1/ 100 Burlap Dog

As someone who lives in Scotland, and who has a pet dog, I am used to seeing these amazing creatures as companions who live alongside us and interact with us on a daily basis. They live inside our house, sleep with us on our bed (some would say that’s a bad idea but I don’t care), walk with us and play with is. They are constantly entertaining and companionable. By way of repayment for their loyalty we make sure they are well fed and we pay for them to visit the vet when they are sick.

In India, and so many other countries too, dogs are present everywhere, but not in the same way as they are here. They live alongside humans, but usually not with them, and this misleads us into thinking that the dogs are maltreated, sad and neglected. Sure, some undoubtably are, but then there are dogs here like that too.

I chose this photograph to start my 100 Dogs of India project, part of a global arts group idea called #The100DayProject, because it encapsulates something I would like to investigate more. This is a picture of a dog sleeping alone, outside, in a dirty corner somewhere in New Delhi, India. I will admit that I feel sorry for it and immediately assume that it needs help. However you can see that it actually has a burlap sack bed, and even a black stuffed toy. At night someone will put a blanket over it, probably when they put a similar blanket over themselves as they sleep next to it on the bench, The cafe opposite will throw it whatever food they can spare. Nearby will be the family pack it has been part of for a long time.

Is this dog unhappy?