Stray Love

"The dogs of Malhar have lived alongside us for years. Our communities have grown around them, and they have learned to survive in the spaces we have left them. They have home territories, families, friendships, fears and personalities of their own. Understanding this doesn't mean ignoring the challenges of living alongside them. Knowledge, responsible management and a little empathy can make coexistence simpler."

Stray Love Group is, at its heart, a hyperlocal, volunteer-led community effort made up of Malhar residents who believe that living alongside community dogs is a shared responsibility.

In the absence of a regular Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme in our locality, we are currently the only group in the Malhar area that has consistently worked on ABC for years. We also vaccinate community dogs against rabies and other diseases, help dogs who are abandoned, injured or in need of medical care, raise funds for emergencies, and work to find homes for puppies and adult dogs wherever possible. We also manage a feeding programme in accordance with Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) guidelines. We are not a shelter or professional rescue organisation. Our work is carried out by residents who give their time and resources to support the dogs in our neighbourhood.

An important part of our work is bridging the gap between fear and facts, helping residents better understand the dogs who share our neighbourhood, while finding practical and humane ways for people and animals to coexist. Our aim is simple: to make Malhar a safer, more informed and kinder place for both its people and its animals.