The entire book Chutki’s Experiences published both in English & Kannada is © Shamalatha Rao. Content and pictures here are used with permission. Read the book to understand why’s Chutki, the little stray puppy, is wondering why are dogs displaced and then blamed for all the dog-fights and human frights – when humans are responsible!
Chutki's Experiences by Shamalatha Rao
Shamlatha Rao has put together an entire book as a play for children – and it is an outstanding effort because of the lucidity with which complex, including legal, issues are highlighted. She uses ‘speaking animals’, who narrate their plight in the hands of insensitive humans and appeals for empathy.
In addition to the narrative, each page gives references in the footnote to the existing Animal Protection Rules like the ABC Rules (2001), PCA Act (1960), Wild Life Protection Act (1972), Prevention of Cruelty to Draught and Pack animal Rules (1965). There are answers in an FAQ form and useful tips on how to behave with and help the street dogs and other animals.
English copies are available for INR 60 – which goes towards ABC programs – and Kannada copies (for free distribution in schools). These can be ordered on Chutki’s website from India or the US.
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- Chutki is a 5-6 months old female puppy and is running for her life as she is stopped by Appu, an adult male, neutered dog
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- Chutki is narrating to Appu, how brutally dog catchers catch dogs and how she managed to escape
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- Chutki and Appu are exchange their experiences about a few kind people who feed them n care for them
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- Appu explains to Chutki the importance of Animal Birth Control (ABC) and how could one identify sterilized dogs by the clipping at the tip of the ear (‘U” cut)
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- Chutki discusses with Appu how street dogs take care of their respective streets by alerting the people about strangers, check the field rat population and of entry of new dogs into their area.
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- ppu runs away on seeing the mother-daughter duo. The young girl falls in love with Chutki, the street puppy
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- The mother wants to buy a “foreign dog”! The girl convinces her mom to adopt this Indian puppy as she is equally sweet n affectionate
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- Mom realises her fault and recollects that Indian dogs are the best breed for Indian climatic conditions and also are genetically less prone to diseases. They decide to go home to inform the girl’s father and ask Chuki to wait!
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- Chutki hears the dog-catcher’s voice and runs away deciding to come back again by the time the girl and her mother come to take her home. She sees a crowd that had gathered around a monkey-charmer…and sneaks into the crowd
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- At the end of the show the monkey has a quick exchange of words with Chutki as he comes to collect money from the on-lookers.Chutki feels sorry for the condition of the monkey and advises him to run away to the forest…
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- Chutki’s Experiences by Shamalatha Rao
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- Page excerpt (with animal rules)
