Dear Editor,

A lot of unverified narratives are being posted on Instagram and FB (some anonymously) about 2 Pet Dogs whom the pet owner refers as her babies. As a member of the Parsi community, and one who was present at most times while the incident unfolded, I take this opportunity to present factual account at the recent attacks directed against Mrs. Anahita Desai, Mr. Karyesh Patel, Mr. Kersy Antia & Mrs. Navaz Antia and myself, following the rescue of two helpless pet dogs made to live in absolutely deplorable, filthy and unhygienic conditions in a Navroz Baugh flat.

As we all know for over three decades, Anahita Desai has served the community with dedication, compassion. Her reputation & integrity remains unquestionable, her initiatives for the elderly, underprivileged are consistent with the highest Zoroastrian values.

The issue started with messages and pictures on social media resulting in a media outrage over disturbing documented images / videos of 2 pet dogs trapped in shocking, stinking filth and covered in own dry poop on the body of one 15 years old pet, which no compassionate human being could have ignored thus leading concerned community members to seek urgent intervention. As a BPP Trustee as well as a trustee of WAPIZ, Anahita Desai & Karyesh Patel along with the Helping Hands team responded responsibly and cautiously.

It is important to note that before taking any steps, Ms Anahita Desai contacted the principal tenant of the flat which is Kersy Antia. There was no lock broken or any trespass as Kersy’s niece Ms Havovi Antia, the pet parent has implied. It was a common area where the incident took place.  Anahita Desai informed them that her only concern was the welfare of the dogs and that she had no involvement whatsoever in the ongoing family disputes connected to the residence.

On arriving at the flat, she ensured that the Navroz Baug Custodian, Pet shelter staff & the Police and neighbours were present. The condition inside were reportedly unbearable with the older dog unable to move and lying in its own poop amidst overwhelming stink & filth.

Anahita Desai & Karyesh Patel acted with remarkable restraint, transparency and legal prudence throughout. They consulted an advocate and animal welfare authorities before proceeding further. Realising that the owners were absent, she specifically sought police permission before the animals were moved. Police personnel arrived, documented the condition of the dogs through photographs and videos, and only thereafter permitted the rescue operation. The dogs were then shifted to a veterinary clinic wherein all medical tests were carried out including X-rays and blood tests and then shifted to a paid shelter. Needless to add, all expenses were personally borne by Mrs. Anahita Desai herself.

Would anyone abandon their pet, especially an old, sick, immobile dog in a locked up house for 5 days with one caretaker friend just visiting once or twice in a day to give food and water?

Abandoning her pet babies (as the pet parent Havovi refers to the pet dogs on social media) by locking them up for 5 days with one visit a day by her pet care friend is not showing love, care & affection to the babies. She also claims that the pet dogs (babies) were in a happy and loving environment – it seems more of appalling neglect! Secondly the elder Dog also had Spine & Leg problems, water in the abdomen, and a very low haemoglobin count which all could not have developed in a period of 4 days. This all points to gross neglect. Whoever was her caretaker should have taken the pet dogs out for urine and poop inside the colony and should not have confined them in a locked atmosphere for 5 days.

Dogs are social animals, isolation and confinement for more than 23 hours can lead to severe anxiety, depression and self-mutilation. Studies reveal that when clean-up of poop and urine is done once a day, the dogs are forced to lie near their own waste, risking skin infections and exposure to parasites. The poop on the Dog had dried and the pet shelter staff had to scrub the dried poop from the Dogs body. The Pet dogs were well taken care upon arrival of Ms. Anahita Desai, they were bathed and cleaned by Pet shelter staff, due Medical treatment was given, due process of law was followed. But because Ms. Havovi used the words “They Killed my baby,” the Police had to carry out a post-mortem at their cost to ascertain the cause of death. It was her own doing or the Body by now would have been handed over.

Equally disturbing was the response that followed thereafter to the rescue. Instead of acknowledging the condition in which the dogs had been found or appreciating the efforts taken to provide them urgent medical attention, allegations were levelled against those who intervened to save them. Despite the entire rescue being conducted transparently, in the presence of the police, witnesses, animal welfare personnel and veterinary professionals, accusations began circulating on social media claiming that the rescuers were responsible for the older dog’s passing.

The words used were ‘they have killed my baby ‘This, despite veterinary examinations reportedly confirming the dog’s already critical condition. Even after Mrs. Desai personally bore the expenses for medical care, shelter arrangements and finally since the owner was returning late evening, Anahita Desai arranged for ambulance and for keeping his body in the morgue. I was there and a witness to all this. After all this Anahita Desai was met with hostility by the pet owner instead of gratitude and was accused by Havovi Antia of having killed her dog and an FIR was being filed against her! Such a response is deeply unfortunate and only diverts attention away from the real issue, namely the appalling neglect and suffering the animals had allegedly endured.

Dogs occupy a sacred and respected place within the Zoroastrian faith. Ours is a religion that teaches compassion towards all living beings. To abandon a sick animal in such conditions is distressing enough. But to target and intimidate a person who stepped forward to help them is even more disturbing.

What message are we sending as a community? That helping the helpless invites harassment? That compassion must now be weighed against personal risk and public abuse? Remember when you bring a dog home, it becomes a part of your family, it considers you as its parent. Would you lock up your sick baby for 5 days with a caretaker visiting once or twice a day and leaving it alone throughout the night? If basic compassion towards helpless animals is now considered interference, then we are drifting dangerously far from the values we proudly claim that define us as Zoroastrians.

– Arzan J. Ghadially