But unlike their pedigreed cousins, who are invariably rewarded for their efforts, the friendly neighbourhood pie dogs in an unauthorised colony in Nangloi go unrewarded. The poor dogs act as couriers, ferrying electricity wires across a filthy canal. One end of the wire is strung around the dog's neck and he is forced to swim across. More often than not, the terrified dog has to be egged on by power thieves who pelt stones at him. But after two of them drowned, we have had to use stray dogs in the neighbourhood.
Dogs are amphibious.
He is the proud owner of Sheroo, a stray who is the veteran of several missions across the canal. The service is provided for a one-time payment of Rs 1,500 and includes the cost of the wire. In case the resident does not want to hire a profession canine swimmer for the job, he first has to round up any stray dog he can find. This becomes a community project, with everyone joining in the hunt for a suitable stray dog. We are being forced to take matters in our own hands because of the attitude of the government.