International Dog Day on August 26 and dog parents across the globe plan to celebrate this special day. Television anchor turned actor Charrul Malik, who had four dogs back home, talks about the ways an individual can actively contribute to the welfare of dogs and more.
“International Dog Day holds a very special place in my heart, as I've been a dog lover since my childhood. Dogs have always been a part of our household, bringing warmth and blessings. In our house in Chandigarh, we managed to accommodate four or five dogs. Apart from our own pets, we used to feed the street dogs outside. In our veranda, we used to arrange food for the dogs. This space served as a mini shelter. We kept our pet dogs inside, as they didn't allow the outside dogs to come in,” she says.
Talking more about her love for dogs, she shares, “Just last year, we adopted a dog. We found him on the street of Naigaon. He was hungry and was very small, maybe just a month old. After bringing him home, I didn't know how to take care of him or what to do. He was so tiny and needed to be fed milk, but he was quite unconscious. So, we took him to the doctor. The doctor said he had a disease and needed treatment. So, we started treating him that same day. The next day, the dog began to recover.”
"We kept this dog for 2 months at a farm house as my pet dog Della is very aggressive, so we couldn't keep him at home. She belongs to the Dachshund breed. Dachshunds are usually friendly, but some can be aggressive too. He was a male dog, so she didn't like him. Then I called my co-actor, Soma Rathod who plays Amma Ji in Bhabiji Ghar Par Hai. I told her about the dog. She wanted to see it and was happy when they finally met. Post treatment we shifted him to Soma's place in Virar and named him Chironji lal. He's called Cheeru. Soma has around 10-15 dogs at her place. I don't know what to say, they're so beautiful. And the good thing is, she doesn't have fancy dogs, they're all Indian dogs living inside her home. Soma is raising Cheeru and I often ask her about him. When we meet on set, she shows me videos of Cheeru. I'm so happy that Cheeru is in a happy space with Soma,” she adds.
Every individual can make significant contributions to the welfare of dogs, she feels. “By feeding them and not causing them any irritation, we can show our compassion. When we see some people throwing stones at dogs or honking loudly to scare them while they're trying to cross the road, we should make an effort to let the dog safely cross the road. It's a simple act of kindness. Additionally, offering food, water, and even some love to these animals is a humane gesture. We are humans, and we have a responsibility towards both ourselves and the animals. There's a bigger picture here that some people fail to see. I'm not implying everyone, but many of us neglect street dogs, ignoring their needs and sometimes even recklessly driving around them. We should pause and remember that these dogs, too, deserve our respect. When a dog is trying to cross the road, we should allow them to do so before we proceed. It's a small gesture that can set a positive example. Beyond this, I believe we should extend our care further. If we encounter an injured dog on the street, we can take the initiative to at least alert someone or, if possible, take the dog to a safer place or adopt them if circumstances allow. These actions, no matter how small, can collectively make a big difference. Let's remember that we are all part of this universe, and we should not forget the compassion that is inherent in us,” she ends.
