CHENNAI: There are loving strays on every street, yet foreign breeds are most people’s first pick for a pet. Gumi Malhotra hopes to change that with her watercolour portraits of dogs at a shelter run by CARE.
“It is very admirable what the organisation does,” she says. “They never turn away any animal, no matter how sick or injured or abused. They tend to dogs that are put into trauma as well. They have a calf and a couple of pigs too.”
The artist has always been fond of dogs but thought herself “too weak hearted” to do welfare work. “I used to get upset seeing sick dogs,” she says. “I thought that I’d contribute in some way I know best and that is by painting portraits.”
Close-up portraits
It was on founder of CARE Shelter Sudha Narayan’s suggestion that Gumi painted the shelter animals. And her works immediately won hearts. “A lot of people started contacting me for their pet’s portraits,” she says. “I have quite a few orders to do now. Most of the proceeds from the sale goes to the welfare.”
Gumi does close-up portraits of dogs and has worked on a portrait of a cat for the shelter. Her works were even exhibited by CARE shelter last year, in November.
“There are many dogs at the shelter who stand no chance of being adopted,” she says. “They’ve been there since CARE started. There is a dog that is almost 18.”
Gumi stands firmly against “buying” puppies. “They are just actually buying lives with no respect for the mother or for the animal’s lives,” she says. “But Bengaluru is much advanced, when compared to other cities, in terms of awareness.” For example, her exhibition was not widely advertised but it saw many visitors thanks to word-of-mouth.
Her paintings draw from her outlook on strays. “To say that they don't want to adopt a pet from the road because it is dirty is like saying a person who has been living on the road for a few years is worthless too.”
Rethinking relationships
Gumi condemns the cruelty that humans often inflict on the mute loyal beings. “Even after they are beaten and hurt, they'll come wagging their tails, when you call out,” she says.
The artist has two dogs — one a rescue labrador and the other is street pup. “The indie dog’s survival instinct and sturdiness are perfect for your climate and surroundings,” she says. “We are not very sensible when it comes to choosing a pet. If you want a status symbol, buy a car or something else, not fancy breeds. You are playing with a life here.”