I have a thing for sunrises. Whenever I am in a new place, with beautiful views of water bodies or mountains and if I am very lucky, both, I always try to wake up to see the sunrise. There’s something calming and magical about seeing a panorama come to life, bit by bit, as the light spreads across it. Accompanied by coffee of course.
A glowing sun, coming up over the clear blue water and golden sand of Ocean Beach, San Diego, was already picture-perfect but then a big, beautiful husky ran right across this postcard view.
I was in paradise.
I had woken up at the crack of dawn for my sunrise while everyone else was still sleeping off their cocktails. Last night had been pretty memorable, involving a hidden Hawaiian tiki bar, some excellent poké, lots of creative cocktails and one of the most fun waiters I’ve ever met.
Salud, San Diego!
Needless to say, the hangovers were coming, but I was too excited to care. Ignoring all the groans and complaints, I dragged my brother out of bed and to ‘Dog Beach’, a two-minute walk from our adorable little inn, which won my heart with this very apt sign at the reception.
For all those who love dogs of all shapes, sizes, colors, and personalities, this beach is like an actual dream come to life.
From frisky, little puppies in equal parts scared and excited by their first encounters with sand and sea to the experienced ones who have little groups of their own friends, this off-leash beach has all kinds. They run around across the beach and swim into the waves to get their precious toys back. Elderly dogs with stiff joints, injuries or eyesight problems just stroll about lazily, taking in the sun.
I should mention that my family and I love dogs. Its almost an obsession. Our baby at home in India is a sweet, loving, beautiful indie princess who wakes us up with kisses every morning. She’s also a stubborn, smart little snob who always snags the most comfortable spot on the bed and barks angrily if we don’t share our food with her. She has a more complex personality than a majority of the people I’ve met in my life and is one of the reasons why we’re all flabbergasted when people think all dogs are similar.
That morning on the beach, I was missing her so much it almost felt like a toothache. How she would have loved this beach!
My brother and I were ecstatic, petting and playing with all kinds of dogs from Huskies to Great Danes, Pitbulls, Chihuahuas, and German Shepherds among others. It is impossible to feel anything but pure, rushing, unadulterated joy when there’s even a single dog around you. You can imagine, seeing all these dogs rushing into the water, digging up sand, chasing each other around, jumping up at us and looking too cute to describe, almost made me pass out with excitement.
Some people might be surprised by my reaction since dog beaches are not actually that rare. However, this was my first time at one. Unfortunately, back home in India the concept is not that common and even dog parks have started gaining popularity just in the last few years. As far as beaches go, most are crowded with tourists and a robust population of stray dogs, which makes it a little difficult to take pet dogs there, especially off-leash. It’s a small price to pay for not having stray dogs and those that don’t get adopted by humans, euthanized in droves- a horrifying, barbaric practice that the USA unfortunately still follows.
I was shocked to discover that this is the terrible price that dogs pay for the brainless, shallow and racist ideas that people have so kindly inflicted upon the poor canines. Everyone wants #instaperfect dogs to show them off and impress strangers, so they go ahead and pour money into the disgusting dog breeding industry, rather than adopting from a shelter. People are mighty offended at the idea of buying babies and rightfully so, I simply can’t understand why the same doesn’t apply to dogs. They’re going to be your family too and love you as unconditionally.
My friend has three beautiful German Shepherds, one of whom was not getting adopted because he was ‘not brown enough’ and one who had been returned to the shelter twice and was on a euthanasia list because she ‘was very excitable and jumped a lot’.
Aren’t people just wonderful?
Thankfully, the joke is on those idiots whose lives and hearts will always be lesser for not having any of these three wonderful dogs in their families and because a dog couldn’t possibly have a more loving family and home than that of Mugdha and James.
But the idiocy has deadly and sinister repercussions. According to ASPCA statistics,
‘Each year, approximately 1.5 million shelter animals are euthanized (670,000 dogs and 860,000 cats). The number of dogs and cats euthanized in U.S. shelters annually has declined from approximately 2.6 million in 2011.’
According to me, that’s 670,000 dogs too many.
I am perfectly happy to let all the spirited, scruffy strays have their way at public beaches even if it means lesser options for my otherwise completely pampered and deeply loved dog. I often think about the fact that had she not come into our lives, we would have missed out on the joy she brought to our lives and she might have been one of these dogs. Make no mistake about it, though she seems like a sweet, docile little thing,she would have been a fierce leader and even a bully (I have seen her turn on 5 strays who ganged up against her and send them running with their tails between their legs). But it would have been a hard life, like it is for countless others, because of the absolutely, thoroughly stupid obsession with pure breed dogs that makes people bring huskies to a sweltering city like Mumbai as trophies of their wealth rather than adopting a stray and giving it a loving home.
But the people on this beach give me hope. Watching so many people playing with their dogs, lovingly taking care of aging, ailing and even handicapped dogs, made me realize that there are good people in the world too. People who brought down the numbers from 2011 and who will continue to do so.
People who understand that there is nothing more perfect, more special, more fulfilling and more unconditional than the friendship and love of a dog.
Excess Baggage 