To Overcome Pain of Spinal Cord Injuries Young Engineer Chethan Joshi, aged 25 from Shishila near Dharmasthala, on a Walking Spree with His Desi Dog, Mudhol Hound- an exclusive interview with Team Mangalorean
Mangaluru: Did you know that a recent survey found that walking has many benefits for both humans and dogs. Studies have shown that for overweight people/dogs, a 30-minute walk, three times per week can reduce blood pressure, increase energy, improve the sense of well-being, and lower your weight by 5% and your dog’s by 15%. Here are 5 reasons as per sources that you and your dog can benefit from daily walks-
Strengthens Your Bond-Daily walks provide much-needed quality time for you and your pooch. This time is extremely important to your dog’s behavioural development and will provide the foundation for a trusting relationship; Helps with Weight Control- Heading out on a nice, long walk can help keep those extra pounds away for year-long health; Improves Socialization. Walks are a great way for you and your dog to experience the world together; Increases Physical and Mental Health- Humans and dogs have several health issues that can be prevented or treated by regular exercise and a healthy diet; Decreases loneliness- Solitary walks (for the humans) or sitting in the backyard (for the dogs) can get pretty lonely. Quality walks with your four-legged pal can reduce feelings of loneliness for you and your dog.
Just like many have taken cycling as a hobby for control of various health-related problems, similarly walking daily also good for exercise and healthy lifestyle- and if you have a dog, walking with your dog is also very beneficial for you and also your pet. And here is an exclusive story where a young engineer after getting hurt in the spinal cord due to a fall at the workplace, narrates his story. Meet Chethan Joshi, aged 25, born in Shilshila near Dharmasthala, presently settled in Bengaluru after finding a job there.
Having done his college at SDM College-Ujire, Chethan had done his Automobile Engineering at Malanad Engineering College in Hassan, after which he found a job at Jaguar-Marqland-Land Rover, as a Power Trainer Engineer, where he was employed from 2016-2019. In 2017, while at work Chethan slipped and fell, which resulted in injuries to his spinal cord, and he was hospitalized for quite some time following a surgery. After recovering, he joined back to work, but unfortunately he had a fall again, resulting in yet another spinal cord injury- and underwent treatment. Frustrated with the pain and other problems, Chethan quit his job on 24 December 2019.
Now with no job, feeling bore he bought a desi dog-a Mudhol Hound to give him company. The Mudhol Hound, also known as Caravan Hound is an Indian breed of dog of the sighthound type. It is a common pet among villagers in India’s Karnataka state, who use it for hunting and guarding. The Kennel Club of India (KCI) and Indian National Kennel Club (INKC) recognize the breed under different breed names. The KCI registers it as a Caravan Hound while the INKC uses the name Mudhol Hound.
Regarding, the Mudhol or Caravan hound, it has well-defined characteristics. The head is long and narrow, broad between the ears with a tapering muzzle The nose is large and black. The ears are pendulous and hang close to the skull. The eyes are large and oval in shape, from dark to hazel. The expression is a piercing gaze. The neck is long, clean, and muscular, and fits well into the shoulders. The forelegs are long and straight. The back is long, broad and well-muscled. The chest is strong and deep with well-sprung ribs. The abdomen is tucked in. The tail is set on low, strong at the base and tapering, quite long and carried in a natural curve.
The breed is above all a working hound, capable of providing excellent performance in the field on a consistent basis, under gruelling conditions that would decimate most other dogs. They are elegant, graceful and courageous. It is not an ideal dog for the apartment dweller, as it needs a great deal of space and exercise; although if arrangements are made to exercise the dog regularly in a sufficiently large, safely fenced area, it may do well in a flat or any other dwelling. The breed, if treated with kindness and respect, can be exceptionally loyal. They are not very friendly and do not like to be touched by strangers. They make reasonable watchdogs as they can be very protective. They should be treated consistently and respectfully because otherwise, they may develop a nervous or vicious nature—either of which is difficult to live with. About 750 families in and around Mudhol town of Karnataka are raising this breed for marketing the puppies.
And Chetan feels proud to own this breed, which has given him the best company while in distress and boredom spree. They both go for long walks after Chethan wanted to keep himself free from stress and being bored sitting doing nothing at home. He also wanted to get rid of his spinal cord pain, which was bothering him while sitting at home. In the month of November, after quitting his well-paid job, he decided to go on a long walk, from Bengaluru to Varkala (Varkala is a major commercial, industrial and tourism region in the Thiruvananthapuram district, situated in the Indian state of Kerala) along with his Mudhol on 26 January 2020.
During their walking spree journey to Varkala, they both walked about 30-40 km a day, for about 8-9 hours, and spend the night in a tent at petrol bunks, which has a toilet and other facilities. After making their walk successful in reaching from Bengaluru to Varkala, except that once his Mudhol was bitten by stray dogs in a fight which resulted in injuries, which Chethan took care of it at a vet, everything else went on smoothly- that even Chethan’s Spinal Cord pain died down tremendously. While coming back, Chethan and his dog took a train from Varkala to Mangaluru Junction Railway Station and reached here a couple of days ago. Even though he had purchased two First class tickets (since pets are allowed only in First class in a special area in the train), the TT was reluctant to allow Chethan travel in the train with the dog- and he had to bribe paying Rs 2000 extra to the TT. Corrupt and greedy TT’s, no doubt about it!
Since no city bus was willing to give a ride to him along with the dog, Chethan started walking from Mangaluru Junction Railway station, near Padil, to catch KSRTC bus to his hometown Shilshila- and Team Mangalorean spotted him walking near Capitanio School, and out of curiosity wanted to know more. He was planning to travel by a KSRTC bus from Bejai bus stand, to go to Shilshila after he found on the internet that KSRTC buses allow dogs in the bus. After a long chat with Chethan in front of Capitanio school, I wished him all success in his endeavours and complimented him for his great love towards his dog, which he takes along with him wherever he goes.
When asked whether his parents had raised any objections about his present lifestyle walking long miles with his dog- he replied saying for a while his parents were not happy at all, but now they are cooperating with him. Chethan’s father is a farmer, while his mother is a homemaker, he has a sister who is married and residing in Bengaluru. Chethan is planning on going to Rishikesh, also known as Hrishikesh, a City in Dehradun district of the Indian state Uttarakhand. (Located in the foothills of the Himalayas in northern India, it is known as the “Gateway to the Garhwal Himalayas” and “Yoga Capital of the World”) on a scooter, with an attached side three-wheeler buggy for his Mudhol.
When asked why he has to take his dog for such a long distance, Chethan said that he will never leave his dog behind alone, and he would give up anything but not his pet dog, which has given him company, love and solace in his recent life. Even as they say that “Dog is man’s best friend”, but here it seems like “Man has become Dog’s best friend”. I loved the story of Chethan and his dog, after a long exclusive interview sitting by the roadside in front of Capitanio school. Wishing Chethan all success in his future endeavour, I also complimented him for his love and care towards his pet- and handed over him some cash towards food for his dog during the journey- and I left on my vehicle, while Chethan and his Mudhol proceeded with their walk to KSRTC bus stand.
Promising Chethan that I would call him after an hour, which I did, and found out that a doctor who was heading towards Nelliyadi, who saw Chethan and his dog walking along the roadside, had offered them both a ride to his hometown, Shilshila, out of courtesy. Indeed a Good Samaritan Doctor, I would say. More details about Chethan and his trip to Rishikesh along with his dog will feature in my next article in few days. Amazing Story of an Amazing Love of a Man towards a Dog, which brought changes to living a Healthy Lifestyle. So all you people having a pet dog, start walking with your Pet, and experience the difference in your lifestyle, like Chethan!
