Spare a thought for our strays on World Stray Animals Day

Today is World Stray Animals Day, dedicated to increasing awareness of stray animals the world over and the problems they face.

The day was inaugurated in 2010 by over 100 Dutch organizations convened at the Dutch National Stray Animals Conference. April 4 was chosen on account of being exactly six months from World Animal Day.

By consensus, “stray” animals are defined as pets that have been abandoned or lost. As many Indian cities, towns and villages have discovered over the past decade, not just dogs and cats but even larger species kept for economic reasons, cattle in particular, can end up as strays on the street once they have outlived their economic utility. As opposed to stray animals are domestic species born in the wild, which are referred to as “feral” animals.

The World Health Organization estimates that there are nearly 200 million stray dogs worldwide and an even higher number of stray cats. Those who are always griping about how there are “thousands” of stray dogs in Indian cities—for instance, estimates put the number of stray dogs in Bombay at a little over 100,000—and how they should be thrown out or exterminated in defiance of the Constitution and animal welfare laws, need to pause and throw a second look at that global number: 200 million.

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These 20 crore animals worldwide are part of the daily reality on the street in different countries. While there are opposing views on what needs to be done to address the issue and reduce their numbers, there is no question that care needs to be provided for animals that are already living on our streets, not just for their sake but also for the sake of humans.

Some ways you can help stray animals:

• Provide food and water: This will help to alleviate their suffering and improve their chances of survival.

• Offer shelter: Sharing your home with them can take care of their needs and save their lives.

• Adopt a stray: This can provide a loving home for an animal that would otherwise be left to fend for itself on the street.

• Volunteer: You can feed stray animals, bathe and groom them, socialize them with other animals, and exercise them regularly.

• Spay or neuter your pets: This is the most effective and humane means of decreasing the number of homeless animals and saving lives.

• Report cruelty: This helps to prevent animal suffering and ensure that the animal receives prompt medical attention.