On World Animal Welfare Day, Bangalore Times shines a light on the numerous groups in the city whose members have dedicated their lives to improving the welfare of animals, particularly those that are often neglected. These groups serve as a safety net for animals, with members going above and beyond to assist voiceless creatures. Priya Chetty-Rajagopal, founder of the city's canine squads, emphasizes that these groups act as the watchdogs for dogs in need, coming together as a community to address any challenges that arise. Their mission is to spread awareness and empower people to care for animals. Many individuals are unsure how to react when encountering abandoned or injured dogs, so these groups aim to bridge that knowledge gap. Mallika Ghosh, a member of the CV Raman Nagar Canine Squad, regularly shares essential emergency contact numbers to educate the public on how to respond in such situations. The canine squads work to establish local communities focused on animal care and guardianship, prioritize issues such as neutering and anti-rabies vaccinations, promote community involvement in animal welfare, build trust within the community, collaborate with authorities, and share knowledge and best practices related to neutering, abuse prevention, rescue operations, and combating cruelty. Despite challenges like pandemic-related dog abandonments and a pause in India's Animal Birth Control program, dedicated members like Parvathi Prabhakar of the Sadashivanagar Canine Squad have taken proactive measures by neutering numerous dogs to address the issue, believing that neutering is the key solution.