Pets 'N' Us

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There are many good books on pet care, but most of the information they contain relate to the advanced countries. Pet lovers in India and other developing countries needed a book that gives simple guidance for a better bonding of the family with the pet, and a better understanding of the factors that turn a loving pet into a ferocious biter.

Pets ‘N’ us focuses on giving people a better understanding of the needs of the pet, and tips on avoiding problems that arise from unintentional mishandling. The chapters on middle age, emergencies, travel and death contain details not commonly found in other books, ‘Some fun’ is a delightful assortment of poems, quotes and letters about pets.

A book well worth reading and keeping by as a reference manual.

Purnima L. Toolsidass is a deeply spiritual person who has felt empathy for suffering animals since childhood. She was inspired by her Guru, Swami Akhandanand Saraswati to work for animal welfare as a service to the Almighty. She is a Founder Trustee of the Compassionate Crusaders Trust, and People for Animals Calcutta (founded by Mrs. Maneka Gandhi). She was also the Director of the Kolkata branch of Beauty Without Cruelty. Purnima believes that compassion for all beings is the best tool we have, for combating and curtailing all the negative trends in modern society. She feels that society needs to be more aware of how co-dependent we are with animals at all levels, whether it is material, economical, emotional, psychological, physical, or spiritual. Unwarranted, unrestricted, unopposed cruelty to defenceless beings harms the entire human race at several levels. This book is an attempt at creating a better awareness in order to avail of the advantages we can obtain from pets, and understand that we harm humanity when we fail to understand or respond to the needs of beings who can't express themselves. Having studied these matters for over four decades, Purnima has made it the mission of her life to help make the world more compassionate and empathetic to the enormous suffering —much of which is self-created. She has also translated a number of her Guru's books on Vedic philosophy.

From time immemorial, man has subjugated animals and trained them to work for him, but somewhere, somehow, animals have in their time captured the heart of man (and woman) and succeeded in building relationships with those who own them.

Some of these relationships run very deep and there are people who will mourn the death of a pet with almost the same intensity as that of a close relative. Yet in spite of their love and care, they sometimes remain ignorant of the best way to look after a pet and so their animals suffer almost as much as those who have to live with people who only keep them for show and do not really care for them. All in all, a book like this one can be a real boon to animal lovers especially those who have pets.

Pets come in all shapes and sizes (there is no accounting for tastes). Probably the most common pets are dogs and cats, the latter behaving as if the human is their pet. For children, pets are a wonderful gift for companionship, to play with and most of all for compassion. To have something to love, to be responsible for it, smaller than oneself, is a special education for a child which only owning a pet can give to one. So many children in India are deprived of the skill of looking after a little animal and the special relationships built up, and grow up frightened of and avoiding animals, and so miss a lot of loving and a lot of joy in the companionship of a pet.

For elderly people, a pet is a great companion, warding off loneliness, and in some cases being a real protection, especially for people living alone. For people in the midst of a busy life, with all the stresses and strains of modem daily living, a pet can be a real source of relaxation. So no matter what age you are, a pet, well cared for is a source of joy and this new book will, it is hoped, fill a long felt need on the part of pet lovers everywhere.

The idea for this book cropped up when Ms. Anita Nag, an animal lover was discussing doggy problems with Mr. Debasis Chakrabarti, animal psychologist, and telling him what a difference Julie (her dog) had made in her life. The fact that the books currently available in the market do not cover many of the common problems was lamented, and Mr.Chakrabarti was asked to write a book covering the many little—and not so little—questions which perplex every inexpert person who has never kept a pet. In fact, even those who have kept pets all their lives are sometimes unable to answer a number of questions raised by a novice. Professionals and amateurs often prefer to continue with outdated practices, and the fact that their dogs remain good natured is only because the dogs understand that their owner is loving, but lacks a bit in understanding!

Mr.Chakrabarti asked Ms. Nag to write up all the questions which occurred to her, and also her own experience with Julie, and this was the inception of this book. It is hoped that Mr. Chakrabarti's expertise as a behaviourist will help thousand of pets and their people, to lead happy, healthy, and deeply satisfying lives. We are grateful to Sister Cyril, Principal of Loreto Day School Sealdah, Kolkata, and an Awardee of UNESCO's Special Prize for education, for writing the Foreword and supporting our efforts towards a more compassionate and ethically aware social order. Mr. Dilip Goswami—popularly known as Dalid—willingly drew the sketches for the book, despite the pressures and moods that afflict an eminent artist. The hard work put in by Mr. Pankaj Roy and Dr. Radha Vasan is also much appreciated. It is impossible to list all the books I have read in the past, which have given valuable tips on many issues, for the simple reason that I cannot recall their names and authors. Thanks are also due to Dr. P. K. Samanta M. Vsc., who gave much valuable technical information. Last, but not the least, a special thanks to Ms. Shraddha Merchant, for putting together all the matter in a logical and readable style!

We will be very grateful to the reader who takes the trouble to send us a feedback, giving suggestions and fresh insights, to make future editions more comprehensive.

The proceeds from this book will be used to help suffering animals.

**Contents and Sample Pages**