Animals (not Pink Floyd)

Nothing amuses a bored, homesick, overstimulated 8-year-old like an animal. Unless it's several. Our neighborhood is full of animals. There are packs of feral dogs running the streets of Olympia, and the same is seen here. There are many pet dogs too, and they are easy to spot. They are the ones with all their fur, and they are fat. Not just recently or well fed, but actually fat. Most animals no matter how revered or cared for show the the signs of living in a harsh environment. Skin diseases run rampant and most non-pets suffer from malnutrition. The pig in the picture appears well off, though. That's the thing- the pigs look great, in the 'does my ass look big in this sty' kind of way and not in a back-bacon sort of way. The pigs live off the streets literally. As far as I can tell people have cows, sheep, goats, chickens, cats, dogs, horses, rabbits, ducks and fish around the house, but no pig as a pet or livestock. And why should they? Pig-milk is not widely used and this is still a predominately vegetarian society. The pigs seem to live off the many lots and sidewalks full of garbage. This specimen was spotted on our way to breakfast on a trash heap. Also digging into the pile were grey-knecked crows (also pictured) more pigs, dogs, chickens and humans. I have seen herders also take their flock of goats through neighborhoods to feast on bushes and grasses of the many unused plots of land around. The picture above shows an important safety traffic rule here in India: largest vehicle always has the right of way, except in the case of livestock. This pack of a dozen or so goats crossed at a busy intersection but received little attention. All in a day's work. There are a few neighborhood dogs that we visit on our daily rounds. Some live at our favorite breakfast spot and enjoy eating Yarrow's leftover pancakes. there is another little one who lives on the streetcorner. All this is fine practice for our return. Yarrow is getting a Miniature Pincer when we return. Until then, these doggy placebos will have to do. And the dogs outnumber the cats, or so it appears. I have snapped a few pictures of the slow ones and they are all beautiful, but shyier than the ones back home. Of course, calling them 'kitty' in English is probably not the best way to begin Indian feline communication.
aeryk