HYDERABAD: If you are an active facebook user, you are sure to have come across pictures of Indian dogs or puppies that are up for adoption. However, there are not many takers. The most common block among people being – they are jungli or not so clean and that the local breeds are not safe to be adopted into a household.
According to Hema Badle, shelter director, People For Animals, in the city, most of the people who come to them for adoption, prefer foreign breeds. “We have to spend quite a lot of time convincing people to adopt Indian dogs over foreign breeds,” says Hema. Most times people just lack awareness and that gets solved with giving them more details.
“People lack awareness on the advantages of adopting an Indian dog. They are under the misconception that these dogs bite people, just like that and spread rabies, which is a common disease among dogs. We explain to them that these can be prevented by vaccinating these dogs frequently enough and taking good care of them.” Pointing out to the rate of adoption of Indian dogs in Hyderabad, over the recent past Hema says that people are now more open to adopting them. “During the last adoption drive which was conducted in November, 12 out of 15 dogs got adopted.” One would be surprised to know that getting cats adopted is easier than dogs for the NGOs. “People are sceptical to adopt dogs as they are scared that they will bite,” says Hema on a parallel note.
However, these adoption drives have proved to be a good thing, she opines. Maria Joseph, a resident at Secunderabad, is one such parent who has adopted an Indian dog. She just picked and now provides home to one that was lying around her house. “I was happy to adopt the dog as I was giving a home to a homeless instead of getting a foreign breed which anyway have a higher possibility of getting adopted,” she beams adding that she just gives her food, a roof to stay in, while the dog ensures that she has peaceful sleep at night.
Prashanti, a corporate employee is another who adopted two grown up Indian female dogs. Both the dogs now have two pups. Though it is difficult to take care of them, she doesn’t mind going through extra trouble to make sure that these dogs are well kept. She also is an active member who gives these pups up for adoption.“My dogs litter every six months. My family not being dog lovers, get irritated every time they litter. I have a tough time convincing them to allow me to keep them at home. I also get the pups adopted but I give them only to people I trust,” shares the 23-year-old.
Agreeing she does have a lot of fights with her friends just because her dogs are Indian, she says “It doesn’t matter to me as they love me and so do I.”
Dr Sachin from Dr Dog pet hospital, Hyderabad also agrees that Indian dogs are a better option compared to foreign dogs.
“Indian dogs adapt well to the climate here. They have more resistance to diseases compared to foreign breeds.” However, he adds that pure Indian breed is a rare thing as most of them are crossed with foreign ones. And this is a total disadvantage.
“The offspring of the cross breed have a much lesser resistance power to diseases,” he points out.