Animal Story: Barky

Barky: The dog story of SPCA Noida starts with this dog. Abandoned in the lanes of Sector 30, Noida and carrying a maggot wound on its neck with no expertise to stave off other dogs and survive the mean streets. SPCA had just got its lands in 2002 and construction had just started. Mr. Jaswant Singh Chauhan, who is the current administrator and father figure at the SPCA, was leading the construction activities then, took an instant liking to Barky. SPCA became his abode as the construction workers took his responsibility. At that time there was no road leading to the SPCA gates and one had to go along the bund road at the back of the SPCA- no electricity and seemed far away from civilization. Barky easily claimed his kingdom, and learn to co-exist with snakes, lizards and the undergrowth and lack of competition of the canine kind. When construction stopped at the SPCA and the family of construction workers looking after him moved to the “Antim Niwas” cremation grounds, he went and lived there with them and left memories there as well. Then he came back with Vinod- who decided to kick his life as a mason in favour of animals and Rani, his wife, decided to take up cooking for animals, at the SPCA. And he has been here ever since. Nine long years of lots of adventure and proud owner of tag no. 0001.

This story came to an end on 22 Oct 2011. Barky passed away peacefully at the place, which was 'founded' by him. SPCA Noida lost its first citizen. There will be no more distinctive howls for attention when I go there. We all wish him eternal freedom and happiness.