Humanity hasn’t been very kind to stray animals and it is a proof. Every now and then, we hear and see instances of people committing cruelty to poor stray animals. Every coin has two sides. While some people are kind enough to adopt these poor souls and provide shelter to them, some seem to have problems with these creatures sharing the planet and its resources with us. There are instances when we feel helpless as we can’t do anything about making this planet a better place to live for these creatures. From speeding vehicles crushing dogs and cats under its tyres to people throwing plastic waste on the streets that end up in the stomachs of cows.
The question arises, how do we put the misery of these poor creatures to an end. Stray animals are like orphan kids, only with lesser capabilities. The best way to help these animals is by adopting them and giving themes a place in your house and your lives. But not everyone has the luxury of giving these poor stray animals a play in their houses. You might be a student, someone who lives in a shared apartment or in a joint family. But there still are ways you can help the stray animals. I have compiled a list of helpful things you can do to make the lives of strays easier.
Joining an NGO as a volunteer
There are several popular NGOs across the country that work for the betterment of the strays. They have dedicated places to set up a shelter for these animals. Donations from the general public help them in feeding these poor creatures. You can become a part of one of the NGOs as a volunteer. You can help the NGOs in your personal capacity or help them in raising funds and gathering more support. All you need is to dedicate some hours of your days to take care of these animals.
Foster
If you can’t have the luxury of providing a shelter to the strays forever, the closest thing to adopting a stray is fostering. Fostering is when you choose to keep the stray animals in your house for some time until they find a permanent residence. You can get in touch with any NGO and volunteer to be a foster parent for a stray. There are several NGOs and welfare groups that allow volunteers to foster stray animals.
Taking Care of Strays Nearby You
Dogs, cats and cows are the three most commonly found strays, specially in India. You can easily find stray dogs and cows searching for food on a daily basis and struggling to do that. You can help them by feeding them. Also, a lot of people don’t like dogs because they are afraid of dogs biting them. You can make the behaviour of society better towards the strays by choosing to vaccinate the stray dogs. You can dedicate a share of your income to the betterment of these strays.
Donation
If you have a busy work schedule and still want to do something for these poor creatures, you can choose to donate a small amount to the NGOs or welfare groups taking care of the stray animals on a daily basis. Donation does not only mean sending money. You can donate food items, medicines, raw material and clothes to the NGOs that act as a shelter for the stray animals.
Also read, The Most Ferocious Dog Breeds
Creating Awareness
People’s bad behaviour towards stray animals has a lot to do with the misinformation about them in society. You alone can’t take them out of their terrible condition. But an educated and informed society’s collective efforts to take care of these creatures can really bear some fruits. You should spread awareness about the animals using social media and other platforms. You should tell people how animals can make your lives better. You can try to eliminate the misinformation about the animals that have been there in society for a very long time.
Driving Carefully
Everyone talks a lot about helping animals but not many people do something significant to help them actually. Stray animals are one of the biggest victims of rash driving. You should always be careful while driving. Make sure that no cat or dog is sleeping when you start your car. Use the horn in a proper way to alert the animals on the streets. Be more careful when driving in the dark. Do not Overspeed. If you find an animal is hit by a vehicle, do not ignore the misery of the poor creature. Call for help, consult a vet. There’s no better feeling than saving a life.
