Doggone it

I like dogs. I really do. But there is a limit. And bordering very close to this limit is waking up one morning and finding a litter of eight pups delivered by a stray in your garage.

I like dogs. I really do. But there is a limit. And bordering very close to this limit is waking up one morning and finding a litter of eight pups delivered by a stray in your garage. So this was my plan of action or POA. Step one: I panicked. Step two: I dialled all the animal lovers I knew. Step 3: On their combined advice, I called up a local animal shelter helpline.

8220;Hello,8221; I began, 8220;I have this stray dog that has delivered eight pups in my garage.8221; 8220;Oh really, how sweet,8221; cooed the voice at the other end. 8220;Er8230;yes, but how do I get them out?8221; 8220;You mean you don8217;t want to keep them?8221; the voice inquired frostily.

I replied that I was very sure I didn8217;t want to keep them. 8220;Why?8221; demanded the voice. How do they recruit these people? 8220;Because,8221; I replied patiently, 8220;I have a dog of my own and don8217;t have space for others.8221; A long pause followed, then, 8220;You have a dog? What kind?8221; 8220;A Labrador 8212; five years old,8221; I said. 8220;Male?8221; 8220;Yes.8221; A longer pause now. Then, 8220;How do you know your male dog was not responsible for the litter?8221; There was steel in the tone now.

For a fleeting moment I had visions of a paternity suit being slapped on me and Scooby. Then I remembered. With steel in my tone now, I replied, 8220;My male dog was sterilised when he was two. I have the papers!8221; The silence at the other end indicated disappointment. 8220;Okay. Most puppies go off on their own in two or three weeks, but since you seem so disturbed, we8217;ll send someone in the morning to take them away.8221;

No one came. Two weeks went by 8212; from the garage the pups came frolicking to the lawn and even wagged their tails when they saw me. I called the municipal corporation, three other animal helplines, and all the vets I knew. To no avail. I even bribed a wayside seller to take them away 8212; but they came back, mom in tow.

Three agonising weeks later, however, I came back from work to an empty garage. They had actually left. This time though my plan of action was clear. Step 1: Call carpenter. Step 2: Commission door to garage. Step 3: Laminate Scooby8217;s sterilisation certificate.

Sunanda Mehta

Sunanda Mehta is the Resident Editor of The Indian Express in Pune. She is a distinguished journalist, columnist, and author with over three decades of experience in the media industry. Educational background: A merit-lister in her 12 th in CBSE (5th rank in Humanities) Sunanda stood first in History in the Board for which she was awarded the Dr Tarachand Gold Medal. She is a triple-graduate with a Bachelor of Arts (History Honours) from Lady Shri Ram College, New Delhi, Bachelor of Education, Delhi University (on scholarship) and Bachelor of Communication and Journalism, University of Pune. Professional Background Role: As Resident Editor, she oversees the Pune edition of The Indian Express, managing local news coverage, investigative features, and editorial direction for the city. Author: She is an accomplished author, known for her biographies. Her notable books include: The Extraordinary Life and Death of Sunanda Pushkar published by Pan Macmillan (2019). The book was long-listed for the Atta Galatta award for nonfiction and Auther award for best debut author. Majestic Musings - Translation of poems from 100 year old Badshaian from Punjabi to English (2023) Behind the Big Screen- the untold stories of child actors published by Bloomsbury India (2024) Focus Areas: While Sunanda has reported on various subjects from civic to political to investigative and crime, her forte remains long-form human-interest stories, heritage and gender issues. Core Column: "Against All Odds" Sunanda curates and writes a signature series titled "Against All Odds," which profiles individuals who have overcome significant personal, medical, or professional challenges. Recent notable articles (2025) The Story of Dr. Harinder Dhaliwal (July 2025): A Pune AFMC topper who became a neurologist in Canada despite becoming paraplegic. Jayoo Patwardhan’s Cancer Journey (Jan 2025): How the National Film Award-winning designer defeated cancer. Partha Iyengar’s Emergency mid-air (Aug 2025): The story of how Gartner’s India head survived a massive heart attack during a long-haul flight. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent reportage continues to explore deep personal narratives and Pune’s socio-environmental landscape: 1. Personal Narratives & Closure "'I grieved for him 10 years after his murder, found closure to unsolved case'" (Dec 14, 2025): A poignant feature on Vineet Alurkar, son of the late Pune music legend Suresh Alurkar, and how digitizing his father’s collection helped him heal. "A 40-day journey home: how Christopher Benninger's partner gave him the gift of memories" (Nov 23, 2025): A moving tribute to the late acclaimed architect Christopher Benninger and his final trip to the US. "'After 38 years I finally met my biological mother'" (Sept 28, 2025): Chronicling the journey of an adopted daughter from Zurich searching for her roots in Pune. 2. Civic & Heritage "'Vetal Tekdi belongs to common citizens'" (Oct 20, 2025): An interview with environmental activist Dr. Sushma Date on the community-led protection of Pune’s vital green lungs. "'Military village' Apshinge recalls living through war days" (Aug 12, 2025): A report from a village in Maharashtra where nearly every household has a member in the armed forces, focusing on their legacy and current anxieties. 3. High-Profile Commentary & Investigations "Malegaon blast acquittals: 'I was expecting this verdict'" (July 31, 2025): An interview with former special public prosecutor Rohini Salian following the controversial acquittals. "Grounded, license cancelled... she decided to soar higher" (March 30, 2025): The story of Dr. Harpreet A De Singh, Air India’s first woman pilot from 1988, and her transition to leadership and meditation. Signature Style Sunanda Mehta is known for her empathetic storytelling. Unlike standard news reporting, her features often read like narrative non-fiction, focusing on the psychological and emotional resilience of her subjects. One of her articles in The Indian Express titled 'The Quality of Mercy' was converted into a film Rubaru Roshini produced by actor Aamir Khan. She is a strong advocate for Pune's heritage and environment, frequently using her platform to amplify citizen-led movements. X (Twitter): @sunandamehta and @ExpressPune ... Read More