CHENNAI: There are some crazy stories you hear when you visit an adoption drive. A puppy that survived after being thrown off the third floor. A kitten that was roaming a hospital parking lot. One canine that was missing a limb had actually been found in a hut, brought in by well-wishing slum dwellers.
While weekend events organised to facilitate adoptions of abandoned and stray animals have become common place in the city, the tales behind the tails never fail to elicit a tear or a smile. So despite the waves of heat on a particularly hot Sunday afternoon at the Luz House, the Chennai Adoption Drive’s (CAD) initiative as always was packed.
Dogs. Cats. Foster pet parents. Never-had-a-pet-before families. And of course, a generous bunch of folks with a houseful of dogs, who were tempted (almost) to take home just one more...If you’ve never been for one of these schindigs, here’s how it works. The male puppies wear a blue ribbon, and the girls wear a pink one. You canmeet your new furry family member as easily as a sniff and pat. That’s canine etiquette for the dog and then you, in that order — not the other way around. On the other hand, if you’ve attended several of these drives, the crazy thing is, the ‘cuteness’ factor never seems to dip. With kittens less than a month old and fast asleep, a warm bowl of milk in the corner (courtesy the ever blazing sun), it takes an overwhelming effort not to stop and stare repeatedly, and melt into a puddle of goo. Possibly every few feet, given that that’s how the crates are spaced. Despite all that, as any animal loving foster parent will tell you, every single adoption is still a Yipee moment. Fortunately, there were 20 of those — 15 puppies and five kittens — which found homes over the weekend.
(If you want a paw print on your heart, call 9884812086)