If you are an animal lover, seeing a helpless dog on the street may cause your heart to sink. You might get the urge to help them in any way possible, and you can. There are many ways to make sure that your stray friends are safe and cared for. Read below to find out how you can help the stray without any harm to yourself in the process.
Ensure safety first:
A stray dog may behave unpredictably because, unlike pet dogs, they have had to fend for themselves against cruelty, harsh weather conditions, hunger, disease, and various other things so their temperament may be on the defensive at all times because they can not tell the difference between someone who is probably going to harm them and someone who is just trying their best to lend them a helping hand. Look for signs of aggressive behavior like growling, snarling, barking, trying to snap and bite at everyone and everything. Speak in a calm but authoritative voice, crouch down so that you appear like less of a threat. Yelling at the dog to stop barking or growling may further anger them and they may bite or scratch you and even run away in some cases and that is not the goal.
Call the local animal shelter:
Call the local animal shelter and let them know about the stray so that they can give them food, a place to live, and loads of love. Stray dogs are just like our pets in the regard that even they just want to be loved and cared for but their harsh living conditions have conditioned them to become aggressive as a defense mechanism.
Feed the stray:
If you are able to, take the stray home for the time being till the shelter workers get back in touch with you. It is understandable if you feel like bathing them should be your top priority but keep that task aside for later, instead, try to get them to eat something first. You can bathe them later if you are confident enough in your ability as an animal whisperer. If not, wait for shelter workers to show up and let the experts handle it instead.
Take them to the vet:
If you have been able to gain an injured stray’s trust and are able to move it around accordingly, try taking them to the nearby veterinary clinic for a medical checkup. Most government-run veterinary institutions and NGOs provide basic health checkups for strays free of cost.
Try adoption:
If you are willing and able to go the extra mile as a dog lover then you can try adopting the stray but before that, be sure to take the dog to the vet and get it fully vaccinated. Some stray dogs may be too old and weak and will require constant care and attention so if you are unable to take up that kind of responsibility, try looking for a permanent home or a shelter that will take it in and care for them.
Get the stray sterilized/neutered:
It is generally advised to get strays in the vicinity of your home neutered and is also a mandate passed by the Indian government. Doing so keeps the stray dogs’ population in check in addition to keeping them healthy.
If you don’t want to approach a stray that is in need of sterilization or being neutered, you can easily get in touch with a local shelter or NGO and they will be happy to take care of it for you. The dog will require rest and caregiving for at least five days after the procedure and will be released into the same area they were picked up from. Bringing the stray dog back to the place they were picked up from is mandatory according to the animal birth control laws in India.
Speak up against animal abuse:
If you see someone abusing stray animals, don’t just be a spectator at the scene, stand up for your animal friends because they don’t have a voice to do it themselves. Take it upon yourself to protect them.
Try to persuade the aggressor and let them know that there are laws in place for the protection of animals in the country and those rights are extended to strays as well. Legal aid may be helpful in extreme cases.
Do volunteer work for shelters and NGOs:
You can volunteer your time and skills at local shelters and NGOs in the following ways
•Volunteer and the shelter and help the staff in the everyday caring schedule for the dogs present there
•Spreading the word: you can take to social media in order to attract more volunteers and donors to the organization
•You can start an online or in-person fundraiser for the shelter or NGO and help them by getting funds and material supplies like food, medical equipment, etc.
Sponsoring local shelters:
If you are able to, donate money or supplies like food and medical equipment to your local shelters.
You can also help out by sponsoring a particular dog which includes taking their food/medical bills upon yourself.
Donate to campaigns that local shelters and NGOs might be running if you happen to come across any.