Dog Friendly? Hell Yes!
Dogs have been a part of our lives for a while now, and we are more grateful for them than ever. In a world increasingly bristling with hate, a loving dog is just the tonic, and we have chosen to surround ourselves with these amazing critters for decades now.
When we started The Hot Spot from home in F 6/3, many will remember instant barking when the doorbell rang. 99.9% of you know that it’s a dog’s nature to protect its territory, and the barking construed by some as “unfriendly” is just nature having its way. When we opened, one of the “three unfriendly dogs” we had was barely a couple of months old! Never to date heard of a puppy that was unfriendly. But no surprise, animals are at the lowest form of life in societies like ours and treated similarly and, for the most part, treated with vicious contempt. Cruelty against animals is at a psychotic level. Those who once said that you could judge a society’s level by how its citizens drive on the roads and how people treat animals were spot on. Sadly, in Pakistan, we wouldn’t rate very well regarding respecting nature and non-human living things. We love to use animals as Status symbols and as a show of wealth.
The sickening use of wild cats, enslaved by wealthy idiots all over this land, is revolting. Spending a few minutes on TikTok watching videos from our brethren showing off their slaves is enough to make you physically feel like throwing up within moments. Cruelty to animals is endemic, and it does reflect a society that needs to heal and needs compassion rather than brutal callousness. With most of us treating fellow humans with the disrespect and contempt you see everywhere daily, what chance do animals have? Hardly any. Some amazing people are doing charitable work for animals; in our eyes, these are the true champions of our society. People who work to help those who are unable to support themselves. What could be a more noble cause?
Human greed has brought the Earth to a point where sustaining life on Earth is a worrying prospect. The oceans, rivers, valleys, and air – man has polluted everything and shown contempt for animal life. We have created death factories for animals to gorge ourselves to a bloated, obese bursting point.
Millions of animals are slaughtered every day in the prime of their lives. Those animals didn’t deserve the right to live their lives fully? Humans do, but animals are unworthy? Not in our world – We love our animals unconditionally, and anyone who knows The Hot Spot knows that our policy is to welcome all pets as long as they are well-managed and don’t bother other customers.
The Hot Spot is not just a Dog-Friendly spot. We have avidly supported Dog Charities and unknowingly stumbled into building a dog sanctuary just outside Islamabad, where we have several stray dogs rescued off the streets and from the City’s Extermination Squads. We have also provided loving homes for several animals with slight deformities or imperfections, meaning humans would tend to shun them. So, we have provided shelter for them so that they, too, can deserve to live their lives away from fear and brutality. The Hot Spot’s dog sanctuary (Est. 2010) houses over a dozen dogs cared for and loved as family members. We also have adequate space for anyone interested in short-term leaving their dogs with us. However, the thought just occurred that humans being the way they are, may dump their unwanted dogs on us and never come back for them, which would be incredibly cruel.
Once you commit to keeping a dog, you must commit for a lifetime. You don’t just throw out the dog when it becomes ill or grows old and fragile. But that is just the kind of thing that people do. Just go out and buy a shiny new one. We firmly support the idea that if you are to keep a pet, why not consider a rescued or shelter dog rather than something you hold as a symbol of wealth? I weep for the huskies who have had to endure conditions they were not made for simply because they are the dog to own, adorable though they are
All this pure breed business smacks too much of Nazism and Superior Race to me, and we shun the attitude completely.
Watch out, animal lovers and pet owners, for the days when The Hot Spot celebrates Caring For Animals by having occasional days where anyone who brings their Pet along will win themselves a treat and one for their Pet too! Any person bringing us a video clip or evidence of “kindness and compassion” to animals will likely lead you to end up on our honour roll at The Hot Spot. Your kindness and care towards nature and fellow living creatures will not go without being recognised. In our world, kindness is everything. If you decide to keep a pet, please realise it is a commitment through thick and thin, good and bad times.
One thing I have realised after a lifetime of living in Pakistan is that the nicest, kindest, most caring people and most compassionate people are those found in the waiting room of vets dotted around our country having their animals cared for. These people do not include pet owners who send their animals to the vet—only those who go with their dogs in person. For us, these are the finest humans among us. Universally.
So, to answer the question, “Are We Dog Friendly?”
Here are some snaps of our rescues, strays and mixed breeds, some with physical issues from blindness to rickets and epilepsy. Each one was loved and cherished till the end. (Pics coming up)
