Utkarsh Global Foundation

Stray Together

a little bit more

About Stray Together Campaign

‘Stray Together’ is an effort towards creating a more peaceful, tolerant and loving society. It aims to reduce human-animal conflict and encourages peaceful co-habitation of people with strays through animal welfare activities.

Human-animal conflict is a regular occurrence in our society, especially citizens vs. stray dogs. There are many misconceptions about strays which have led to fear and apprehension about them amongst common people. The truth is that stray dogs can be as loving and loyal as pet dogs. Aggressiveness isn’t a natural instinct in strays but they tend to be upset and restless when they are hungry or sick. So, if strays get regular food, medical care, vaccinations and a little love, they will be harmonious, peaceful, loving and friendly.

What We Do

The ‘Stray Together’ Campaign aims to bring people and strays together through the following animal welfare activities:

Vaccination and sterilization of strays

to prevent fatal diseases such as rabies and to control the stray population.

Awareness campaigns

Awareness campaigns through talks, workshops, street plays, etc., to remove misconceptions and fears about stray dogs

Ensuring care and welfare

Ensuring care and welfare of the stray dogs in the housing societies and neighbourhood through ‘Voice of Voiceless’ initiative via Utkarsh

You can join Us

Importance of Stray Together Campaign

Stray dogs will always be found near human population. Stray dogs are highly territorial. Dislocating them to a new place will not help. If you try to do so, new stray dogs will come in their place. They may be carriers of diseases, posing health risks. The resident dogs also tend to attack new entrants which will also lead to increased man-animal conflict.

Stray animals are protected by law

The Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules, 2001 enacted under the Indian Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960 (A Central Act), states that the dogs have to be sterilized and vaccinated, and then returned to their original place of living.

It is essential to take care of stray dogs and ensure they are fed. Hungry dogs often turn scavengers and may even turn aggressive. Well-fed dogs are calm and they remain harmless. You will also not find them roaming around for food. Also, when animal lovers feed stray dogs, the dogs become friendlier. It then becomes easier to catch them for vaccination and sterilization.

Article 51A (g) in The Constitution of India 1949, directs to protect and improve natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wild life, and to have compassion for living creatures.

The Section 11 (Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act), and Section and 429 (Indian Penal Code), cruelty to animals is punishable with imprisonment and fine. Threatening or intimidating animal welfare volunteers is a serious offence under the Indian Penal Code (specifically, Section 503 of Indian Penal Code read with Section 506 of the Indian Penal Code 1860).

The orders passed on 18th December, 2009, and 4th February, 2010 by the Hon’ble High Court of Delhi, mandate that the street dogs have to be fed and that they should be allowed to live in the localities they have been living for years. It will also help in area-wise animal birth control, and yearly vaccinations.

No law prohibits the feeding of street animals. The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI), a statutory body under Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India has framed exhaustive guidelines for stray dog feeding.

Citizens/animal welfare volunteers who choose to do so are in fact performing a duty cast upon them by the Constitution of India – of showing compassion to all living creatures. The Delhi High Court, through the rulings of 2009 and 2010 have also ordered the Delhi Police to protect animal lovers who care for and feed street dogs as they often face the anger of residents who oppose stray dog population.