After a tasty, stomach-filling meal at your favourite restaurant, of course the natural thing to do would be to politely request them to ‘parcel’ your leftovers. Or in typical western slang, passed down through the ages, pick up a ‘doggie bag’. As a large section of Chennaiites have begun sparing a thought for stray dogs in the city that go hungry everyday, it seems the practise of requesting an unsuspecting waiter to ‘tin foil’ chewed-up bones at the end of a meal is fast becoming something of a norm for animal lovers.In fact, it may come as a surprise to learn that the origins of the term ‘doggie bag’, date back to as early as the late 1960s, when patrons of upmarket restaurants would get their table scraps packed to take with them, often using the excuse of taking it home for a waiting pet.While it may be unconventional for residents, especially those used to upper class dining, there are a few who state that these leftovers “are best put to good use, lest they get thrown into the dustbin”. Anjali Sharma, an animal activist who feeds close to a 100 street-side pooches everyday says, “I’ve been picking up leftovers from The Park hotel for the last 10 years now, and when I first approached them, they immediately obliged.” She adds, “You just have to ask, and the management of such places are usually quite helpful.” However, a majority of people when asked, do admit that there is a certain stigma attached to approaching a five-star hotel for their neighbourhood stray's dinner time treat. Mohan Rebello, a retired resident and dog lover at Shenoy Nagar says, “You get dressed up to go out for a function, not to collect bones!” He goes on to add, “Maybe, if you go to a friend’s house for a get-together, you can request a few left overs to be packed because you know the person well.”Despite a disparity in beliefs with old timers, it is apparent that several youngsters have no qualms about making the most of their restaurant platters — ‘doggie bag’ or in some cases, a custom-order for an adored pet. Ravikiran’s Lhasa apso Boris is always extra excited when his owners return with a box of pizza. “We know he loves pizza. So, when we go out, we always pack one Double Margherita with paneer just for him,” says the photographer, who pampers his canine quite often. There are quite a few pet owners who do the same, especially on a late night out, when there are all but a few morsels of pedigree left in the tin. Uma R, a boutique owner at Shanthi Colony explains, “My work day often ends at around 9pm. So, sometimes I just order some fried fish and fried rice for my cats, and they feast on it.”For students and others who cannot be that generous, leftovers will have to suffice for the time being. Abhinav Bhalla, a junior research analyst says, “I don’t know about the big places but when my friends and I head out to one of those small joints for mutton biryani, I know there is going to be a lot of tail wagging when I get home.” So, perhaps it really doesn’t matter when eyes roll at your gesture. If you love your pet, it is only natural that you will spare a thought for him every time you set your sights on a juicy treat. That act, may fetch you many licks of love over the years.
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