UP: Residents get together on WhatsApp to feed street dogs

NOIDA/GHAZIABAD: A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged citizens to support stray animals during lockdown, residents of various housing societies in UP's Noida and Ghaziabad on Thursday formed groups, pooled in money and bought pet food to feed the strays at least one meal a day. Many of these stray dogs have been abandoned by their usual feeders since the lockdown was announced.

At Crossings Republic in Ghaziabad, for instance, a group of 12 families contributed some money to buy dog food to feed about 100 dogs in the residential sectors.“We have created a WhatsApp group and are collecting money from each member to buy dog food. We, at present, have stock to feed our community dogs for four to five days,” said Pooja Srivastava, an animal activist.

Srivastav said that she is trying to expand the WhatsApp group to get as many families on board at this time to help feed the street dogs. “With our resources, we are only being able to feed about 100 dogs but there are thousands of dogs waiting to be fed and we can’t do it all by ourselves. We want animal lovers to come forward at this time and collect small amounts from people to help buy dog food,” she said.

In Noida, Pallavi Dar runs a dog feeder group, which is fast running out of its stock. “First there is limited food, second the food is not available, so I am cooking sticky rice, mixing with eggs and making rice balls. I am feeding about 100 dogs each day at various sectors, including Film City. I have a WhatsApp group, we need more people to come forward and see that the dogs get at least some food daily,” she said.