Humanity has no language!
I love Aamchi Mumbai, the reason being that I am born and brought up here. The thought of leaving this ambitious city gives me shivers. I was born in Parel at Wadia hospital; however, to be honest, I was myself not aware of any hospital for animals around the city. My encounter with this place happened only when my pet cat was admitted there.
My pet cat, which had two different colored eyes, fascinated every visitor in our house. However, as he grew older, we realized he is blind. But one astonishing fact was no one could make out that he had this kind of disability as he used to roam around in the house flawlessly. They were purely his instincts! It reminded me of “Paresh Rawal” from the movie “Aankhein”. Due to his weak vision, it was obvious that he did not wander anywhere outside the house and was fed only on home cooked food. Thus we were carefree that he will never have any infection. But it’s a unwritten fact that “things we expect the least, come right in front of us”. My pet cat was a victim of jaundice, which I could never guess in the wildest of my dreams.
After series of unsuccessful treatments at local vet, we decided to admit him at Bai Sakarbai Dinshaw Petit Hospital for Animals,Parel. He was admitted for 3 days. But during that period, he became so fragile and he couldn’t even digest light food and medicines. He was not responding to any treatment. Even after supplying oxygen, he started thumping. My parents attended him. On the fourth day, hospital authorities called up to give us heartbreaking news about his death. My father advised me to go to work, but I refused and insisted to see him one last time. We left immediately and on reaching there, we saw his stiff corpus. I couldn’t control my tears as I brought him up all this while.We completed the paper work and proceeded.
The moment I entered the premises, I saw a big open ground, full of trees and greenery surrounded with cats,dogs,cows,horses and birds. Each kind of animal was allotted separate sections. I saw people who sat beside their pets, while their ailing pet was given saline. There were various volunteers attending various wards. Some ward boys were carrying the dogs like their own children. They had the courage to even carry a wounded animal. There were injured animals, ownerless animals and all were taken care under this “big roof of kindness” (is what I would call this hospital.) Yes, it sounds extremely astounding, but these big premises had all the facilities right from various wards for different animals, cardiac centre, ambulance,ICU, Blood bank to Electronic crematorium. There was no animal unattended.My cat was brought to the crematorium and was burnt electrically. His life came to an end and we departed with him forever on that day. But the entire experience will always be alive in my mind. Empathetic workers, hospital facilities and hardworking doctors have made this hospital capable of setting an example that “there is a bit of humanity” left in this world of terror, crime and selfish deeds.
I would like to confess that I lived in Mumbai for 25 years, but never ever noticed this 50 year old selfless organization run by Bai Sakarbai Dinshaw Petit and Sir Dinshaw Manockjee Petit . In today’s world, where the price of every single thing has risen exorbitantly, I am happy to see such a trust which caters to the needs of pet lovers at a affordable cost. Animals were taken care of like humans and I want to thank each and everyone to compassionately do such a commendable job for the dumb living creatures. I observed the tendency of people there was to strive hard to save each life that enters there, silently, without much paparazzi .Before visiting this place, I just loved keeping pets, but after that, I respect my pets for their presence in my life. I realized how pets make our lives positive and lively. They change our depressing and stressful mood and make us feel good. Animals don’t speak, but their contribution speaks everything.
