How to help homeless dogs

Surely you have met stray dogs, passing or passing by some construction site or park. Often they don’t pay attention to you, but sometimes they can be aggressive, especially if you ride a bike or scooter past them. How did these animals end up on the street and why are there so many of them?

Statistics

Homeless dogs are a global problem, spread all over the world. In Russia, there are no official statistics to find out the exact number of such animals. Experts are sure that recently the population of stray animals has been decreasing, but there are still a lot of them, especially in large cities. The trapping and sterilization program does not work in all regions of the Russian Federation, while euthanasia of stray animals is still practiced in small towns and villages. The Responsible Animal Care Act, which went into effect in January 2020, should help reduce the number of stray dogs over time.

From home to street

Most homeless animals are born already on the street, but often a situation arises when, when moving or for other reasons, the owners simply kick the dog out. Pedigree domestic dogs are completely unadapted to life outside the home and often die from exhaustion. The surviving pets eventually stray into packs or join existing ones.

Packs of stray dogs living somewhere near a construction site often pose a danger to others – both people and pets. In a pack, animals feel their strength and numerical superiority, and can attack a person passing by. Unfortunately, there are many such cases. Even spayed stray dogs can be aggressive.

What to do if an aggressive pack of stray animals lives in your area? In Russia, there are services for catching stray dogs. Their tasks include trapping, sterilizing and vaccinating animals. But often, after all the necessary procedures, dogs are released back into their habitat, less often they are given to shelters.

How can you help

To help homeless dogs, use our list of recommendations.

• It is necessary to vaccinate, microchip and sterilize your own pet. Neutering can keep you from adopting unwanted puppies, and vaccination can protect you from various diseases. Chipping will help find the dog if it ran away for a walk.

• Try to help shelters in your city. Every shelter and foundation needs financial help. You can also buy and bring food, leashes, bowls, toys and medicines to the fund, after discussing the list of necessary things with the staff in advance.
• Shelters often need volunteers. If you have the time and desire, you can volunteer at a shelter near you. Animals need extra care, walking, grooming and attention. Your visit is sure to bring joy to the dogs.

Homeless Dog Funds

In Russia, there are several foundations and charitable organizations that help homeless animals. These organizations help animal shelters by organizing various support from cat spaying to active assistance of new owners, cats are spayed, vaccinated and try to find a new home for them. Most foundations have photo galleries where you can look at their wards cats and cats in advance. In many countries of the world, under the program Hill’s “Food.Home.Love”, as well as in collaboration with partners in the field of animal care (in Russia, the Animal Help Fund “Pick up a Friend” and the charity fund “Ray”), Hill’s provides free food for cats that are cared for by shelter staff and volunteers.

Assistance to such organizations is never superfluous. But the most important help that you can provide is to take home one of the wards of the fund. If a dog finds a loving owner in your face, it will be a wonderful gift for both of you.