Like a Fall leaf, I began tuning into a glorious shade of orange from green a few years ago. It is not often that we watch ourselves transform into new people — people with contrasting values, qualities, and attributes than earlier. 

In a span of a year, I went from fearing dogs to loving them. Lulu, now our pet baby, brought about this seismic shift in my personality. Even though I tried to avoid making friendship with her, she was persistent. In a matter of months, this colony stray dog was sitting on my lap and eating food out of my hand. 

I used to be the person who thought that feeding strays encouraged them. 

Fact: No. Stray dogs will find food, one way or another. Feeding them prevents them from scavenging for food and reduces aggressive tendencies that may arise from protecting food sources. Feeding them can help build trust. This is helpful in taking them to the vet for vaccinations, sterilisations, and other medical needs. 

Two years ago, she got lost for a week and was found in one of the nation’s most secure locations – a naval air base. On the evening of her return, a starved, terrified, tick-ridden Lulu followed us home. As she napped on our living room rug in the warmth of the glow from Diwali lights, everything seemed perfect. Back then, I thought this was the moment when the end credits could start rolling.

Lulu had begun becoming rather protective of my husband and I. Sometimes she would growl and charge at unsuspecting passers-by. A few aggrieved residents began lodging complaints against her behaviour. Lulu was dealing with fear aggression.

Sometimes dogs get spooked by odd stuff or act on stimuli that we cannot always comprehend. 

Apt Response: In such a scenario, it is best if we do not make eye-contact with the dog, stay still, look away, and let the moment pass. Running to or at a dog out of fear or to establish power can backfire. 

To reduce her time spent outdoors when people would be walking about, we began keeping her at home from 6pm to 9am everyday.

It was a voluntary decision to do this. Caregivers cannot be forced to restrain dogs. 

Responsibilities: To ensure dogs are vaccinated, sterilised, and well-fed. The goal of a caregiver is to strive for peaceful co-existence.

A few months later, when we moved into a new home in an adjacent building that had a resident Alpha Dog we decided to stop housing Lulu to reduce dog-dog and dog-human conflict. We did not account for Lulu’s keen sense of smell. The very next morning she was scratching on our main door, asking to be let in. 

It was time to get the opening credits rolling.