Kids’ Pet Diaries

-Prabal Man Dhaubhadel

?Clich?d it is, but true – a dog is a man’s best friend. Not just dogs but pets in general have greater influence on people’s lives in many different ways. A companion in solitude, a watchful eye, a play pal, someone to talk to and also someone that brings a smile to your face. That’s just a small fraction of what pets are capable of doing. From cats and dogs to other popular pets such as fish, tortoise, birds, guinea pigs, white mice, etc., to rather unconventional ones such as snakes and spiders, people keep all sorts of pets for multiple features they possess or simply due to passion. They might be random creatures of some other species for us but for those who own them, they have a special place in their lives; some even to the extent that they consider them family.

Pet enthusiasts come from all kinds of backgrounds and a variety of ages. And moreover, amongst all age groups, children in particular tend to have a peculiar affinity towards animals. Their naivety and fearlessness work in favor as it reduces the resistance of children and makes them more drawn towards these creatures. On the contrary, even animals, particularly dogs, seem to like children and seldom get aggressive or violent in front of little kids. There has always been this strange chemistry; an unusual bonding between children and pets. Keeping this in mind, families with kids in the house have been known to keep pets for their child’s growth. Positive relationships with pets nurture qualities of compassion, responsibility, caretaking and attachment with other living beings. Also, keeping a pet involves children in physical activity and keeps them closer to nature.

In many parts of the world, keeping pets has been a common practice since a very long time; a prominent one too. Shepherd dogs were one of the earliest breeds of dogs domesticated and bred over time primarily for the security of the farms. On the other hand, different types of fresh water fish with vibrant and colorful fins are kept in aquariums to rejoice in their beauty and their graceful movements. According to one survey, every one in three households in the United States shelters a dog. In our country too, keeping pets as a hobby has become more popular in the past few years due to easily available veterinary services, breeding centers and access to all kinds of pets. The concept of having pets, taking proper care of them and benefitting from them has become clearer. However, keeping a pet still remains an expensive hobby and one that has been limited to the urban areas. We decided to meet a few families with kids within Kathmandu Valley who had a special penchant for pets and looked into their relationships with their pets to see how pivotal a role these non-human friends play in their lives.

Prachin Pant

The charming and cute Prachin, a grade six student at Rato Bangala School, is the proud owner of two German Shepherds, Goofy and Pluto. While the 10-year-old male, Goofy, tends to get aggressive despite having received formal training, the 9-year-old female, Pluto, is amiable and calm but the lack of training makes her less obedient. “We have grown up together and they have been with me for a very long time. This makes them very special in my life. They serve as my best friends when no one else is around.” Talking about memorable incidents, she fondly recalls her brother and herself cycling with the dogs in the huge compound and attempting a dog riding race with her brother. About her pets, she likes their shrewdness and the keen sense in Pluto. With Goofy and Pluto growing up faster than she had imagined, she wishes to own a cute little pug in the near future.

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Sylvie and Movi

Every member of the Manandhar family has a huge liking for pets; not just the children. Altogether, the Manandhar residence at Jhamsikhel across St. Mary’s School is home to Lucy, Danny, Rover and March. While the elder daughter Movi loves her pets, the younger one Sylvie is completely crazy about them. The eldest among the pets is Lucy, a heavily built, professionally trained seven-year-old German Shepherd. Another dog in the house is a tenacious and quick one-year-old Dachshund, Danny. Also, the sisters own two cute Angora rabbits, Rover and March. They enjoy a nice time on the terrace with all four pets put together. Despite the incoherence of the four pets, they get along perfectly well and believe it or not, it is the dogs that guard the little rabbits from aerial predators when they are set free on the terrace. Both sisters are more inclined towards Lucy, who was originally brought for security reasons, than any of the other pets. Although physically weak due to age, Lucy is a sharp and sensitive Shepherd dog. As for the Dachshund, the younger sister has been trying to train him and till now has found very little luck with the playful and hyper-active Danny. Among the sisters, the younger one is known to have a close connection with animals. According to Mr. and Mrs. Manandhar, Sylvie has had this in-born attraction towards animals. She feeds every stray dog on the road and carries dog food with her at all times and doesn’t mind eating them herself once in a while! She recognizes every street dog in Jhamsikhel and vice versa. With the family paying visit to the animal sanctuary at regular time intervals and attending dog shows, Sylvie has had a lot of exposure to animals; however, what is surprising is her fearless attention and attachment towards them.