Helping hands come together to feed strays
While some good Samaritans in the city are lending a helping hand and delivering meals to Covid-hit families, others are ensuring that stray animals remain well-fed during the lockdown.
“Ever since we started the service of providing no-cost meals to Covid patients, my inbox has been full of food requests for strays, especially around Greater Kailash 1, CR Park and Safdarjung Enclave. These areas are near hospitals and people are afraid to step out and feed,” says Majid Khan, a resident of Zakir Nagar.
Apart from the localities close to hospitals, strays near eateries and markets are also affected. A pet parent and volunteer, Parul Taneja from Faridabad says, “The strays that relied on leftovers from restaurants and markets are now either starving or scavenging for food.”
Feeders need to create a safe environment not only for the strays but also for residents. Taneja adds, “People who are new to feeding put the food bowls anywhere but it’s advisable to feed strays only at the spots recommended by the Delhi High Court.” Anuradha Dogra from Animal Hospital and Shelter, Noida, stresses that strays can be territorial and says, “There can be three packs at one place. Feed them in their designated territory, else it will end up in a clash.”
City individuals were further motivated to step up their initiatives with the news of Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik sanctioning ₹60lakh to feed stray animals during the lockdown, a police officer, Chiranjeev Sinha, being conferred the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India Award for feeding stray dogs, monkeys and cows during the lockdown, and a video of Subramaniyan Potty S, another police officer, feeding street dogs even during a busy day at work.
Dr Vivek Arora, a veterinary surgeon, says one needs to consider the weather before preparing meals for the strays. He suggests, “Food should not go stale before the animals eat it. In summers, paneer and curd are better options as they take longer to go bad. But if bigger groups are to be fed over larger areas, buy animal food in bulk as it has a longer shelf life.” Cucumbers, carrots and frozen watermelon slices are high in water content and can be fed. He also shares an inexpensive way to help dogs cool down in hot weather. “One can lay down cloth or jute bags sprinkled with water to provide comfort to strays,” he says.
Dogra also advises placing earthen bowls filled with water and mentions that feeding time should be either early morning or during sunset as the animals stay hidden or burrowed when the temperature peaks.