Saturday, January 2, 2010

Art of Management - Lessons from a Dog

While on the way back from the hostel mess after a rather insipid breakfast, I picked up few slices of leftover bread for the stray or rather hostel's pet dog, "Virus" (yes the nomenclature has something to do with "3 Idiots" ;)

Virus is black shiny hyperactive dog that has successfully managed to stay and survive in the hostel environment. Dustbins and mess leftovers are his source of daily nutrition. On lucky days after some festival such as Diwali, he might be privilged to have his share of sweets and delicacies. Nonetheless, he is a very healthy and jolly dog by all means. Never in my life, I have seen him barking on anybody, with exception of other dogs of course.

Back to the story, Virus is amzingly good at stunts and caught the first slice in the air itself. He then ran away in the bush and came back soon for the second loaf. This time I thought to follow him. He took the bread to another bush in other direction and then hid the bread deep inside the mud and then covered the hole as if it was never there!!

In all, beacuse he was perhaps full, he hid all his three bread slices at three different places to prevent other dogs from finding them. He might eat it at leisure when other food supplies exhaust. It's a chilly morning here. Freezing temprature, all day fog and sun hasn't risen since days and it makes prefect sense to secure your supplies in order to survive.

Isn't this a classic art of managing your limited resources and best utilizing them in times of the need. I dont' know about humans (the most civilized race of all), but certainly these homeless animals better know their management lessons???