adoption drive, consider sterilizing and vaccinating the female dogs first followed by the male dogs. Consider sterilizing 20 or 21 stray dogs/cats by the end of 2021. This could be a collective target for one family or a handful of families and will be a tangible contribution to the community you live in.
Be personally involved in this exercise as a paid staff is unlikely to share your passion for them. Your hands-on approach in caring for strays can help you begin your journey from the head to the heart. Spiritual awakening is plausible without any scriptural lore and sans all dogma.
- Sudhir