How to help a stray dog?

Swati Tandon, Pet Expert

Most people whether they are pet parents or not, empathise with the strays on the roads. It is heart breaking to see a animal abandoned, in pain or ill on the road. Most people like to help but feel disheartened when they don’t know what to do. As it is not always possible to get a stray home there are a number of ways in which we can ease their pain. Here are a few tip that might help you save a furry friend in his time of discomfort.

Safety
The first thing to keep in mind is your own safety. A dog who is hurt, ill or abandoned is very anxious and scared. In this vulnerable state he will not trust easily.He might attack out of fear or pain. Before you approach the animal make sure to give him enough time to trust you.Be careful in touching or picking up the dog as it might be in pain and so can snap at you.

Once you built the trust and establish contact with the animal make sure to move him in a safe place. Hurt and abandoned dogs are easily attacked by other dogs. Keep him away from other dogs.Move him away from the road and the traffic, a dog in distress might panic and run loose on the road which can be dangerous for the dog.

Lost dogs
Most people decide to get lost dogs home without putting enough effort into finding their owner. The same thing happens in cases of stray puppies. People get them home without searching properly for the mother of the puppy. “People should not get lost dogs or lost stray puppy home without looking for the rightful owner unless they have the intention to care for the dog for the rest for their lives. In most of these cases people keep these dogs at home for sometime and then give them to shelters. In shelters in India only 5-10 percent dogs survive. Sending a dog to a shelter should be the last resort as most shelters are over populated and the chances of a healthy dog catching infections is very high” say Abhinav Srihan, Fauna Police. The wisest decision to make is to look of the owner or the mother and if not found to look for a family that can commit to taking care of the animal forever.

Accident cases
Animal accident cases are the most disheartening to witness. You should immediately take the animal to the closest veterinarian or get in touch the animal NGO. “NGOs and vets most commonly have an issue of sending an ambulance to the location. In such a situation you might need to take him there yourself, very carefully put the animal in the car and drive with caution. You will have to be careful with the bumps on the road.Once the dog get medical aid and has fully recovered it is advised to leave him back in the same area that you picked him up from.” Says Divya Puri, an animal activist.

Dogs might be a man’s best friend but they rely on us for kindness. You don’t necessarily have to keep a dog at home to change his life. Just by helping a dog on the street you can save him from pain and suffering.