Chennai’s golden dog ‘safe and glowing still’

A street dog regularly seen on Besant Avenue Road in Besant Nagar went missing last week, sparking a discussion that found resonance beyond the neighbourhood. Those regularly driving through Besant Avenue Road had also noticed the canine’s absence. One of them was Rudra, a girl studying in a school nearby. And notably, this girl is a member of what is called Thiruvanmiyur Changemakers Club, a children’s collective that seeks to address civic issues in the neighbourhood their parents and older relatives have given up as lost causes. “This incident was brought to light by Rudra, a young Thiruvanmiyur Changemaker who studies at Adyar Theosophical Academy, and she sees this dog on her daily commute. She is just nine years old,” points out Gayatri Nair, also a resident of Thiruvanmiyur. A file photo of the dog with its parent. Gold-spangled, this dog is clearly a chip off the old block. This image is a few years old. | Photo Credit: Gayatri Nair Now, as luck would have it, Gayatri happens to be a photographer and a key member of Chennai Photo Biennale and believes in taking problems head-on, particularly those of the civic category. On being informed about the missing dog, Gayatri clicked images of the woman robbed of her pet and spread the word. about the catastrophe that had befallen her. For contrast, Gayatri ferreted out an old image of the woman in happier times, walking the dog leash in hand. When the two photos were juxtaposed and shared, there was an outpouring of concern. The missing dog had become Chennai’s collective loss.Anyone who has not seen this dog might dismiss all of this as brouhaha. But this was no ordinary four-legged creature: it glowed golden and was always in the company of this lady, equally gold-spangled. Movement is therapy. The lady, who is a brand ambassador for Greater Chennai Corporation’s fitness initiative, Health Walk in Besant Nagar, seems to be dealing with the ‘loss’ of the dog by continuing with her routine.. To her relief and the entire city’s, this loss is temporary as the dog has only been taken away for treatment of a minor injury. This image was taken on September 11, 2026. | Photo Credit: Gayatri Nair The lady is a permanent resident of what is called “selfie point” on Besant Avenue Road, frequented by those who believe in walking their illnesses away, a belief partially strengthened by a Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) initiative. GCC had designed a Health Walk Route in Besant Nagar with much of the walking taking place on Besant Avenue Road under the shade cast by the trees on the Theosophical Society peeping out curiously. And a halting point where people, the walking crowd, could rest and click a few selfies was created; hence the name “selfie point”. And this lady, a fitness freak always accompanied by an equally spry dog, now missing, had been signed on as brand ambassador for the Health Walk and stationed at this selfie point. Two others recruited for the same role as brand ambassador are men, also gold-coloured from head to toe. Silaii, a sculpture brand, had “recruited” this team of fitness-focussed brand ambassadors for Health Walk. All three humans and the dog, also a brand promoter, are made of industrial fibre and painted glow. But those in Silaii talk of them, the three humans and dogs, as if they were breathing and thinking creatures. Many of the regulars at the selfie point share this sentiment and have seen themselves in the presence of real humans and a real dog. A file photo of the selfie point on Besant Avenue Road. | Photo Credit: PRINCE FREDERICK This is how Maverick Prem, who heads branding at Silaii and lives at a place not too far from the selfie point, remarks that he has seen people talking to these statues, which he describes in this manner: “You will find a man sitting, a very laidback man sitting on a chair and then you will find a woman and she also will hold a dog. And you will find another man who is running. Each of them has a distinct character. You will find a companion in the man (the one sitting on the bench). You will find grace in the woman and you will find playfulness in the dog. So, each will connect with visitors in its own way.”And when Prem learnt about the widespread consternation over the missing dog, he allayed fears. “On a morning run, I saw the dog lying, dismantled, on its side. Something had happened, and in a lifeform language, an injury had happened. We took measures, transferring it safely to our factory in Tambaram, and right now, the dog is in safe hands. It will be back soon, and in the dog’s voice, we should say, ‘I will be back with a new avatar!’”says Prem. Rough handling by visitors had caused this “injury” to the dog. Prem notes that he and the rest of the people at Silaii are not unduly upset over this mishap. “At Silaii, we have created this, and we wanted people to touch and feel it. That is the idea of a sculpture. In any other art form, people would say, 'Please do not touch.' But we would want to have people touch and feel works of sculpture. And that is the beauty of sculpture.”According to Silaii founder Arun Titan, "A work of sculpture is meant to be touched and felt, and it is in the hands of the people to ensure its safety, through responsible behaviour.”Prem shared pictures of the dog being “treated” at the factory in Tambaram and of its journey towards assuming a new avatar.