On World Animal Welfare Day, Bangalore Times shines a light on the numerous groups in the city whose members have devoted their lives to improving the lives of animals, particularly those that are often neglected. These groups act as a safety net for animals, with Priya Chetty-Rajagopal, founder of the city’s canine squads, emphasizing that they work tirelessly to advocate for voiceless animals. The objective is to increase awareness and empower individuals to care for animals.

Many individuals are uncertain about how to assist abandoned or injured dogs, which is where these groups step in to fill the knowledge gap. Mallika Ghosh, a member of the CV Raman Nagar Canine Squad, regularly distributes a list of essential emergency contact numbers to educate the public on appropriate actions during such situations. These groups not only aim to reunite lost dogs with their families, but also provide guidance on proper care and response protocols.

The canine squads in Bangalore focus on establishing local communities dedicated to animal care, with a particular emphasis on issues like neutering and anti-rabies vaccination. They strive to enhance community participation in animal welfare efforts, foster a sense of community and trust, and collaborate with various authorities such as BBMP, the State Animal Welfare Board, and the police to share knowledge and best practices related to neutering, abuse prevention, rescue operations, and addressing instances of cruelty.

During the pandemic, there was a rise in dog abandonment due to false beliefs about Covid-19 transmission, exacerbated by the inactivity of India’s Animal Birth Control (ABC) program. This led to a surge in the population of puppies. In response, Parvathi Prabhakar, a member of the Sadashivanagar Canine Squad, took proactive measures by neutering around 400 dogs to tackle this issue. The focus remains on promoting neutering as a crucial solution to address the problem effectively.