Show kindness to stray animals

Rawalpindi: In our busy lives, we never give a second thought to the little creatures, such as cats and dogs, wandering around our neighborhood. Sometimes, it is the bark of a dog or a chilling cry of a cat that grabs our attention but because it does not make any difference to our lives, we forget about it.

“What we forget is that we as humans have a responsibility to help, care, and pay attention to the needy and helpless creatures who depend on us,” says Ali Naqi. “Good habits begin from childhood. Therefore, caring for animals when you are young will not only be a great learning experience, but will also teach you responsibility, gentleness, and respect for other living beings,” says Ali Asghar. “The weather affects stray animals more significantly than domesticated pets. Whether it is scorching heat, or cold, stray animals suffer without proper shelter, often seeking refuge under vehicles, or in any spot, they can find,” says Zaman Abbas.

“It is important to remember that there is a difference between animals you have as pets at home and those roaming outside your house. Stray dogs and cats live in harsh conditions, so they carry germs and diseases as they eat out of garbage. Therefore, if you decide to help any stray animal, make sure you are at a safe distance,” says Imtiaz Hussain. “Stray animals usually get bad treatment from people around them; they get hostile and sometimes attack. Why? Because they have hardly seen love and care; all they have come across is human cruelty, hatred, and torture, hence their defensive and harsh attitude towards humans,” says Aon Muhammad.

“So, do not get close to stray animals immediately. It takes time for them to realize that some humans are caring and are showering their love on them,” adds Aon. “Stray animals attack if they feel humans or other animals threaten them or their babies. When they have young ones, they are too sensitive to notice who is caring and who is not. The other reasons for an attack can be extreme hunger, and if they feel the person is an outsider, so they take the person as a threat,” says Jafar Sadiq.

“I have seen people feeding birds on the pavement, on the rooftops, balcony, mainly pigeons. Perhaps the reason is to get divine reward. I wonder why people do not think the same for cats and dogs. Dogs and cats are innocent souls that need help from humans too,” says Muhammad Baqir. Samsam Hussain says, “How can we help stray animals? Practical solutions such as placing old cartons with cloth inside to create a makeshift shelter, or offering food and water for strays is essential. Small actions, like placing leftover food in a designated spot for strays, can make a big difference.”