The world must never lose humanity

Stray dog sleeping in a street. Wikimedia Commons.

Sir,

As we were walking home in Nurerchala the other day, my oldest girl (8) witnessed humanity in practice possibly for the first time in her life. Watching it happen was also a rare event in mine.

A small curious crowd of people had gathered around to watch a foreigner give food and water to two stray dogs. Both dogs were in awe of their benefactor, rubbing up against him, licking his hands, offering a paw, and openly displaying their love, affection, and appreciation for him as if they were his little children.

After they had eaten the cooked food he had given them, he then fed them biscuits from the palm of his hand. To my surprise, my daughter who normally fears dogs asked if she could feed one.  He gave her a biscuit, told her to open her hand flat and bring it towards the dog’s mouth from underneath, so the dog can see, smell it and smell her hand.

Froze did as she was shown, but then one wasn’t enough. She continued feeding him until all the biscuits had been eaten! Quite frankly I was astonished and so was my husband when I told him.

A nearby shop owner told me the dog lover was the highly respected Sir Frank Peters, who visited the dogs twice daily not only with food and water, but to provide a human touch, comforting them by scratching them behind their ears and rubbing their under bellies.

He also brings a tissue to remove the build-up of gunk in their eyes. When he’s completed his good deed the dogs follow him like the Pied Piper of Hamlyn, but reluctantly he sends them back.

Following his example, many children are now being more kind to the stray dogs, speaking to them with kind words, and bringing them food otherwise destined for the dustbin, he said.

I was particularly heartened by the fact that while this act of kindness and lesson in humanity was on display, gunshots and raucous noises related to the Quota movement could be heard coming from streets nearby.

I hope the world never loses its humanity and if there are enough people like Sir Frank about, no doubt it won’t.

Rashna & Afroze Begum

Nurerchala, Dhaka