You guys must have noticed the “Site worth watching” section on the blog sidebar. It’s been there a couple of weeks and features a different blog everyday. It’s called Entrecard and it’s a bloggers’ network. I’ve met some wonderful people through this network… people who understand what we are doing, and I have to tell you, it’s a nice feeling.

I have already mentioned Chris from Houndsgood and Jen from Save a Shelter Pet. Then there was this mention on Shop dog diaries (check out my last post here). This week I got to interact with Beth from “A frog to kiss – part girl, part geek“, and it was amazing how supportive she was of our cause.

This is what she wrote in a recommendation note for Paws Awhile on Entrecard:

Absolutely read and support this blog and cause. If you’re an animal lover it’s a must read.

Which brings me to the point: How come these ladies who are so far away from where we are, get what we are trying to do, and those closer home don’t? Is it a difference in understanding, culture or mindset? Or is it everything put together?

I will share with you a part of my conversation with a colleague. She wanted to know what it was that we were doing and how we wanted to proceed in our task. Worthwhile questions, that I tried to the best of my ability to answer. She also asked what it was that differentiated us from the others.

“You see, we are an awareness movement, not a bona fide rescue centre”, was what I told her, and cited an example to explain what our motivation was.

I travel to work through Lake Town everyday, and everyday I see a dog on one of the pavements who has been hit by a car. It has an injured spine and as a result can only use its two front limbs while dragging the rear end of the body along. The dog has been there for close to four months now, and everyday I dbeen witness to the same picture.

The shopkeepers in the area feed the dog that sleeps on the pavement, but no one has even for once given a thought about getting him treated. Why? Is it because they are not aware of what can be done, or is it because for most people “love for animals” is only limited to cuddling fluffballs that cease to be attractive once they are grown up?

My colleague actually offered an interesting perspective to the situation. First of all, she was quite honest in confessing that prior to our conversation she wouldn’t have given the said dog a second look either. “We as a country do not have it in our culture to adopt pets or look upon them as families.” she said. “Keeping pets is a probably a more recent practice in our country. May be that’s why we don’t come forward.”

Point to ponder, don’t you think? I’d really like to know your opinion about this. What is it? The culture, the mindset, or both?

Meanwhile, if anyone from Lake Town is reading this post, and would like to help this dog out, please leave a comment, and I will let you know how to do it. Believe me, it won’t take you more than a phone call, a signature and a little bit of your time.