Dear Editor,
Two weeks ago, driving west on Hadfield Street (in front of Smith Memorial Primary School), I saw some schoolchildren playing with a dog. I stopped and complimented them for being kind to animals and gave them some donated dry dog food which they slowly fed to the female dog. I asked them whose dog it was and they said, in chorus, “the school’s.”
One of the students called the guard who explained that the dog showed up approximately six months ago (during a flood) and had remained at the school ever since.
He said, “the kids, guards and teachers took her under their wings and leaves food and water for her every day.” The guard went on to explain that the only time the dog got aggressive was when she had pups.
I saw my opportunity and explained to the guard and a teacher who had joined the group, the advantages of spaying: less aggression, no babies, no male dog fights, and no cancer or venereal tumour from multiple births. I told them that the two most important advantages were: 1) not having to find good homes for her offspring every six months, and 2) having happy and healthy dogs.
The teacher was sceptical saying she was worried about the surgery and did not want anything to happen to ‘Brown girl.’ She pointed out that she was a faithful watchdog and even follows her favourite teachers around the school yard after school hours. However, I received permission to have her spayed, a minor surgery which took place at a private vet’s clinic last Saturday.
The guard had her tied and waiting for me and confirmed she had fasted from the night before her surgery.
After surgery the vet said he was amazed at how strong Brown girl was and how well she breezed through the surgery, after which she was vaccinated and dewormed. We took her back to Smith Memorial School and left her in one of my portable large dog kennels to recover with water and food. The next morning (Sunday) I went back and she was up and ready to continue her duties.
I thanked the HM, teachers and guard for their assistance in improving the quality of life for Brown Girl.
I would also like to say thanks to many good friends who donate food, money, kennels, animal collars and other things to make these types of activities possible.
I just drove by to see Brown Girl (Saturday the 5th), she was on duty at the school, wagging her tail and happy to see me.
The very nice Headmistress gave me permission to give a talk to her schoolchildren on why you should be kind to animals.
Yours faithfully,
Syeada Manbodh
