The "Pet" population in India is estimated to be well over 10MM today. Over 600K pets are adopted every year. And India is one of the fastest growing "pet" markets in the world.
But guess what. Which are the "Pet" animals. Primarily Dogs and Cats.
Not Cows.
(Contd..)
But guess what. Which are the "Pet" animals. Primarily Dogs and Cats.
Not Cows.
(Contd..)
This is very ironical because some 60-70 years ago, the Cow was by a long margin the most common "pet" in Indian households. Dogs and cats were nowhere in the picture!
Today even in large independent homes (where there is enough space to house a cow), dogs and cats predominate
Today even in large independent homes (where there is enough space to house a cow), dogs and cats predominate
To me this is a quite a massive cultural shift.
In my own families, I learn, from talking to elders, that most joint families had 1-2 cows even 80 years ago. Domesticating dogs and cat was practically unheard of, though some families did have a dog as a gatekeeper of sorts
In my own families, I learn, from talking to elders, that most joint families had 1-2 cows even 80 years ago. Domesticating dogs and cat was practically unheard of, though some families did have a dog as a gatekeeper of sorts
Why did the cow go out of favor? And why are dogs and cats privileged so high?
The modern Urban Indian first thinks of dogs and cats if he / she is thinking of a pet (even if he has a large shed back in his house).
The modern Urban Indian first thinks of dogs and cats if he / she is thinking of a pet (even if he has a large shed back in his house).
Domesticating cows has several advantages
a) Cows provide you with milk, unlike dogs or cats
b) Cows mind their own business and they don't "compete" with your kids to gain your affection and attention
c) Cow is vegetarian unlike dogs (so you dont have to buy meat for your pet)
a) Cows provide you with milk, unlike dogs or cats
b) Cows mind their own business and they don't "compete" with your kids to gain your affection and attention
c) Cow is vegetarian unlike dogs (so you dont have to buy meat for your pet)
and
finally
d) Cow has been revered / looked kindly upon for much of Indian history and Indian religious traditions encourage us to nurture cows.
The traditions are neutral on dogs / cats.
finally
d) Cow has been revered / looked kindly upon for much of Indian history and Indian religious traditions encourage us to nurture cows.
The traditions are neutral on dogs / cats.
Despite so many things in Cow's favor, Dogs and cats are out-competing it
I see this primarily as a trend of "westernization"
Dogs and cats do have a special place in western culture. Eating them is culturally taboo in practically all of Europe and European outposts like US/Aus
I see this primarily as a trend of "westernization"
Dogs and cats do have a special place in western culture. Eating them is culturally taboo in practically all of Europe and European outposts like US/Aus
Indian urban culture has adopted the western affection towards dogs / cats to the extent that dog meat or cat meat will probably horrify many urban Indian youngsters far more than beef!
That's the degree of deracination
That's the degree of deracination
While I have nothing against dogs and cats, I do see some issues in this rising trend of domesticating them inside the house
(not merely as companions in the outside premises (as was the case with traditional cow domestication)
(not merely as companions in the outside premises (as was the case with traditional cow domestication)
The problem with animals inside the house is twofold
a) firstly you are restricting their freedom. As dogs are v mobile unlike cows
b) Dogs / cats compete with kids for our affection. I have known women telling me - "I dont feel like having a kid. I have my dog to take care of"
a) firstly you are restricting their freedom. As dogs are v mobile unlike cows
b) Dogs / cats compete with kids for our affection. I have known women telling me - "I dont feel like having a kid. I have my dog to take care of"
Domesticating Cows has its challenges. There is a LOT more "maintenance" work. It is a much larger animal
Modern apartments don't lend themselves to cow domestication. But having said that, not everyone lives in an apartment. Many of us still live in large houses with courtyards
Modern apartments don't lend themselves to cow domestication. But having said that, not everyone lives in an apartment. Many of us still live in large houses with courtyards
And Cows give you milk!
That's a huge plus compared to any other pet. You don't have to buy milk from a company engaging in industrial scale dairy farming.
It is ethical to get the minimal milk you need from your own cow.
That's a huge plus compared to any other pet. You don't have to buy milk from a company engaging in industrial scale dairy farming.
It is ethical to get the minimal milk you need from your own cow.
While a lot of this may seem like gratuitous advice, I couldn't help but notice the cultural changes with regard to animal domestication in India over the past 70 years. More so in the past 20 years.
There is food for thought here.
There is food for thought here.
