ToI re the Well Dog Show]

[Guest guest]

While Dinamalar's was probably the best review, it is in Tamil and I

cannot post it. I am posting the Times of India report.

 

Regards

 

S. Chinny Krishna

 

------------------------------

Publication: The Times Of India - Chennai; Aug 31, 2009; Section:

Times City; Page: 2

 

Crossbreeds strut their stuff at this show

 

*Priya M Menon | TNN *

 

Chennai: The grounds of CP Ramaswamy Aiyar Foundation bore a festive air on

Sunday afternoon. Clad in veshtis and saris, jeans and T-shirts, people

stood chatting in small groups, while children ran around. Suddenly, a voice

boomed over a loudspeaker, 'Don't be alarmed if you feel someone sniffing or

snuggling up to you. They are your friends and mean no harm. It's their day

after all.'

 

The Blue Cross Well Dog Show was just that - a day to celebrate mongrels

and people who had chosen to provide them loving homes. 'Our aim is to show

our pride in the all-Indian dog and this show is probably being held for the

25th year,' says Dr S Chinny Krishna, chairman of Blue Cross, cuddling his

dog Tripod. 'She was run over by a bike and we thought we would have to put

her to sleep. Since her spine was intact, we were able to save her though we

had to amputate one leg,' says Dr Krishna.

 

At least 73 dogs participated and many of their owners had similar

heart-warming stories to narrate. Like Sharanya Gopinath, who got her

'brother' Max on her 16th birthday. 'My dad's friend found him on the

streets; he was covered with scratches and had a broken limb. He is now like

my brother,' says Sharanya, who has no siblings. Ramya Venkatachalam brought

her dog just so he could meet others. 'I got Babloo from the streets when he

was barely four days old,' says Ramya, as the energetic black and white dog

strains at his leash.

 

Compere Krishna Iyer kept the proceedings lively with her witty

commentary, often breaking into song to cajole reluctant dogs to strut their

stuff for the judges. Some like Asha, who was rescued from the railway

tracks when she was two months old and is now part of the Chennai Airport

bomb detection squad, needed no coaxing to trot proudly towards the judges.

 

This show had no tricks or performances - the categories ranged from

'Best Rescue' and 'Best Survivor' to fun titles like 'Dog that kisses owner

most in one minute' and 'Dog that looks most like owner'. 'Maybe I can enter

Bunty, who is over 11, in the senior citizen category,' laughs Sheela

Subramaniam, who got Bunty from a shelter. Tamil writer and activist

Sivasankari and dancer Varalakshmi Sarathkumar were the judges, while police

commissioner Letika Saran was the chief guest.

 

'I've always had mongrels, but most dog shows are only for pedigreed

dogs,' says Blue Cross volunteer Mark Rozario, who helped organise the show.

'Mongrels or mixed breeds are hardy dogs and just as adorable. We want to

spread that message.'

 

Blue Cross was also promoting adoption of Indian and mixed breed dogs.

And with nine-year-old Maitreyi Sundar manning the adoption centre, 26 pups

found a home. 'They are all sweet and loving,' she said, as people bent over the

wriggling, adorable pups.

 

priya.menon

 

 

 

 

PUPPY LOVE: Young visitors with puppies at the Blue Cross Well Dog Show at

the CP Ramaswamy Aiyar Foundation in Chennai on Sunday

 

 

 

--

" The hands that help are holier than the lips that pray "