Pet Homelessness: India
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Pet Homelessness Index
2020
Priyangi Agarwal, Nov 26, 2021: The Times of India
From: Priyangi Agarwal, Nov 26, 2021: The Times of India
Rosy, a nine-year old Labrador, was given into the care of Sanjay Gandhi Animal Care Centre after years of service as a bomb sniffer with Haryana Police. Unlike soldiers who receive a pension on retirement, the old dogs are left in animal care centres. But Rosy is just a blip on the horizon. The first-ever State of Pet Homelessness Index report, released on Thursday, estimates there are 80 million homeless cats and dogs in India living in shelters or on the streets.
“Rosy might have saved countless lives during her service, but as there no longer was a place for her in the police department, she was left in our centre in her old age. She was lucky because we managed to find a new home for her,” said Ambika Shukla, director, SGACC. “Every day, we come across five-six cases of pets abandonment.”
India scored a measly 2.4 on a 10-point scale on the Pet Homelessness Index. The low rating underlines the need for a more coordinated effort to address the challenge of pet homelessness in the country. The main reasons why India rated so low are the relatively low companion animal sterilisation and vaccination, high percentage of canine diseases, including rabies, the relatively high cost of owning a pet and the absence of strong enforcement of laws on animal welfare and against cruelty to animals, especially at the local government level.
The report revealed a high relinquishment levels, with 50% of current and previous pet owners stating they had relinquished a pet in the past against a global average of 28%. The index, released by Mars Petcare India in partnership with an advisory board of leading animal welfare experts, also said that 82% of homeless dogs in India were considered street dogs. More than half the population, 53%, feel that street dogs are dangerous, 65% fear a dog bite and 82% believe that street dogs should be removed and put in shelters.
Ganesh Ramani, managing director, Mars Petcare India, said, “Until now, there was no way to measure and track the scale animal homelessness across the world and in India. The index is a call to action and we welcome partnerships with the government, NGOs and individuals who want to ensure all companion animals are wanted and cared for.”
