THE DOGS’ RIGHT TO
FOOD & HEALTH
Stray dogs roam the streets of our localities without proper food, veterinary care or refuge from the vagaries of elements. Sadly, today this highly-regarded, four-legged friend is ignored, abused, exploited, abandoned and also murdered for the sake of our selfish needs. The condition of street dogs is deplorable. Inhuman ways of capturing them, and keeping them in unsanitary conditions with no food or water; hitting them, burning them, starving them, throwing boiling water or oil on them so that they can stay away and not ask for food or to put an end to their barking are just some of the things we as humans have and are putting them through. Not to mention, hit and run cases occurs every day with not even a glance back to see if the poor animal is dead or alive.
Despite its smart, social personality, India’s native dog breed, the “Pariah Dog”, is misunderstood as wild and dangerous, resulting in the local population being highly reluctant to adopt these animals. After just 65 days of age, or with any history of injury, chances of adoption plummet to zero. With that in mind, our Organization’s focus is not on the conventional rehab-and-adopt model familiar to Westerners, but on giving the best chance of survival on their own.
Unfortunately, fear and ignorance have led many Indian citizens and officials to see street dogs as nothing but a nuisance and to seek eradication using inhumane methods such as poisoning and beating. However, despite being viewed as a menace to society, these strays contribute immensely towards the well-being and sanitation of the country.
Stray dogs survive by scavenging through garbage for leftover foods. This makes them a boon to public sanitation as they make quick work of the waste carelessly thrown by us.But, unfortunately makes them exposed to unhygienic situations which could lead to health hazards like choking, festering of wounds, developing skin conditions, and more. Therefore, it is our collective responsibility to ensure that these animals are looked after and cared for. They are not just a social responsibility, but also a moral one.
This ‘Feed a Dog’ project was founded on the principle that no dog will ever be euthanized because of lack of space, money or resources. Vaccination and Capture, Neuter and Release programs seem the most effective when dealing with the most common issues of stray dogs. Vaccinating stray dogs against diseases should cause them to not spread diseases to humans. Neutering dogs should cause a decrease in the dog population.
It is not easy to do what we do, but you can help us care for our dogs. Monthly expenses to run these activities are extremely high, and your support helps us provide the best care for the stray dogs our canine best friends and fund our stray dog rescues and sterilization projects across rural segments and the most remote places of the Sundarbans.
A handful of humans who care for stray animals is often met with unbelievable ridicule and resistance.
There is no law that prohibits feeding of stray dogs. “To have compassion for living creatures is a constitutional mandate, as reflected in Article 51-A(g) of the Constitution, classified as Fundamental Duties.” Section 3 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, secures right of food and shelter to every animal. The Animal Welfare Board of India has issued extensive guidelines on feeding stray dogs, and there have been numerous judicial decisions protecting dog feeders and caretakers who face the wrath of ill-informed neighbors.
Street dogs also have a right to live. Animals may be mute but we as a society have to speak on their behalf. No pain or agony should be caused to the animals. Cruelty to animals causes psychological pain to them. Animals breathe like us and have emotions. The animals require food, water, shelter, normal behavior, medical care, and self-determination.
Our vision is a world where humans treat animals with respect, empathy and understanding. With many of our volunteers spread across the different parts of the Sundarbans’s most remote villages, ‘Feed a Dog’ is continuously expanding. Today, we have many feeding points for stray dogs; and they are fed eggs, chicken, soyabeans, rice, etc. on a daily basis at fixed times.