ahh-chew!

Friday:

I got sick. Its some sort of chest cold that’s going around. Lots of people have it or have gotten over it, even the Dahli Lama. It hasn’t completely taken me out of commission but I’m only at 50% right now. I’ve been sleeping a lot. I hope to get over it soon. Its been raining heavily with glorious lightning off and on. The power went out twice. The first time it went out I was walking back from dinner and all of a sudden I was surrounded by pitch-black. I wish I wasn’t sick so I could better enjoy it. The lightning here is intense.


Saturday:

I felt a bit better so I went down to the clinic to get more pictures. The rain has cleared the air and the views are even more spectacular. Fresh snow has fallen at lower elevations, pretty close to our elevation. Its definitely been colder.

This day was a round up day. We brought back two dogs for sterilization. These dogs seemed otherwise healthy. They almost took a dog that had owners. As the dog catchers were trying to catch him the owner ran out screaming. They explained what they were doing and everything was ok and everyone was all smiles. I cut my day short because I was sick. I spent the rest of the day sleeping.


Sunday:

I’m still sick but better. The damp cold air isn’t helping much and neither is the pollution. I’m not getting any worse which is good.

Today two vets came to the clinic to neuter the dogs that had been caught. They were also going to check out the dog that may have cancer. The owner’s son brought the dog this time. They both sat on a rock and waited for the sentence to come down from the vets. He looked as though he was going to cry and the dog was definitely scared, as if he knew what was going on. Maybe he did.

The vets showed up on Indian time (late) and after the rounds of introductions were complete they inspected the clinic then examined the dog waiting to hear how much time it had left. The owner wasn’t ready for the answer, that was clear. The answer came and the owner smiled. It wasn’t cancer, just a really bad infection. The vets wrote a list of stuff to pick up at the pharmacy and Arvind would administer the injections and whatever other treatment the dog needed. The owner kept smiling throughout, obviously relieved.

Arvind’s friend Vishnu came by with his dog to help out. Vishnu lives in upper Dharmsala where I’m staying. He works at a free vet clinic and does the vaccinations in this area and coordinates the sterilization efforts here. Vishnu’s dog and Beauty, the new clinic dog, had a blast playing together in the woods.

Surrinder, one of the dog catchers, went to the kennel for the first dog to lose its manhood. He stayed with the dog in the anterior room comforting him as though it was his own dog that he’s had for years. This is a stray dog that was just picked up yesterday. He stayed with the dog as it was administered anesthesia and went to sleep. While the dog was in the operating room Surrinder got the next dog and did the same.

A reporter from the national news came by to do a story on the clinic. When I think about a national news reporter doing a story I think a crew of people show up in a truck with lights and mega expensive cameras. Here it’s one guy with a Hi-8 handicam and a microphone. At first I thought this was some local guy with a web show or something.

This day was cut short for us when it was clear I needed to be in bed. I was exhausted and ready to pass out. I slept for the rest of the day except for dinner and a quick turn at Internet access. My access now is worse than last time. Its a pain.


Monday:

After sleeping for about twenty hours I finally felt back to normal. Today Arvind and his crew came up to Mcleoud Ganj (otherwise known as Upper Dharmsala) to put up posters about the dog rescue operation. We walked about ten miles though Bhagsu, a smaller village nearby, around Mcleoud and the temple grounds putting up the posters and handing out fliers. This took a long time because each time we would run into someone we’d have to stop for tea. It was a good day and I’m glad I wasn’t sick for it.

No deep thoughts this time. I really haven’t had much time to write this. I should have more time now that I’m not sleeping constantly.



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