By Florence Dallu

There is a strange dog in our neighbourhood. No one knows where he came from. He emerged like a cockroach from a floorboard. He is a puppy with three legs — one of his hind legs is missing. It could have been cut off in an accident, or maybe a cruel child or adult severed it.

The puppy has a special air about him. Perhaps it is the way he stares with his large brown eyes. No, I think it is the way he throws himself on the ground, shaking his amputated leg. Whatever it is, this dog is irresistibly lovable.

The stray dog in Florence’s neighbourhood. A cruel person amputated his hind leg.

As I write this, he is sitting on the rug outside my house. I cannot begin to imagine what he has been through.

Let’s not spend our spare time chasing the neighbour’s cat with a fea (sling). Take time to think about what you are doing and you will realise it is not worth the thrill.

We can all do something for these stray animals in our neighbourhoods. You can ask your friends to give some small contributions, which can buy animal food to feed these animals for months.

Saved lives

You can also report cases of animal cruelty to the Kenya Society for the Protection and Care of Animals (KSPCA).

If your parents are for the idea, you can also keep one of these animals as a pet. It is a great way to learn responsibility. Pets provide companionship, security and are fun to play with.

I am sure you have heard stories of heroic cats and dogs that have saved lives. Four years ago, a stray dog found an abandoned newborn baby in Ngong Forest and carried her home to her litter of puppies. The dog was later named ‘Mkombozi’ and the baby ‘Angel’. Mkombozi saved Angel’s life. And in Indiana, USA, a cat saved the life of a family that was almost suffocating to death because of carbon monoxide. This heroic cat clawed at the mother’s hair until she woke up and called for help.

So next time you see a stray animal in your neighbourhood, show it some kindness.