If we just consider a dog breed’s “features and advantages,” the Desi dog outperforms nearly any dog breed that is “bought” and raised in India. They are extremely intelligent, which is necessary for them to live in the absence of human assistance. Unlike German Shepards, Rottweilers, Huskies, and other purebred dogs, Desi dogs have adapted to the climate of India. They are loyal, protective, and extremely friendly, even while being highly territorial. 

Despite all these stunning qualities, people continue looking down on desi dogs. The most commonly found stray dogs in India are Indie ones, which is a sad situation. If you are someone who loves dogs, you would feel shocked at this too. 

Not all of us, however, can care for these dogs. Even NGOs and shelters committed to rescue street dogs are unable to manage due to the sheer number of dogs. Let’s try to understand why this is happening and what we can do to help. 

Reasons For The Number Of Strays In India

It is important to understand the reason why so many stray dogs in India are not provided with any care. It is also important to understand what India lacks that other countries have that enable them to have such reduced numbers of strays. 

Lack of programs

One of the key reasons for the large number of strays that have gone unnoticed is a shortage of focused services and government support for animal control programs. Almost every area, city, and state in developed countries have a government program committed to catching stray dogs, vaccinating, spaying, and neutering them, and partnering with a shelter for adoption. Animal Control is a concept used to describe a scheme that does not exist in every part of India (yet). Local municipal agencies, on the other hand, are rapidly developing services to make up for the lack of such services.

Euthanasia

The fact that there are fewer stray pets in the United States than in other developed countries does not suggest that the method is humane. Some countries simply euthanize dogs in shelters to manage the population.’ In 1984, 17 million pets were killed in shelters each year. Because of the incredible work done by non-profit agencies to support pet adoption rather than purchase, this number has dropped to 733K dogs each year. This is still an insanely inhumane number that countries need to manage better. 

Open garbage

India is well-known for a variety of activities. Culture, food, and music are all valued, but cleanliness is not one of them. There is a range of reasons for this, the most important of which is the tradition of only eating biodegradable foods until the last 30 years or so when single-use products and plastic were introduced. The majority of garbage is thrown out in the open, providing food for dogs to scavenge and multiply.

Lack of spay and neuter programs

Several factors keep effective neutering programs from being developed. Religious reasons play a huge role in this, as sentiments of Indian’s lead them to believe that neutering is unnatural. Lack of awareness and government-funded education programs also keep such sentiments prevalent. Euthanasia is also illegal in India. This is a great thing for the strays, but when combined with the lack of neutering programs, more dogs reproduce. This leads to the alarming rates of strays we see today. 

Solutions to Help Strays

There is seldom a straightforward or one-size-fits-all approach to such complex problems, but multiple programs have been tested in conjunction with NGO partners. Some of the most successful ways to better the well-being and rescue stray dogs are mentioned below, in order of priority.

Reduce the population by conducting Animal Birth Control programs

Government programs for street sterilization of strays exist all around India. Municipal corporations, vets, and NGOs also take care of neutering. Bringing awareness to the importance of neutering is essential. Experts often ask activists and helpers to prioritize female dogs when resources are limited. 

Adopt

To curb the growth of strays in India, putting an end to the breeding process is a vital step. Here, awareness programs also play a huge role in de-stigmatizing the stereotypes around Indie dogs. Breeding is a highly inhumane process that should be made illegal. For many reasons, breeding dogs often tend to cause problems for the dogs as well, as not all dogs are well suited for this climate. Many breeders in India also employ unlawful and immoral techniques and do not tend to their dogs. To help reduce the population of strays and to provide support to a dog that needs the help, practice, and preach adoption. 
Equipping yourself and others with information is an integral step in rescuing stray dogs. Apart from this, there are many things you can actively do to make a huge difference for strays in India.