The Mad Dog

He felt it ironical. He had just reached home after a talk on pet adoption, at a seminar organised by the students at the Government Veterinary College, of which he is an alumnus. He had started his talk quoting Vaikom Muhammad Basheer’s Pathummayude Aadu, the goat of Basheer’s sister Pathumma, which wandered from place to place, eating everything it could find – paper, cloth and anything. He explained that if watching such childlike innocence could trigger a novel, how it could help the alienating effects of the current lifestyle. A walk with your cow, a cuddle from your cat or a friendly fight with your dog, can brighten up one’s day.

Sixteen years of service as a government veterinary doctor had exposed him to wide variety of behaviours of people towards their pets. He had seen livestock christened, dogs called brothers, people spending a good part of the day caring their pets. This unconditional emotional attachment was still a mystery to him. People don't love pets only for its usefulness. People don't love cats because it catches mice. There was something more. What evolutionary advantage did this affection towards another species has?

He received a warm response to his speech. He recommended some pet adoption agencies to those who approached him after the speech.

Yet he felt ironical. Because he did not own a pet... No, ‘own’ is not the appropriate word. Pets are not commodities. They are living things. Some cities in the west have passed laws stating one is just a guardian of a pet, not the owner. Anyway, he did not have a pet even though he is considered an authority on animal care. In the speech, he had also explained the most common cause of people not adopting pets is the concern of the lack of care while travelling. He tried to comfort himself that since both his wife and he are working, adopting a pet is a luxury which he couldn’t afford. He thought he should consider all his patients as his own pets. Why to worry so much about such ironies? It is all around. The head of meat processing technology at the same college was a vegetarian. Life is full of ironies. So is his.

“Father, someone is on the phone for you.” shouted his thirteen year old daughter.

“Yeah, I’ll be right there.” He was so indulged in thoughts that he didn’t even hear the phone ring in the next room. He got up to fetch the call.

“Hello, yes, Dr. Devan here.”

“Hello doctor, I am David calling from Panamukku. I live near the church. I called you for some advice. I have a dog, of the Pomeranian breed. It has been recently diagnosed to have rabies. It has gone beyond a curable stage.”

“Okay. So, what can I possibly do for you?”

“I think it now deserves a mercy killing. I can’t see him suffer so much. And it could spread also. I have little kids, you know. Could you suggest some methods that will put him to sleep peacefully? I can’t see him die violently. He is as old as my younger son.”

“There are several methods for that. But the most of them involves medication. Why don’t you bring him over to my clinic? I will take care.”

“No, doctor. I can’t do that. I will do it myself. He is so dear to me. But are you sure the methods are quick and painless?”

“There is no complete painless method. Some amount of discomfort will be there, at least for 30 seconds.”

“Is it taken with food?”

“Well, that depends. There are foods that put him out of misery. The most common one is an injection directly leading to heart and lungs failure.”

“That is fine. Could you tell the names? I will buy it myself.”

“There are several types and brands. I can only tell which one is the best only after seeing the patient.”

“Still, the one which is used most commonly?”

“There is nothing like that. Specific ones in specific cases. There are procedures. Better you consult me at the clinic tomorrow. Do you know where my clinic is?”

“Yes, I know. Okay, I will see you there. Good night.”

“Good night.”

Animal euthanasia was not a dilemma for him as euthanasia is for many. Without any religious stains, he strongly supports it. He has a Darwinian perspective on that. The cases like David’s have a potential risk of spreading. So, considering the survival instinct of humans, it should be performed undoubtedly.

The only dilemma he has comes from his years of service to animals. It was because he has learnt to think in his patients’ shoes. He is not content with the fact that the animal euthanasia is always involuntary. Humans can volunteer for euthanasia. But an animal cannot communicate to choose death over suffering. It was always the guardians who take such decisions.

A few months back he had administered an elephant, Kannan, to death after injuring seriously from a road accident. The only part it could move was its trunk. Internal organs were injured badly. Devan could only wish the elephant could volunteer.

He invariantly follows a procedure for euthanasia of pets. A day or two before performing, he explains in detail to the guardian, how it is done and how the shots work. How he gives a high dose of lethal injection in the paws of cats and dogs. He always gives the choice to the guardians either to stay with the pets or away during the process. David’s request of doing the killing himself was a little strange. But it is no more illogical than a human’s love for a cat. The pets’ world is woven with dreams and flying colours.


A couple of days later on a Sunday, Devan woke up with an unusual freshness. His wife generally sleeps through the morning during weekends. So, he woke up, prepared some black coffee and sat in his veranda with the morning paper and coffee. As he glanced through the routine political dramas, a special report caught his attention.

Debt-ridden couple kills children, commits suicide

A real estate businessman and his wife poisoned his two minor children and hung themselves on the ceiling of his house in Millennium Colony, near St. Thomas church, Panamukku. The victims has been identified as David Francis (36), Teresa (32), and two boys, four and two years old.

David is a real self-employed estate businessman. Close relatives said that he suffered some major financial losses recently...

Devan couldn't concentrate any more. It was the same David who didn't turn up at the clinic after the phone call. Devan's heartbeat increased, his hands were shivering. Were the medicines David called for meant for him? Or his kids? Or did he actually have a pet whom he wanted to join? Devan read the article again. There is no mention of a dog. Did the journalists and the police overlook the dog?

Animal euthanasia was fine with him. Euthanasia for humans, he had never thought about much. Were there still any dilemma when it is voluntary? Is suicide euthanasia? Technically not, may be. But isn't it same? What if he had told the name of medicines to David? Would David have used it? What is so unsolvable that he had to commit suicide? His mind wandered from one thought to another in grief of a stranger's strange death. He wished he had pet to divert his attention.