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Stray Dogs of India

Until one has loved an animal a part of one's soul remains unawakend

About Me


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About me:
PLEASE HELP A.S.H.A.R.I. stay up and running so the government of India does not take back over and begin killing over one hundred thousand street dogs in Kolkata
Kolkata (calcutta) is the worlds largest "no kill" city, lets keep it that way!!!!
Donate now at www.animalcrusaders.org
Photographer Michelle Lohutko of Portland Maine embarked on a five week journey through Calcutta and many of its surrounding villages of West Bengal, India. During this journey, she captured black & white images documenting the brutal life of street dogs trying to survive next to humans. Her goal was to capture the sweet nature of these dogs in spite of their low ranking in the Indian society.
There are millions of stray dogs in India, most of which reside in the already over crowded cities. According to CDC 75% of all rabies related human deaths per year occurs in India, of which 99% is caused by dog bites. In Calcutta, over 12 people die every month from rabies. Furthermore, 30,000 new cases of rabies related deaths are reported every year in India and many others go unreported, making this a humanitarian issue as well as an animal rights issue.
Animal control and health must be a high priority to minimize the spread of various diseases. Until recently, there were no regulations in India, in part due to lack of education, funding and proper animal welfare laws. Animal welfare is not merely an issue of emotion rather a critical need in Indian society. Lack of kindness and public awareness has led to increasing crimes against animals. This show intends to raise awareness about the stray dog population in India and hopes to raise funds for supporting the benevolent work of ASHARI (the only organization in Calcutta that spays, neuters, vaccinates and shelters stray dogs).
UPDATE:
In West Bengal alone, over 40,000 people go to government hospitals every year after being bitten by dogs, but few complete the required course of treatment -- partly because vaccines are in short supply, officials say.
"We are left with no option but to control the dog population as rabies is spiralling out of control and no vaccines are available to treat thousands of victims," said K.C. Barui, the director of health services in the eastern state.
Poor people cannot afford to buy vaccines, which cost around 1,500 rupees ($32) for a full course from private hospitals and chemists.
In towns and cities across India, stray dogs are a common sight and often chase pedestrians, cyclists and cars.
Kolkata alone is home to over 100,000 street dogs of which 65,000 are potential carriers of the rabies virus, officials say, adding that an 80 percent shortfall of anti-rabies vaccines in West Bengal reflects a similar situation in other parts of India.
"Controlling the dog population by vasectomy and isolating rabid dogs seems to be the only way out for India now," Prabhakar Chatterjee, a senior WHO official, said in Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal state.
Animal welfare groups say they are hardpressed.
"Our team of workers are hardly getting any sleep as we are catching dogs all the time," said Debasis Chakravarti, founder of the Compassionate Crusaders Trust (CCT).
He added that the CCT gets hundreds of calls a week from frantic residents in Kolkata asking for help after being bitten by a dog.
If a person does not start the vaccination process within hours of a dog bite, they can die of rabies within days or weeks.
stray dog looking for bits of food among thrown out bowls-calcutta, India

My Interests

Stray Dogs Prayer
Dear God,
Please send me somebody who will care!
I'm tired of running
I'm sick with despair
My body is aching
It's so racked with pain
And Dear God I pray
As I run in the rain
That someone will love me
And give me a home
A warm cozy bed
And a big juicy bone
My last owner tied me
All day in the yard
Sometimes with no water
And God that was hard
So I chewed my leash
And God I ran away
To rummage in garbage
And live life as a stray
But now God
I'm tired, hungry,
dirty and cold
And I'm so afraid
That I will never grow old
They've chased me with sticks
And hit me with stones
While I run the streets
Just looking for bones!
I'm not really bad
God please help if you can
Or I have become
Just a "Victim of Man!"
I'm wormy Dear God And I'm ridden with fleas And all that I want Is an Owner to please!If you find one for me God
I'll try to be good
And I won't chew their shoes
And I'll do as I should
I'll love them
Protect them and try to obey
When they tell me to sit
To lie down or to stay!
I don't think I'll make it
Too long on my own
Cause I'm getting so weak
And I'm so all alone
Each night as I sleep in
the bushes I cry
Cause I'm so afraid God
That I'm gonna die
And I've got so much love
And devotion to give
That I should be given
A new chance to Live!
So Dear God
Please answer my prayer
And send me someone
Who will REALLY care
That Is
Dear God
If You Are Really There!
–– Author unknown

I'd like to meet:

People that care for the helpless as much as I do

FACTS

average number of puppies in a litter: 6 – 10.

In six years, one female dog and her offspring can theoretically produce 67,000 dogs.

The average number of litters a cat can produce in one year: 3.

The average number of animals in a litter: 4 – 6.

In seven years, one female cat and her offspring can theoretically produce 420,000 cats.

Now do you agree that the ABC/AR (Animal birth control/Anti Rabies) program is vital for public health and hygiene, apart from saving incalculable mute suffering?

Music:

THere is one organization that accepts donations for A.S.H.A.R.I here in the USA
visit there website
www.animalpeoplenews.org/
(when donating please indicate it is for ASHARI in "payment for" section)

You can also contact them by phone or email to find out how you can help
1-360-579-2515
[email protected]

$1 USD will vaccinate an indian street dog against rabies

$10 USD will spay or neuter an indian street dog

Heroes:

Mahatma Gandhi

My Blog

Stray dogs of Delhi

Monday, July 10th, 2006New Delhi - More and more animal lovers are now preferring to adopt as pets stray dogs rather than expensive pedigree ones, giving these homeless creatures a new lease of life.M...
Posted by Stray Dogs of India on Thu, 28 Sep 2006 09:30:00 PST