I am a dog. I am no god. I am, boo I am. Pun intended. With tail in check, I will tell you a tale. Yesterday, I was part of an outdoor session at the children’s home. I was excited. One was because I could meet my girl friends after a long time. Second, and more importantly, was that I could be outdoors! I don’t mean to grumble. I mean, my owners do take good care of me and all that. But I treasure my freedom more. Any outdoor work, brings out the best in me (I wonder why humans call it animal spirits!).

Image courtesy - unspalsh

It was a bright sunny afternoon. I reached the children’s home before the scheduled 4pm start. Most of them were excited to see me, and I them. Some even lifted and petted me - as if I am their adopted child! Though I was uncomfortable with all the hugs and kisses, I did not protest. For I knew that they longed for love. Some, I am told, do not even have a stuffed toy dog back home! There were a few - staff and children - who were a bit wary of me. I do not know, if it is because of my looks. I am beautiful, but I am plain Jane - unlike those poodles who romp down the ramp. I am not well educated either - unlike those students who come from fancy colleges. I have just learnt what life has taught me on the streets. Finally, I just violently shrugged off all those negative thoughts and decided that I shall make best use of this day.

The program was organised at a large field. The children trooped in double file. Though I was on a tight leash, I was let loose once we reached the venue. I chose to scamper around, excitedly wagging my tail. I watched the children use the swing and slides, roundabouts and the open space. Most of them played with gusto. Some swayed to the tunes of multilingual music. There was an aroma of food of floating in the air. The food and music, was not exactly my thing. But heck, it was not my day. It was a special day for these children. I just forgot my hunger pangs and greed to watch the children enjoy the delightful home made pani puris. The puris were freshly picked up by the interns in the morning. They buzzed around the market for all the other ingredients. If only they would have let me know, I would have sniffed around for all that on my Dogmato app! But theyare just students from fancy colleges. I should not expect a lot from them.

The less I expected from the volunteers, the more they delivered. I watched them smile and also be stern. They fed and did not mind being fed by the children. There was no us versus them. As part of their act, they stood, they knelt and also sat cross-legged on the floor. They served and allowed to be served. They had obviously done a lot of work to ensure that it was a fun day. They had publicised this program to friends and families on Houndbook and Flutter. All of the donors had pitched in, with what they could. The volunteers were ably assisted by some of the staff and inmates too. I heard the volunteers being pestered by the children to give more then their allotted share of food. But they reminded each of them - rules are rules! At the end of it all, after the crowd was served as planned, the rules were relaxed. Everyone huddled around the volunteers and got their fill. They have found their calling. And so did I.

I may not be educated enough, but I am blessed with talents. I can make others forget their aches and pains - even if momentary. I may not look beautiful, in the worldly sense, but I have a beautiful soul. When others see me, they can identify something of themselves in me. I have a lot to give, than take. When the children happily waved at me goodbye, I felt sad. I knew that they were going back to their temporary home and I going to mine. I do not know when we will meet next. I wonder if I made any difference. But I know that I did no harm. No bites. No bruises. I am no god. I am a dog. I shall do what I am called to. Boo.