Letters: November 19, 2009

Innocent creatures
The most popular animals found in the UAE are cats and dogs, which are kept as pets, and camels that are often used as beasts of burden (“Be kind to animals”, Gulf News, November 13). Barring a lucky few, most animals do not get the care and attention they deserve and are in fact neglected. Recently, there was a ghastly accident on the Al Ain highway between a speeding truck carrying three camels, and a car. The car was completely destroyed, but the family inside had a miraculous escape. One wonders whether exposing innocent camels to such accidents is justified. Authorities must ensure that animals are treated in the manner that best complies with their needs. Anyone who is concerned about animals should safeguard their welfare. No one should unjustifiably expose animals to pain, suffering, physical injury or fear. There must be strict monitoring of regulations on matters such as loading, unloading, accommodation, feeding and supervision of animals transported or dispatched as freight.
From Mr R. Balakrishnan
Dubai

Control the illness
I was very happy to read the report on diabetes (“Stress on healthy lifestyle”, Gulf News, November 14). I think people need to know about diabetes and take it very seriously. I have been living in the US for a long time and had no idea about the illness. I found out three years ago that I have diabetes and couldn’t believe it. I told my doctor that nobody in my family suffers from diabetes, but she informed me that it doesn’t matter. Anyone may be at risk for diabetes if they don’t take the right precautions. I am wide awake now. My goal is to visit the UAE and help others suffering from diabetes. I have learnt a lot about the illness and have managed to control it.
From Mr Ashraf Mirza
Atlanta, US

Be healthy
When my cousin was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes, he was eight years old, and it came as a complete shock to the rest of us. We always considered diabetes to be an ailment endured by people beyond the age of 50 years — it was what we had witnessed for years. However, with obesity on the rise and the increasingly careless attitude of children and young adults with regard to their health, diabetes has become a frightening reality for most people. My cousin is 16 years old now and monitors his blood glucose levels responsibly. To show our support, we take part in walkathons and awareness drives whenever we can. It’s never too late to take control of your health.
From Ms Sarah Hamad
Fujairah

Lost life
Our nine-month-old Labrador retriever passed away on November 7 due to parvovirus. The virus is contracted when a dog licks or comes into contact with the fecal waste of another dog suffering from the disease. It is a fatal illness and could take away a dog’s life within days of the time the symptoms start to appear. Any attempt to reverse the situation may prove to be futile. This is especially true of very young puppies with low immunity. We live in Al Garhoud area, where several other dog owners reside. These people or their dog walkers do not clean up after their dogs. Even though we are not ignorant owners, we had to face the harsh consequences. I would request all dog owners walking their dogs to be careful and make sure that they clear their dogs’ waste immediately. We lost our puppy and would never wish for any other dog owner to face the loss and pain that we are going through.
From A Reader
Name withheld by request
Dubai
 
Changing perspectives
Kindness to me means being generous and considerate (“Gulf News readers celebrate World Kindness Day”, Gulf News, November 13). It is a feeling that comes from inside and is not something that can be bought. It has got nothing to do with having too much or too little. From what I read in books and what my parents have told me, I think the meaning has changed over the years. Today, people only think about themselves. They only talk about ‘I’ instead ‘we’. During my last visit to India, I had visited the Missionaries of Charity on a day when a New Year’s party was organised for the beggars. I couldn’t believe it when I saw the nuns singing and dancing with them. The joy of giving sparkled in their eyes and they seemed to be at peace with the rest of the world. My parents have taught me that any act of kindness always brings happiness.
From Ms Kehkashan Basu
Dubai

Saving time
Before the Dubai Metro was launched, I had to walk for at least 15 minutes to reach the bus stop that was closest to my office. The first hitch was waiting for the bus to arrive, which took between 5 to 20 minutes. When the bus would finally arrive, it would be full and wouldn’t stop. The distance to my destination was hardly eight kilometres, but if there was traffic, it would take at least 45 minutes to reach. With the introduction of the Metro, life has become easy and travelling is hassle-free. It takes me five minutes to walk to the nearest station. The Metro arrives on time and one need not worry about the uncertainty of getting on a train, as in the case of buses. Now, it takes me 30 minutes to reach home, as compared to an hour when I used to take the bus. Once the Metro will be fully operational, I will save even more time.
From Mr Glen Vitus
Dubai