This year the brass-monkey weather in Delhi has spared none. As people pile on layers to keep warm, stray dogs find it especially difficult to weather the bitter chill. But the poor four-legged creatures have found friends who are extending them a helping hand.
Many students have earmarked areas and its dogs to protect them from the cold. Sadhwi Sondhi, a young dog lover who lives in GK, says, “I take care of the dogs in my colony and this year for winters we collected old rugs and mattresses for them. My friends and I have started a small group called Red Paws Rescue, where we help homeless puppies get adopted.”
Niyyatie Dua, an MBA student and dog healer, has saved many dogs in her colony from the cold. She says, “I bought coats and sweaters for the dogs in my colony after I read about puppies dying due to the cold. I feed them regularly and treat them like my own pets. At times I also heal them with angel therapy.”
Apart from providing coats and warm clothes to dogs, some dog lovers also provide them shelter inside their home when it’s cold and humid outside. Boishali Sinha Massot, an artist, says, “I live in Lajpat Nagar where there are many homeless dogs and they have nowhere to go in the cold. Some of my neighbours let these dogs stay inside their houses and provide them with old bedding.”
Though some people are kind towards dogs there are others who derive vicious pleasure from torturing them. Kanishka Sharma, a young professional, complains, “This city is full of people who hate dogs for no reason and often they poison or torture the dogs on the road. It’s really sad because there are no laws to protect the stray dogs and people continue their brutalities on them. I have 13 dogs at home and I regularly take care of 38 stray dogs of my colony. People should be more considerate towards dogs.”