“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” – Mahatma Gandhi
13th January 2022: Shanti Devi Welfare Foundation volunteers started a dog food donation drive on Thursday morning to feed around 30 stray dogs. It was a noble act in the direction of our four-legged friends, mirroring the foundation’s efforts to save dogs from starvation.
Most homeless canines and puppies experience malnourishment since they don’t have access to quality food. As a result, they can become thin, weak and are unable to perform daily tasks. Due to their low energy, they can’t play and exercise, which are two things dogs love doing.
Poor nutrition can lead to many serious disorders in dogs, emaciation, rickets, allergies and fur loss. Lack of medical support, inadequate nutritional food offered to them, parasites interfering with absorbed nutrition, and underfeeding are all causes of poor nutrition in dogs. Lack of veterinary care also contributes to poor dog care. Untreated wounds are a red flag that has to be addressed right away; scabs, hair loss, and emaciation are also signs of untreated diseases.
There is a need to increase the body of knowledge in nutrition of hospitalized dogs and develop adequate protocols. The study of nutritional level in stray dogs was conducted by Fundació Hospital Clínic Veterinari, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain over 90 days. This adds new risk factors of high interest, namely, the presence of anorexia, vomiting and diarrhea. Most of the dogs with low serum albumin concentrations had a history of weight loss or inadequate food intake.
Animal Welfare Board of India calls for community participation for feeding stray dogs, building shelters and stopping cruelty towards dogs. It lays down strict guidelines in Dog
Breeding Rules, 2010 and any infringement of these makes a punishable offence. Kerala High Court in August,2021 directed local administration to build feeding grounds for dogs on community basis establishing the fact that treating animals in a proper manner is not merely a charity but a social and legal duty.
Shanti Devi Welfare Foundation 