Stray-friendly act: NGO stores water by roadside for sun-struck dogs, cows

VIJAYAWADA: With temperatures soaring through the past one week, Indian Institute of Jeeva Karunya and Research Centre, a city-based NGO working to rescue stray animals, has made provisions for drinking water to quench the thirst of roaming dogs, cows and other animals, at various locations in the city.

Around 150 water containers, which are cleaned and refilled on every alternate day by volunteers, have been placed across the city. The containers are being maintained with the support of philanthropists and animal lovers. The initiative has been taken by M Venkateswarulu through his NGO to save animals from dehydration.

Speaking to TNIE, Venkateswarulu said that temperatures during summer often crossed 45 degree Celsius, which proved fatal for birds and stray animals. “It is sad to see several stray cows and dogs desperately looking for water and drinking dirty water from gutters as they fail to find clean water,” he said.

To address the issue, drinking water containers have been placed exclusively for strays on roadsides, across the city. ‘’Several cows and dogs have been visiting the water containers and quenching their thirst. I have also taken pictures of them drinking water and forwarded those to several of my friends and philanthropists through social media platforms and asked them to replicate the initiative in their localities during summer,’’ he said.

Venkateswarulu has, as he said, requested other residents of the city to come forward and extend necessary support to the initiative, by placing water bowls for stray dogs and cats near their houses. ‘’At present, the NGO has been arranging for the supply of water for the strays at selected locations in the city. Plans are under consideration to arrange for more water containers, but due to lack of funds that is not happening,” he said.