If your own dog has ever gone missing, you know what a relief it is to get the phone call from someone who’s dialed the number on your dog’s collar or see your missing pet run to you at the local animal shelter. Critical in many of these owner-pet reunions a good samaritan found, held or chaperoned your dog to a safe place. Knowing how grateful we were or would be to them, we naturally feel like doing our part if we ever see a lost dog or a stray wandering on the streets.
Dogs have always been the best human counterparts. A symbiotic relationship developed between dogs and humans way back in the days of the cave men. Wolves and their puppies hung out at the camp fires of cave people looking for scrapes to eat and in turn they provided a benefit to the humans by keeping vermin at bay. Once you understand the nature of canines, it’s clear why the stray dogs adopt people and never leave. Wolves are pack animals that mean they are gregarious and social and need to stay together. An ostracized wolf, a lone wolf, couldn’t survive on its own. Since domestic dogs have descended from the wolves, they still have those wild instincts. Dogs always seek for company. They believe that a human will always help it thrive. Dogs who follow people home and adopt them will never leave their side because once they have had the experience of being hungry and suffering in extreme temperatures, they will choose family life over stray life.
Dog homelessness is a problem affecting millions of dogs even today. Though the cartoons and movies have glamorized the lifestyle of independent dogs, we all know that the daily life of a lonely street dog is much bleaker than is depicted on the screen. The following steps will help you safely rescue a dog from the streets.
1. Checking the urgency of the situation.
When you see an unattended dog on the streets your instincts will, on one hand, urge you to help but on the other hand you cannot take any decision. You will fear to make the situation worse. You don’t want to scare the dog unnecessarily and try to help only if its in need. There might not be a relevant situation for you to move on the path of animal heroism.
2. Determined Ownership.
You should make sure the first thing that the dog is actually alone and cannot be momentarily seperated from the owner. You can save yourself loads of time and hassle along with potential criminal charges while making sure that your dog is alone.
3. Analyzing the condition of the dog
Strays are two types- a dog seperated from its owner and a dog inherently without any home or family. Though both types are worthy of love and are in need of rescuing, there are additional concerns that need to be taken into consideration.
4. Protect yourself all the time.
Before finding a home for the stray, one must first capture and restrain the animal. It is a little dangerous as dogs can sometimes be defensive or even hostile due to prior abuse, neglect, sickness or its general temperament. If the dog turns violent, you should protect yourself with a dog barrier like a skateboard or a tennis racket but it should not appear as a weapon to the dog. Do not swing it at the dog in an attempt to impale them. It’s for your own safety and not meant to hurt the dig instead.
5. Building a rapport.
This is the most important thing you should do. Gaining trust through peace offering is good. A simple gesture like feeding with your own hand can build trust and open the lines of communication. You should never rush too fast. Go slow while making your approach towards the dog. Pause if it becomes frightened. Pay attention to what triggers an emotional response from the dog and be sensitive towards it. Move slowly and comfortably.
6. Bring rescue to your dog
Even if the dog behaves wildly, search for a proper shelter for him. Return them to a good home. Nowadays parents are getting microchips placed beneath the skin of their dog as a means of tracking their four-legged loved ones. It’s helpful if you want to ensure your dog’s safety.
7. Foster your rescue
If a proper home is yet to be located for your nee friend, you might want to consider adopting it temporarily or perhaps permanently. If you take the dog to the Human Society, a lot of times they do not take proper care of them. But if you are able to hold on to the dog for a quarrantine period of up to two weeks, they will then take the dog and provide it with all necessary vaccinations and tests.
8. Consult your family
The main concern is taking permission from your family, without which, bringing a stray dog home will prove to be your worst decision ever.
Still today, hundreds or more live in swamplands, sick and starving, diseased and injured, living under dangerous conditions. Starvation, dehydration are their regular companions and some are even dumped by human families who had once adopted them. So if you adopt such a dog, be generous and kind. Taking it to a vet, giving regular medical attention for the first few days against heatworm, parasitic diseases or acute injuries, seeking professional advice, complete check-up and sterilization, if needed should be done.
The SOCHI DOG KILLING CAMPAIGN has raised international interest in adopting street dogs from Sochi. Adopting a street dog will give you extreme happiness. Sit back and enjoy your new pet, see that all your difficulties and tensions vanish in a single go. Secure in the knowledge that you are a bonafide hero for saving the life of a poor fellow.