Dogs are a part of Family
Often regarded as "a man's best friend", dogs are much more than that; they are a part of the family.
Throughout history, dogs have proved time and again how trustworthy they are. We have heard about them waiting for their owners in places they routinely visited even after their owner's death.
With that level of love and dedication towards you, imagine not thinking of them as a family member. In a way, they are much more empathetic than humans. They will be right there with you through any situation; sad or happy and even without explanations, they go through all your emotions with you.
Like a father, they protect you from any harm even if they get hurt in the process. They always ask how your day went as soon as you reach home; in their way; just like a mother. With innocent eyes, they look at you just like a child holding affection and love. Sometimes, they do act like siblings where they steal your food while you're not looking but in my opinion, that only makes them that much more lovable.
In return, it only seems fair that we love them as much as they love us. Protect them from things they're afraid of; be it thunder or fireworks. Give them lots of pets, belly scratches, call them a "good girl" or a "good boy" while you're at it. When they look at you with adoration, smile at them. When they steal your food, laugh and give them more. That dog might just be a pet for you but for them, you are their whole world. Love them while they're alive because they have comparatively shorter lives than us. They live every day; loving you without being judgmental of how you look, dress, regardless of the colour of your skin, your race, your ethnicity or your religion. In short, they will love you unconditionally if you just show them a little love.
Back in 2018, while I was going back home from college, I saw a street dog; severely famished. I could see all of his rib cage. It pained me too much thinking about my dogs; if they were out here instead of this little guy and nobody paid them any attention, it was horrible to think about. That day, I only had a little packet of biscuit. Of course, I fed it to him and left. The next day and several days after that, I purposefully had something or the other to feed him. Even today, after all this time that I've been there, he still followed me as soon as he saw me. I might not have been able to do a lot for him back then but that little packet of biscuit was not "just food" for both of us; it was an emotional bond.
The pandemic, however, has immensely increased the number of stray dogs seen in the streets. The reason? In the beginning when covid-19 was fairly new, a false rumour had been spread that said pets could spread the disease to humans. Believing these rumours, lots of people abandoned their dogs; as if they were a decoration for their house which had now become an inconvenience. Knowing this, I, for one think that this is the best time to rescue a dog by adoption!
