Aiding our best friends

"There is a very special kind of love and meaning to be found in a friendship with any of God’s creations — man or woman, black or white, Christian or Muslim, animal or human — if you go looking for it in the spirit of that creature rather than the body that hosts it,” mentioned Lynn de Souza at the launch of her book, A Dog’s Life, at Oxford Book Store, Churchgate, Bombay, on April 21, 2003. She explained that through the book she hopes to raise funds for a veterinary hospital in Goa, co-founded by her, where animals "who have no human owners or whose human friends are too poor to pay for their medicines” are treated.

At the launch sponsored by Animal Planet, the role of Maneck Davar and Spenta Multimedia in publishing the book was acknowledged. When Davar was asked what prompted him to publish the book gratis, he noted that it was "just a gesture,” to support a "good cause.” When de Souza had requested Davar for his comments on the book and asked him where she could get it published at the best price, he offered to publish it for her. Spenta Multimedia had earlier published a sketch book by Krishen Khanna along with Pundole Art Gallery and a book called De Curating by Bose Krishna­machari covering the work of 94 artists. As de Souza mentioned she knew of no publisher in India as large hearted as Davar.

A Dog’s Life tells us of a friendship between three pariah (stray) dogs, Moti, Tiger and Rani and their human benefactor, the Pinto girl. The story is narrated by Moti a gauti kutta (village or local dog) after his death. Moti recollects that though his first three months in this world were carefree and enjoyable, things changed when a car knocked him down while reversing. He wondered if the residents of the building where he was staying would send him away since he was now ugly, underfed and deformed. Written for both children and adults, the episodes in this 105-page heartwarming book hope to act as eye openers to animal lovers everywhere. When 10-year-old Tista Philip read the book she wrote, "Please tell me if I can help you on my own, without parent help. I usually don’t read the introduction, prologue, acknow­ledge­ments, etc. Here I’m glad I did. Please let me help.”

Introducing de Souza to the audience Prem Mehta, vice chairman and managing director of the Lintas Group recollected the day Lynn bashfully informed him she wished to resign after 19 years at Lintas to pursue her passion and become a full-time animal welfare worker. Armed with a veterinary degree from Australia, "a plot of land and a dream,” as Mehta remarked, de Souza set up the Socrates Oliver Veterinary Hospital in Goa in 2002. The GSPCA (Goa Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) also founded by de Souza, not only runs the Hospital but also holds medical camps in Goa for the prevention of the spread of rabies, etc.

Priced at Rs 100, A Dog’s Life is distributed by India Book House and available at Oxford Book Store and certain veterinary clinics in Bombay.

S. J. P.