RECOMMENDED RULES OF ENGAGEMENT FOR COLONY ANIMAL CARETAKERS

1.Tipping over from compassion to compassion fatigue is very easy when you carry an extremely warm heart. Be cognizant always and never allow yourself to become a compassionately blind person. Compassion becomes obsession over time when it lacks structure. The irony is one won’t realize when and where the line gets blurred. Example: Spend wisely. Biscuits as opposed to pedigree for stray / community animals is not partiality. Periodic treats as opposed to daily rice, milk, eggs and bread is not bias. Skipping a routine if you’re sick & if you don’t have anyone to back you up is not selfishness. You’d rather recover & help at 2X than getting hospitalized & leaving them unattended for a longer period. Be cognizant of your limitations, if you go down, they all go down with you.

2.Do not take responsibility if you cannot fulfill it. As an example, travelling from one corner of the city, picking up / helping an animal, domesticating him/her for a while , getting that stomach used to timely and good feeding, only to drop them back to the base location when you’re unable to cope with the responsibility is unintentional cruelty . You’d rather couch-pray. Always double check if your action may unintentionally cause disservice to the animal, always!

3.Interact respectfully. Canines are a part of our society & social circle. Do not interfere in their space when not needed. Example, if there is a dog fight, call out once or twice & superficial scaring with water will help. Don’t get into the middle of it. You’re not a dog. You don’t have incisors. When feeding, if the timid ones don’t eat or the powerful ones dominate, leave them be. They are survivors. They have mastered that art after being on the streets for very long time. They will find harmony. They will find their “tribe”. I would recommend the same with domestic canines as well. Respect each other’s space.

4.Program your mind, stay tuned to calmness. Dogs are extremely sensitive to human feelings & moods. When you approach them be in a happy or neutral state of mind. You will receive what you give.

5.Understand their language & body signals. Don’t shower love or attention when it is not needed and then blame the dog if they snap. They are just like us. We snap when we want space and don’t have the luxury of it. They jaw-snap. Simple.

6.It takes many types to make this world, accept it and move on. Others around you will support, learn and appreciate. Your objective & that group of people are your reason to be who you are.

7.Participate responsibly. Many feeders litter the place in the name of help. Many unintentionally cause commotion in the name of love. Your neighbors have the right to complain. They have the right to give you feedback. Revisit your methods. Align and keep going forward. Because if you don’t you will get arm twisted into stopping your activities and the ones you’re helping will suffer.

8.Stop using the word “owners”, drive Guardianship or pet-parenthood. Our brain is an amazing processing unit & has always left me in awe. We believe what we see. What is not seen, our brains reject the acceptance of its existence. (Belief system is another line of discussion though). Ever heard of the term “auto suggestion?” Our minds believe what we keep saying. When the mind believes, it executes, that’s why we have so many motivational speakers talk about the “power & vibration of words”. When you hear someone using the term “owner” while describing a human-canine relationship, feel comfortable to politely correct them. We own assets, not lives or relationships. We never say “I own a father, a mother, spouse and 3 children”, do we?

9.Never complain or crib that people around are not supportive emotionally or monetarily. Don’t hate humans – YOUR OWN RACE. This is YOUR choice. YOU chose to be a part of those animal lives because helping & supporting made YOU happy. The animal didn’t “ask for it”. Humans around you didn’t “push you to take responsibility”. Nobody is obligated to help you. Don’t expect. If help comes, it comes. If it doesn’t, with all due respect find a way to fulfill the responsibility. Respect opinions & don’t try to convince them with yours. It is alright for some people to feel scared, allergic or distanced from animals. It’s absolutely possible for a non-vegetarian to be a compassionate person. Don’t correlate the two & call them fake. They are going through the journey of joining the dots to get to where you are. Be patient & express personal views only WHEN ASKED. Don’t hate the human race, it’s alright to dislike traits but hating someone is another extreme. Speaking of extremes, animal abusers don’t fall in either.

10.Last & certainly not the least TAKE A BREAK FROM THAT ROUTINE ONCE IN A WHILE. If you fall short of love for yourself, you won’t have any left to share.