Greeting for the day.

All Indian languages have a term for native dogs. You may use it as the initial step in your quest to learn other native tongues. Thank you for the time and care you offered to the animals in the Indian streets. Being part of a silent movement, maybe you are witnessing a magical bond and affection between humans and animals from the streets of our country. Few of us got that magical connection, but definitely, few humans got that wonderful encounter in life.

We live in a world full of experience, and this is a core aspect of our life in conviction. Within our daily lives, there are many touchpoints through experiences: the food we eat, the song we listen to, the people we greet, the animals we rescue, and the nature we encounter. From my experience, my days always start and end with a dog, my Indian dog, adopted two years before from a street near to my home, in the Central Travancore region of Kerala. I’m just recollecting my experiences with my pet that taught me the feeling of affection and care more. The two valuable feelings which a human must have in life. My state and my district always showcase different ways to care, love, and support each other. The lives that connected with the ordinary people, traditions, street dogs, cats, and other pets with more dignity and respect.

An estimated figure of 35 million stray dogs live in India, and around 3 million cats. These animals are prone to diseases like rabies and other diseases that directly or indirectly affect human health. According to WHO, India faces about 18,000 to 20,000 cases of rabies every year. In Kerala, around 250,000 stray dogs and 100,000 dog bites to adults and children. On the other side, the harm pointed not only to humans but also to other animals and birds, especially the domesticated cattle, dogs, hens, and ducks. How can we balance these into a space for a human-animal ecosystem?

Is this our problem as a community or individual mismanagement of priorities and practices?

Hundreds and thousands of dogs and cats got killed in the last year across different states in our country. Mobs routinely beat and killed dogs to death or manage by dog catchers to do the job for them. Also, the bitter man-canine conflict here has alarmed animal lovers across India and drawn sharp criticism from the country’s Supreme Court, which said that, although dogs cannot become a “menace to society”, widespread killing was unacceptable and it did not even consider the basic right to live. The right system and style need to be implemented in a country, where all decisions are connected in an emotionally charged atmosphere.

We need practical solutions to accommodate these stray dogs and cats in our locality. We can create a secure and no-cruel future for them, even if one feeds stray animals on a regular time basis through a common collection point, community-funded groups, interact through volunteers, and these wonderful strays become loyal to humans. In the second phase, adopt and accommodate these loyal beings, and in the last phase, cut the reproduction through safe medical methods. A timely effort will promote these three phases in a few years’ timeline to control the numbers of strays in the streets. We can push our government to allocate funds to the NGOs, welfare trusts, and strives to develop these concepts across India to take send these activations across the states in phases.

What solutions have we implemented?

Frankly, no one has any right to take back a life, because of the power and control of our thoughts and actions or emotional way of getting things done (safeguard interests, greed, and demand). We have to associate with existing organizations like Peepal Farm, Humane Society International, Peta India, Animal Aid Unlimited, Help Animals India, etc. for getting more knowledge, empower ourselves, build self-awareness about the cause and come back with the right techniques or tools to control the new births cycle and create a safe zone for existing dogs/ cats.

Can a street dog or cat become a good pet?

In my research, I learned a few deep aspects of a dog’s or cat’s kingdom, and the behavior changes visible among them. These dogs and cats are mongrel beings with stray origins, lifestyles, and habitats. There is often a bias against adopting dogs and cats that have been started in case they have behavioral problems and overpopulation within their territory. One important thing I have to point out here, these breeds are friendly, just like any other domesticated pets, and these dogs or cats are much more sociable, lovable, and connected to live with humans.

Can dogs or cats live without humans?

Yes, of course, these breeds can survive without humans, just like any other wild animal in most of the cases. Most animals on earth can live without humans except for the family dog, pedigree animals, and some other species domesticated in our zones. Research on domestic pet animals produces more light on facts because of a domestication process over thousands and thousands of years. These animals are used to being a part of our society and the over breeding causes troubles in them. We, humans, are the reason for every problem, so we have to come back with a bold solution to restore their life to dignity.

Yes, our communities are a great place to grow and nurture, even for animals and birds, along with handpicked solutions to guide them into a healthy relationship with life. As a society, government and people, our role is to facilitate the right place and shelter for these underprivileged humans and animals. These animals have to be living with the utmost dignity and respect, their life needs to be joyful, harmonious, and satisfied according to their terms and priorities. In extreme cases, the street animals and humans failed to cope with new-age lifestyles and concerns. A right citizen and system always supports his/her co-beings in this world. The lack of strong law is serious, and we have to protect these animals with the purview of legal boundaries.

• 

• 

There are hundreds to thousands of gorgeous dogs and cats that need a forever home. So, if you’re one who looking to buy a new puppy or kitten, why not consider re-homing a rescued one instead? Look at things with your real deal, and conscious ways. Because there are a lot of adorable, harmless stray animals in every corner of India. All they look for some love and affection, but sadly, all they receive is a rough day and life.

I conclude with greater love and acceptance of reality. Animals cannot speak for themselves, and for that reason, we need to protect them and care for them. I hope for a positive change in our lives and society, rolling for a dream that inspired millions of people.

Written by Sujith Thomas Philip