Introduction
It is estimated that there are thousands of Indian street dog Breeds in India. Even after several challenges faced by these street dogs, they are highly adaptable and resilient enough to overcome the hardships of living on the streets.
Indian street dogs, often known as “Desi dogs” or “Indie dogs,” are highly adaptable and have strong survival instincts. They have naturally evolved over centuries and developed traits and skills to adjust to and survive in their environment. They are an integral part of the community as they offer companionship, security, and even help us with pest control.
Established in 1994 by visionary individuals Mrs. Sunanda Das and Mr. Subir Das, the Blue Cross Society (BCS)of Pune emerged from a heartfelt concern for the well-being of stray animals in Pune.
Every dog or cat coming into BCS OPD or IPD gets undivided attention and personalised medical care. We have a team of highly experienced in-house veterinarians and visiting veterinarians.
To protect these stray animals from fatal diseases, BCS offers FREE anti-rabies vaccines (ARV) for all stray dogs/cats and Indian mixed breed dogs/cats.
9-in-1 vaccine for dogs and Tri-Cat vaccine for Cats are also provided at minimal rates or free for strays as per availability.
What is a Street Dog Breed?
The street/stray dog refers to dogs that live independently on the street; they don’t have a home, and they roam around scavenging for food. They do not belong to any specific breed and are mostly a mix of various breeds.
Some of their distinct characteristics are:
Adaptability: Street dogs are highly adaptable; they adjust to harsh living conditions and make it their way of life.
Resilience: They show extreme resilience for survival, including extreme weather situations, scanty food, and possible threats from other animals and humans.
Behavioural traits: Due to their experiences with humans, street dogs display unique characteristics; while some may be friendly and comfortable around humans, others may be scared or frightful, and a few may not prefer to be around humans. They also form packs or groups, displaying social structure within their own.
The Indian Pariah Dog
The Indian Pariah dog, also known as Indian street dogs, is one of the oldest dog breeds and is believed to have existed since 4500 years ago. They are highly adaptable breeds and are present in both urban and rural areas. They have been an integral part of Indian history, where they have played the roles of safeguarding livestock and being loyal companions to humans. In Indian culture, they are often regarded with respect and fondness. Physically, they have a lean, athletic body with medium height and a short coat that comes in various shades of brown, black, and white. They have pointed ears with a long, curvy tail. By nature, they are highly intelligent, loyal, and generally friendly, but a few of them may be wary of strangers and may not like to mingle with other animals or humans.
Indian Dog Breeds
India has diverse dog breeds, and each of these breeds has adapted to the different regions and climates of our country. Some of the exquisite Indian dog breeds are:
Indian Himalayan Mastiff
These dogs are big in size and have thick, long coats to protect themselves from cold weather. They are territorial and are often guarding dogs.
Rajapalayam
They are muscular dogs, originating from Tamil Nadu. They have distinct white coats and are often used as guard dogs, as they are known for their loyalty and alertness.
Mudhol Hound
These dogs are sleek and possess excellent speed; they hail from Karnataka and make excellent guarding dogs.
All these breeds have excellent adaptability traits and can maneuver their lives in extreme living conditions, both in the city and on the rural side.
Importance of Recognizing and Supporting Indian Stray Dog Breeds
Indian stray dogs play a crucial role in the urban ecosystem as they control the rodent population and clean up food waste. Their presence helps balance the environment. It’s essential to support these breeds through their sterilisation and vaccination, as healthy and disease-free dogs prevent the spread of zoonotic diseases such as rabies and create a safer environment for both humans and animals.
This is where BCS plays an important role, where we offer free sterilisation for stray dogs and cats and also provide free anti-rabies vaccination to both, including the 9-in-1 vaccine for dogs and the Tri-Cat vaccine for cats, at nominal cost or sometimes free.
How to Care for and Support Indian Stray Dogs
Feeding and Nutrition
You can feed stray dogs’ nutritious food that is rich in minerals, vitamins, and proteins. You can offer them cooked rice, meat, and vegetables. Avoid giving them junk food like chocolates or bakery items, as they are toxic for them.
Healthcare
Regular check-ups and vaccinations help them stay healthy and protect them from rabies and distemper. Sterilisation helps to reduce stray dogs’ population and also offers them numerous health benefits.
Adoption and Foster Care
Foster or adopt an Indian stray dog and give them a loving home. You can write to us at [email protected] if you wish to adopt a stray dog or cat from us.
Success Stories and Testimonials
JoJo (Rafa): JoJo, a tiny pup, was found sitting on the roadside by a volunteer. The pup appeared undernourished and not from the area. He was definitely relocated. The volunteer also noticed that the pup was recently sterilised, while he was under age.
She placed him up at a boarding house and started looking for JoJo’s adoption.
JoJo went through a few adoptions’ rejections, until one day a lovely family approached the volunteer looking to adopt an Indie dog. They fell in love with him at first sight. His quiet demeanor and playful and goofy nature melted their hearts.
JoJo, who is now named Rafa, is happy and lucky to have found his forever family. He is immensely loved by his hoomans and is safe and adored at his home.
Oscar: A little brown pup was abandoned in a lane. He took shelter in a society whose residents were kind enough to let him stay in their compound.
A dog lover often saw him in society every time he went for his morning walks. This pup was very friendly and loving. Finally, one day, this dog lover decided to adopt him and took the pup to his home, where he already had a senior dog.
His family welcomed the little pup with open arms and named him Oscar. Oscar is all grown up and is living the best time of his life with his other siblings. Oscar is quite funny and loves his family immensely.
Short Tail: Short Tail, a senior dog, had been living in a lane for more than a decade. A family used to look after him and feed him. They also wanted to adopt him as he was getting old and tried getting him to their home a few times, but Short Tail wandered off to the streets every time.
Finally, last year, during the monsoon season, Short Tail decided he wanted to adopt this family who cared for and loved him. He finally came to stay with them in September 2023.
This beautiful boy, who is 17 years old, is now living his life peacefully at his forever home. Short Tail is loved by everyone, and he also has other siblings in his company who accept and love him.
All three dogs now lead a happy life. They have brought positivity, happiness, laughter, and love to their families. With their versatile nature and likes and dislikes, these dogs have made a home in their owner’s hearts.
By adopting a stray dog, you have one dog less struggling on the streets for food and shelter. Your individual action to adopt a stray dog can significantly improve the life of that dog. If everyone decides to adopt and not shop, we will have fewer stray animals suffering on the streets.
How to Get Involved with BCSPune
There are several ways you can support BCS Pune by volunteering your time or efforts. You can support us by taking dogs for walks, feeding stray dogs, and participating in rescue operations. And you can make a huge impact on these stray dogs by participating in or organising community events for spreading sterilisation and vaccination awareness campaigns, adoption campaigns, and fostering them until they find their permanent homes.
You can also sponsor a dog or cat at BCS Pune. We are currently home to over 50 dogs and cats who have been abandoned and are now in our permanent care. You can make a significant impact by sponsoring a dog or cat at BCS for just Rs. 5,000 per month. This covers their ongoing care, food, and medical needs. Other than sponsorship, we welcome donations, both monetary and in-kind, to sustain and expand our efforts.
Donate Funds: Your financial support helps us provide medicine, food, and treatment for our in-house and IPD dogs and cats.
Donate In-Kind: We accept donations of dog and cat food (both wet and dry), cat litter, and other essential items like cardboard, newspapers, bedsheets, collars, and leashes.
To support us, please contact us at [email protected] for more information.
You can also learn about our latest updates from our social media handles and check us out on our website, bcspune.org.
Conclusion
Indian Pariah dogs and Indian stray dogs are resilient and adaptable; they are intelligent, loyal, and excellent watchdogs. They play an important role in balancing the urban biodiversity environment. Providing them with regular food, health check-ups, vaccinations, and sterilisation will ensure that they are healthy and prevent the zoonotic spread of diseases.
There are many ways you can help these stray dogs, and we encourage you to lend your support to these amazing animals.