We get a lot of emails in our inbox everyday. Some people want to adopt dogs, some people want to give away the dogs they already have, and then there are some who bare their hearts to us about how their four-legged friends have been let down by humans once again.

One such email was recently forwarded to me by Mridu Minocha — one of Delhi’s most visible animal rights activists. It was an email from one Niyyatie S Dua, requesting all dog lovers to join her in a rally on the 10th of July 2010, to protest the killing of six stray dogs that she cared for. Niyyatie actually sent photographs, but I am not posting them because of their graphic nature. They were all poisoned to death.

But I did cry for them… each and every one of them. I wanted to be a part of Niyyatie’s rally, but could not, because I was in a different city. But those of you who did, I’d like you to know that we at Paws Awhile are proud of you. Proud of you for giving voice to those who cannot speak. We only wish that for all humans who show their animal sides in killings like this, we had more of you to stand against them in a show of humanity.

Niyyatie, we are sorry for your loss. Believe us when we say, we know what you are going through.

Speaking of humanity, how can we not end this article with a mention of human force? The new councilors of Kolkata Municipal Corporation have started talk about a mass removal of dogs from the streets of Kolkata. Unfortunately, the Corporation has neither the expertise nor the necessary data to carry out this task.

What we are looking at is a likely disaster and torture of street dogs by ignorant dog catchers. To add to that there will be a hoard of dog haters filing false complaints of dog bites with the civic body. No one will investigate them, and one fine day, you will find your friendly neighborhood stray being taken away in a van, never to come back home again.

Is that what you want to happen?

Do you know that a large percentage of the dogs that are picked up by organizations employed by civic bodies, are never returned to their homes?

Do you know that there is a black market out there for dogs to be treated as research subjects in laboratories who don’t mind paying under the table to acquire them?

Do you want that to happen to your friend?

Dog lovers of Kolkata, write to us. Stand up for your four legged friends. Give homes to as many of them as you can.

Come humans, show your humanity.