A dog was dying
Yesterday evening, as I'm waiting for my friend to pick me up, an incredibly skinny and weak dog was lying on the street, under a car, in front of the building where I work. This is a very unusual sight in Kinshasa since cats and dogs are scared of people and you hardly see any on a busy street. You only see them in the middle of the night, if it crosses your car lights.
I knew right away he was dying, there was no other explanation. I bought him bread and gave it to him, he didn't move. I felt bad, all these Congolese around me, watching. I didn't know who among them had had a meal that day. They're going to think I'm a crazy white lady for wasting bread.
I came back to work an hour later to help a colleague out. The dog was now next to the car, exposed. I got a plastic plate and filled with water. His eyes were so scared but he didn't move. He hesitated, moved his head and drank the whole thing. I filled it up again and left. This morning, the dog was gone.
I couldn't stop thinking about the dog, it made me so sad. I don't understand, we see so much poverty every day- street kids, mothers with babies, handicaps, anyone, begging, begging, begging- and I was just filled with sadness for this dog. It just broke my heart.
I knew right away he was dying, there was no other explanation. I bought him bread and gave it to him, he didn't move. I felt bad, all these Congolese around me, watching. I didn't know who among them had had a meal that day. They're going to think I'm a crazy white lady for wasting bread.
I came back to work an hour later to help a colleague out. The dog was now next to the car, exposed. I got a plastic plate and filled with water. His eyes were so scared but he didn't move. He hesitated, moved his head and drank the whole thing. I filled it up again and left. This morning, the dog was gone.
I couldn't stop thinking about the dog, it made me so sad. I don't understand, we see so much poverty every day- street kids, mothers with babies, handicaps, anyone, begging, begging, begging- and I was just filled with sadness for this dog. It just broke my heart.
Posted @ 7:16 PM
3 Comments:
Believe it or not, I lived the same scenem but with a young woman who had a child on her back.
And that was in the embassy quarters.
I passed her with my car. Tought it was weird. A woman lying on her side with a baby attached to her. Her head on the sidewalk.
In Congo you keep to yourself.
This time, I went into reverse. Rolled down the window. She was murmuring something. Too weak to raise her head to answer my inquisition.
I came out with a bottle I had. Two cars drove by. Gave her some water I had. Raised her so she would sit. The baby had peed all over her back.
I took off with an empty bottle of water.
Hi... just dropping by. You are linked to by the folks over at the blog "Congo", and I regularly check there for links to put on my own site. I have a blogroll of humanitarians, aid workers, and the like and like to keep it up to date. So if you're working in something like that, and you'd like a link, please drop by my blog (candide.blogsome.com) and let me know. Cheers!
you were sad because you love dogs! that's why, sweetie. you miss Leila!
Hope you are doing well!
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