| ign="center"> | | | | just collect the stray dogs and further handle the |
| Are these questions coming to your mind? | | | | issue. It is illegal even for a municipality to round up |
| What is pet dog abandonment? Why people abandon | | | | stray dogs and abandon them outside city limits, as it |
| their pet dog? What are the consequences of | | | | places them in circumstances likely to cause their |
| abandoning a pet dog? I have no option other than | | | | death from starvation and thirst. Therefore, you |
| to leave abandon my pet, is there any better | | | | should not do this as it can be challenged in the court. |
| alternatives or ways of doing it? Is there anyone | | | | Previously, municipalities would kill these animals |
| who can adopt my pet or anyone who can help in | | | | (mainly dogs) cruelly by electrocution, starvation and |
| this process? Is there any animal welfare societies, | | | | burying alive. After 1992, it became illegal for |
| organizations associated with dog sheltering, dog | | | | municipalities to kill stray dogs. The High Courts of |
| adoption? | | | | Delhi, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Mumbai and several other |
| Abandonment means to leave something with no | | | | states have specifically forbidden the killing of stray |
| intention of returning. Dog abandonment means to | | | | dogs and have directed the municipality to introduce |
| leave your pet forever. Dogs are taken to a far | | | | a sensible sterilisation programme instead. |
| place and left there so they cannot return back. | | | | Alternatives/ Better Ways |
| Many a times they are left in some of the forests | | | | If you are thinking of separating your pet from you |
| jungles or to a roadside and left to the mercy of god | | | | then there are better ways also. You should look for |
| where they have no food or shelter. These | | | | a shelter for your dog. There are a number of ways |
| abandoned pet dogs have different way of living and | | | | to do this if one wants. One of the methods is to |
| cannot cope up with the harsh situations of the | | | | look for another house for your pet among your |
| forest and cannot compete with the other animals. | | | | neighbor or relatives. Other way is to send the pet |
| Moreover animals have the habit to make and live in | | | | to some shelter house where they can be kept. |
| their territory, so they donât allow the | | | | There are shelter houses for dogs which are helping |
| newly abandoned dog to share their place leading to | | | | for the dog adoption to the people who want to get |
| fight which might result into severe injuries and | | | | a pet. So next time you are looking to bring a pet to |
| sometimes the dog may even die. Other times the | | | | your home, please go to a nearby shelter house and |
| dogs may run and come to some unknown | | | | adopt a dog instead of buying the new one so that |
| surroundings or may get hit by some vehicle and met | | | | these speechless creatures can get a home to live |
| with some automobile accident. They may also eat | | | | and bond with. |
| something poisonous when hungry as their natural | | | | It has several advantages that now you |
| instincts are not so developed because of living in | | | | donât have to spend the money to buy a |
| human vicinity and may even die. Some of the dogs | | | | new pet. The other thing is that now you can get a |
| survive and add to the so called stray dog population. | | | | well trained dog. Above all you will get a mental |
| The population of stray dogs in India is increasing | | | | satisfaction for giving home to a pet which no |
| alarmingly due to uncontrolled reproduction among | | | | money can buy. |
| stray dog population adding to which is increasing | | | | Societies/Organizations- A Helping Hand |
| trend of dog abandonment. So animal birth control | | | | There are many societies and NGOs operating in India |
| (ABC) programme has been instituted where females | | | | and abroad which can help you Organizations like the |
| are spayed and males are castrated to curb over | | | | BlueCross society are working throughout India to |
| population of stray dogs. Dog owners should at least | | | | help give shelter to the animals and help in dog |
| look for a new home or shelter for their pets so that | | | | adoption. Pablo's Dog Adoption Foundation India is a |
| they can at least live safely. | | | | group that brings together all animals, mongrel lovers, |
| Reasons behind it | | | | adopters worldwide . There are no kill societies which |
| People give a variety of reasons to abandon their | | | | will keep the dog but not kill them unlike the other |
| dogs some of them are like | | | | shelter houses which were working earlier where |
| ï§ The most common of them at least in | | | | dogs were euthanized after a particular period of |
| India is being the economic reasons as people say | | | | time. |
| they have poor living standards and cannot feed the | | | | Problems Associated With Adoption |
| dogs. | | | | Lack of awareness is the main reason. Many people |
| ï§ A member of the family may die and | | | | donât know if there is any such procedure |
| others donât want to keep the dog. | | | | where you can send your pet to shelter house and |
| ï§ Owners may shift from one place to the | | | | look for another home by dog adoption. |
| other and may not take pets with them because of | | | | Lack of responsibility is the other main problem |
| long distance, lack of means of transport of the pet | | | | associated. Unless you feel your responsibility for |
| or they simply donât want to. | | | | these lovely creatures, you cannot do anything but |
| ï§ A dog may get some health problem and | | | | to abandon them. One should at least think once |
| unable to meet expenses associated, the owner | | | | before doing this cruelty! |
| think to abandon their dog or may even think to kill/ | | | | Many people have this query if the adopted dog will |
| euthanize the dog. | | | | go well in their house. Dogs are very intelligent and |
| ï§ Some owners complain of allergies with | | | | are very fast learners. If taught with love, they will |
| dog hair, problem with excessive barking and even | | | | follow you sincerely. Moreover, the shelter houses |
| some owners complain of hyperactivity which causes | | | | should observe a pet/dog/animal for at least a week |
| problem in living societies. | | | | and tell the prospective owner about behavior of the |
| ï§ Sometimes dog breeders abandon such | | | | particular animal. |
| puppies which do not meet the breed standards | | | | Benefits behind Sheltering and adoption |
| thereby increasing breeders expense in rearing those | | | | ï§ First of all and most importantly it will |
| pups which have no or very less sale value. | | | | control the population of stray dogs. |
| ï§ A pet purchased on the spur of the | | | | ï§ Secondly the cruelty against the dogs and |
| moment or as a gift for another person. Often the | | | | a possible risk to a life can be averted. |
| owner discovers that caring for the pet is much | | | | ï§ You can save a life and get a chance to |
| more work than expected, or requires more space | | | | give home to a homeless dog, also called the Man's |
| or exercise than they are prepared to give. | | | | best friend. |
| ï§ Pet leaves home or cannot find its way | | | | ï§ You can get the dog for free and |
| back, and carries no identification tags or microchip. | | | | donât have to purchase it. |
| The owner does not succeed in finding it (or makes | | | | ï§ You can get well trained and grown up |
| no attempt to do so). | | | | dogs and can escape with the initial training required |
| ï§ People leave the country; quarantine laws | | | | when a small pup is first of all brought to the home. |
| in some countries can be traumatic to pets and | | | | Raise a Voice |
| owners, so to avoid the stress, the pet is | | | | It is high time to stop this malpractice of dog |
| surrendered to an animal shelter. | | | | abandonment among people of India as it is |
| Consequences of dog abandonment | | | | inhumane, cruel and leads to increase in stray dog |
| The dogs are very emotionally attached to their | | | | population. The better measures like dog sheltering, |
| owners and the family they are living in; to abandon | | | | dog adoption, ABC progamme should be instituted all |
| them means to separate them of their family. Just | | | | over India. Apart from that, some awareness |
| think how a child will feel if left alone in unknown | | | | campaigns are required so that more people know |
| surroundings without food water and shelter! | | | | about this and stop this. Be a part of it and try to |
| The very first thing about dog abandonment is that it | | | | save a life! |
| is unethical and against the law. It leads to increase in | | | | About Author |
| stray population of dogs. Municipality of our place will | | | | Dr. |