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Recently Indian actress Raveena Tandon found an abandoned dog near her house. The dog carried a small note from his owner tied around its neck stating the owner could no longer take care of him. She was extremely infuriated with the whole situation as the dog was severely attacked by other strays following his abandonment by his owner. Meanwhile her intervention led to a number of people wanting to adopt the abandoned dog. Lucky chap! The dog got some well deserved justice as PETA came to his aid and rescued him.
Abandoning pets is a very common practice across the world. Every pet owner needs to understand that once canines or felines are groomed to live as a house pet, adapting to the roads as a stray is virtually impossible. Your pet will only be attacked / killed by other strays or will starve to death.
So what will you do if you ever come across an abandoned pet?
Be prepared to rescue: The next time you find an abandoned pet be a good samaritan and help the animal in need. Call up the local animal control centre, animal welfare officers, 24 hour veterinary clinic and other sources which can help you in your rescue operation.
Once you have taken the initiative, time, and trouble to rescue an abandoned animal you may be surprised to find that the rest of the pet care community may not necessarily rush forward to do what you see as its duty. But don’t get de-moralized, remember the pet has started relying on you.
How to approach an animal in need
• When you approach an abandoned dog/cat, it is obvious that he/she will be frightened and may behave unpredictably towards you. A sudden movement on your part is enough to frighten him and may attack you. First make sure to gain his faith just by putting forward your hand. Once he sniffs your hand, he will be more comfortable to share a friendlier bond with you.
• When approaching the dog, speak calmly to reassure him. Make sure he sees you at all times as you approach. Entice him to come with you by offering a strong-smelling food such as canned tuna or dried liver. Once he is relishing on the food you can direct him towards a safe place.
• As soon as you think the dog is in safe custody, call up the local animal hospital and inform them about the lost pet. If any of your friends or relatives are capable of handling a pet, call them for help. Be with the animal till you get a good collapsible dog crate, shelter him inside the crate and take him to a safe destination. You can choose to admit the abandoned animal into an animal hospital where proper care of the animal would be taken. Also lodge a police complaint to trace the owner of the pet.
• You can place an advertisement in the local newspaper. If the pet is lost and not abandoned, you may find the owner coming forward to claim the lost pet. Also you may find some prospective adopters for the pet. You may not be aware of the vaccination status, so immediately vaccinate the pet with anti-rabies and 7-in-1 serum.
• Good care is not cheap, and anyone who is committed to trying to save injured stray or abandoned animals should discuss these issues in advance with the veterinarian. To check on any relevant laws in your country, get in touch with the local animal control agency, NGO’s, or SPCA. They would be the best resources to help you out. Also you can lodge a police complaint against the owner who has abandoned his/her pet. |
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