BISCUITS FULL OF WISDOM

A guide to building compassion for strays

- Jotvinder Singh 

Let us start with the first biscuit to help build compassion - time and sincerity. Compassion is a vague word and often people use it as per their perceptions. We see hundreds of animal activists and NGO's literally milching the term, 'compassion.' This needs to change.

No, you do not have to simply contribute to some group just to feel content that you have done your part. Social media has anyways turned most of us into back seat drivers for any cause. That's why we see thousands of pledges, appeals and signature campaigns flooding our inboxes and what do we do? We just click on the link and sign our approval. Is it that simple? I wish it were that easy to change the world!

Go out. Have a look around your nearby park, garbage collection points or even roadside eateries. See how strays struggle to get something for their tummies. They have babies who die on the road trying to follow their mom in search of food. They don't know what traffic is. They don't know what security is all about. All they know is they trust their mom who tries to get something to eat. During summers, situation gets worse as along with food they need water. And in plenty. With urbanisation concreting every open source of water, survival of strays is further compounded and adversely impacted.

Compassion starts here.

Of course you cannot take away the whole misery, but just a small step to take responsibility of even one stray pack, will go a long way to change the way you look at things.

Time, is the only thing you have to devote. Chuck out that TV for atleast 30 minutes to utilise the time for some real and heartfelt entertainment. Have you tried playing with pups? Or just pat a stray? Spend some time listening and playing with them. They need friends and not activists.

Time and sincerity - this is the first biscuit that a stray needs and not just your Parle G packet.

2. Food