“Mumma, Bruss is crying too much. Do you think uncle is hurting him?” said my 10-year-old Advay. I assured him that there was nothing wrong with Bruss, our neighbour’s 11-month-old labrador. But Advay came back to me within 10 minutes itself and said, “Bruss is scared, he is hurt. I can understand it with his voice. Please, let’s go and check on him, Mumma” 

I couldn’t reduce Advay’s fear and anxiety about Bruss’s wellbeing. He knew something was wrong with Bruss and until he’d see him with his own eyes, he would not calm down. So, I hesitantly rang Mehra's doorbell at 10.15 pm. Mr Mehra opened the door and I could see Mrs Mehra standing a little distance away with messed up hair and fear in her eyes. As I tried to think about how to approach the topic, I noticed Mr Mehra was drunk. I said Advay was feeling lonely and thought of checking on Bruss. Mrs Mehra though seemed sceptical said she’ll bring him in another 10 minutes. 

I sensed something was wrong but went back home awaiting for Mrs Mehra to come by. As Bruss stepped out into the corridor I could see wounds on his legs. When asked, Mrs Mehra broke down crying and told me how Bruss had been badly hurt by Mr Mehra. He’d lost his position at work due to the economic downfall during the pandemic. Additionally, he was angry with Mrs Mehra for making a vegetable that he hated. He couldn’t hit Mrs Mehra, but Bruss was something she loved so he vent out all his anger on the poor little animal who had no means of defending himself. He had started to complain how the wretched animal was worth nothing and just sat and ate away all his hard-earned money.

She said, her husband had been beating, kicking and torturing Bruss for a few days now and though she was deeply hurt by it, she couldn’t do much--Mr Mehra gets these fits of anger and if she tried to stop him from kicking Bruss, she would be beaten up as well. 

Mrs Mehra thanked me for coming and saving our little Bruss and said it would be better if we looked after him for a couple of weeks until her husband could get back to his normal self. That is when I realised, what would’ve happened if Advay hadn’t forced me to go and see Bruss? 

COVID pandemic has unfortunately brought out the worst in us--from domestic violence, depression to hurting our own pets. You could also help a distressed pet, if you notice the following signs in his behaviour:

- If Animals are screaming/howling more than often

- If family members are shouting at partners to leave their pet alone

- If children are crying when the animal is suffering or screaming

- Animals appear injured whenever you see them

If you notice any of these above happening with an animal or a pet, make sure you take action or complain to the animal welfare centres so that they can intervene timely and save the pet.