MEERUT: A stray dog in Bijnor that became a sensation attracting believers after villagers found it doing circumambulation (parikrama) of a Hanuman idol was rescued last week in an urgent but quiet operation by vets who said neurological disorder caused it to move in circles. On Friday, vets at a Delhi hospital told TOI the canine was “much better” and ready to go back.Videos of the dog, which local residents named ‘Bhairav’, reached some activists and vets. They immediately knew what the problem could be and devised a way to whisk the canine away for treatment. “The unusual behavior was not driven by spiritual instinct but by a tick-borne bacterial infection that likely caused a neurological disorder,” one of them told. TOI.The rescue itself was anything but easy.Sandhya Rastogi, an animal activist, said Bhairav was visibly weak, dehydrated and had stopped eating altogether.For the next few days, Rastogi and her team tried telldevoteesthe dog wasunwell and needed urgent medical care. As the dog’s condition worsened, activists pleaded with temple authorities for permission to at least administer fluids. “They agreed but said it should be done only after dark when devotees were not around,” Rastogi said. However, by then Bhairav could barely stand. “We rescued him late in the night, she said.Sanjay Mohapatra, founder of Noida-based House of Stray Animals, who is currently taking care of Bhairav, said an MRI confirmed neurological disorder caused by a recent accident or injury and blood tests confirmed anaplasma, a tickborne bacterial disease known as tick fever. “Bhairav is now recovering. We will ensure he gets back to Bijnor soon,” Mohapatra said.
