<p><em>By A S Nagarajan</em> </p><p>For the past fifteen years, I have been feeding the community dogs in our area every day. Over time, what began as an act of compassion has grown into a deep and unspoken bond. These dogs, once wary and distant, now wait for me at the same hour daily. They recognise not just my vehicle but even the scent of my clothes and bag.</p>.<p>Many of the dogs I befriended years ago are no longer here; they have lived their brief lives on the streets and passed on quietly. Yet those who remain, and the ones who joined later, share a trust and affection that is difficult to describe. It is something you can only feel when you see their eyes light up as you approach—something that is beyond words.</p>.<p>A few days ago, heavy rain kept me from going out. Community dogs usually seek shelter during storms and continuous rain. I avoid venturing out, knowing they may not show up for food. But what happened next moved me.</p>.<p>On the morning of July 27, when I opened my main door, I noticed that one slipper from a pair was missing. I searched everywhere. Curious, I checked the CCTV footage. What I saw stunned me! Around 2:30 am, a small pack of dogs (that I usually feed) had quietly made their way to my home. They sniffed around the portico, likely following the familiar scent of my vehicle, and searched for me and, perhaps, for food. After a while, they left—but one of them picked up a slipper and carried it away.</p>.<p>That simple act—a dog carrying a piece of my belonging—wasn’t theft. It was a connection. It was their way of saying, “We came looking for you. We missed you.” Perhaps when I meet them again, that same dog may return my slipper—or maybe not. It doesn’t matter. What matters is that they found their way to me in the middle of the night, through rain and darkness, because of the bond we share.</p>.<p>History has countless examples of the profound relationship between humans and dogs. From ancient hunters who shared their meals with wolves thousands of years ago, eventually giving rise to the first domesticated dogs, to loyal street dogs in modern cities who silently guard neighbourhoods they call home, this bond is as old as humanity itself.</p>.<p>And yet, so often, we humans forget. We see a street dog and chase it away, throw a stone, or treat it as a nuisance. We fail to realise that behind those wary eyes lies trust waiting to be earned, love waiting to be given, and a loyalty that often exceeds our own.</p>.<p>That night reminded me of a simple truth: kindness doesn’t just feed a hungry stomach; it nourishes souls, both theirs and ours. When an animal braves the rain at 2:30 am just to find you, it isn’t merely looking for food. It’s looking for you.</p>
<p><em>By A S Nagarajan</em> </p><p>For the past fifteen years, I have been feeding the community dogs in our area every day. Over time, what began as an act of compassion has grown into a deep and unspoken bond. These dogs, once wary and distant, now wait for me at the same hour daily. They recognise not just my vehicle but even the scent of my clothes and bag.</p>.<p>Many of the dogs I befriended years ago are no longer here; they have lived their brief lives on the streets and passed on quietly. Yet those who remain, and the ones who joined later, share a trust and affection that is difficult to describe. It is something you can only feel when you see their eyes light up as you approach—something that is beyond words.</p>.<p>A few days ago, heavy rain kept me from going out. Community dogs usually seek shelter during storms and continuous rain. I avoid venturing out, knowing they may not show up for food. But what happened next moved me.</p>.<p>On the morning of July 27, when I opened my main door, I noticed that one slipper from a pair was missing. I searched everywhere. Curious, I checked the CCTV footage. What I saw stunned me! Around 2:30 am, a small pack of dogs (that I usually feed) had quietly made their way to my home. They sniffed around the portico, likely following the familiar scent of my vehicle, and searched for me and, perhaps, for food. After a while, they left—but one of them picked up a slipper and carried it away.</p>.<p>That simple act—a dog carrying a piece of my belonging—wasn’t theft. It was a connection. It was their way of saying, “We came looking for you. We missed you.” Perhaps when I meet them again, that same dog may return my slipper—or maybe not. It doesn’t matter. What matters is that they found their way to me in the middle of the night, through rain and darkness, because of the bond we share.</p>.<p>History has countless examples of the profound relationship between humans and dogs. From ancient hunters who shared their meals with wolves thousands of years ago, eventually giving rise to the first domesticated dogs, to loyal street dogs in modern cities who silently guard neighbourhoods they call home, this bond is as old as humanity itself.</p>.<p>And yet, so often, we humans forget. We see a street dog and chase it away, throw a stone, or treat it as a nuisance. We fail to realise that behind those wary eyes lies trust waiting to be earned, love waiting to be given, and a loyalty that often exceeds our own.</p>.<p>That night reminded me of a simple truth: kindness doesn’t just feed a hungry stomach; it nourishes souls, both theirs and ours. When an animal braves the rain at 2:30 am just to find you, it isn’t merely looking for food. It’s looking for you.</p>
