Feeders of stray dogs and opponents who find dogs and puppies a nuisance have always been at loggerheads but the alleged intervention of Menaka Gandhi in such a dispute has inspired Raju Z. Moray to pen this poem.
——
Instances are increasing
Of Man’s faithful friend
Being neglected, ill-treated
Often meeting a sad end
Those for or against dogs
Are almost equally divided
Matters have reached courts
To be argued and decided
Supporters once aroused
Exhibit tendencies canine
And aggressive opponents
Very often cross the line
Animal rights crusaders
Have compassion at heart
Ensconced only for animals
(For humans it’s yet to start)
Such compassion is selective
It has its unique features
Confined to favourite animals
Not all the living creatures
Left out of the ruling Cabinet
An MP still growls for rights
Even outside the Parliament
She finds enough dog-fights
Animals are trending topics
On many social media blogs
Now that so many are jobless
And our Economy gone to dogs.
(Raju Z Moray is an advocate who practices law in the Bombay High Court when not puncturing bloated egos. He is the creator of ‘Gobble D. Gook’, his alter-ego, who figured in the ‘Court Jester’ columns of ‘The Lawyers’.)
