One woman's project to rescue dogs living on the street

Photo: Let's Live Together

The problem of animal abuse and neglect is global. The following story is how one young woman on the other side of the world has saved close to 1,000 homeless dogs -that she fondly calls the “Street Mongrels.”

The residents of Bangalore, India were unaccustomed to the idea of adopting one of the homeless dogs that fill the streets of their city. Instead, they preferred to buy purebred puppies from prestigious pet stores. But now, with the help of a 24-year-old woman named Achala Paani their attitudes are starting to change.

Achala Paani was appalled at the abuse the homeless dogs receive so she started a project called Let’s Live Together. The group educates the public about the horrible conditions the dogs are exposed to and how their suffering can end if people adopt them into their families. It’s the first program of its kind in Bangalore and it has become very successful.

Achala tells the story of the Street Mongrels in her daily blog. She displays beautiful pictures of the animals and shares their stories. The following are her words to the residents of her city:

Have you ever given a thought of adopting an animal? More commonly adopting a dog?
Most people who have dogs today are people who have purchased their “pet” from a breeder or a pet store as though a dog is an amenity. But can a living, breathing, loving being be merely considered a commodity? We all talk about stray dog issues and term it as “stray dog menace”. We leave it to appropriate authorities to deal with it and sit and crib about how there is an ever increasing population of stray dogs in our cities. But the real culprits are those people who have gone out and paid money and purchased a so called “purebred” puppy that was probably bred in the most inhumane conditions that could ever exist. Every time an individual purchases a puppy he/she denies a mongrel a home. Yes a mongrel. Those cute little puppies that you see day in and day out on the streets of every city in our country!

Treated like rodents and abused every day of their lives. Are they not capable of being loved or giving love? Or are dogs today more of a status symbol. Breeds that are not native to our country are given preference over our Indian dogs.

Why not consider adopting Indian puppies. They are loyal, loving, and healthy. They also are best suited for our climate and are highly immune as compared to their more flamboyant counterparts. Shelters across the city almost always have healthy puppies that desperately need homes.

Let’s Live Together is proof that every individual can make a difference in the lives of homeless.

Click Here to read: Dogs in China or Street dogs of Mumbai, India

Source: Let's Live Together