How to Help An Injured Stray Dog?

India's leading animal welfare organization, People For Animals, highlights how India is home to approximately 30 million stray dogs who are prone to injuries due to accidents, cruelty and neglect.

We must have often encountered these injured street dogs who are helpless and in severe pain. We might want to help but may not know how, this makes it essential to learn & understand how to react and handle such situations.

Here are a few simple steps one can take to protect the lives of these animals.

Key Takeaways

• Asses dog’s behaviour & wound from a distance
• Approach gradually & if possible with food or water
• If wound is severe but the dog seems friendly, cover it with clean cloth to stop bleeding
• Contact NGOs or a veterinarian if possible Immediately
  

Helpline Numbers:

• PETA India: 9820122602
• People For Animal (PFA):  9810560230
• Friendicos: 1135712913, 1135712939
  

Step 1: Assess and Analyze

Maintain a safe distance while you analyze the dog's behavior, his breathing and his wounds. Injured dogs can be frightened and difficult to handle. Hence, don't assume the dog to be friendly. You must create a barrier with items such as a piece of cloth.

This helps prevent the dog from escaping or worsening his injuries as well as ensures your safety from the dog's unpredictable movements.

Step 2: Comfort Before Cure

Approach from the sides to avoid direct eye contact and sudden movements that might startle them. As you approach them, try talking to them in a soothing voice and petting them to reduce their stress. If you have treats or water, offer them to build trust and provide them relief in India’s extreme behavior. If it's the time of chilly winters, you can also keep them warm with a blanket.  

These small steps will comfort them and put them at ease before they can be attended medically.

Step 3: First Aid Initiative

If their wounds require immediate help, try providing basic medical assistance to the injured dogs. These situations might require restricting excessive bleeding by bandaging their wounds or providing support to a fractured bone. If you aren't trained in providing first aid, wait for professional help to arrive.

Remember, time is a crucial factor that must be considered while dealing with injured dogs.

Step 4: Call Professionals

Report the situation to animal welfare organizations and shelters to bring immediate notice to the injured dog's wounds. Give them all the necessary details including the dog's location, description and severity of injuries. They will take appropriate steps accordingly and send trained professionals to the spot.

Ensure that the dog is safe until professional help arrives. Remember, such organizations often have specific protocols to deal with injured dogs. Hence, don't take the injured dogs to a vet yourself and follow other protocols cooperatively.

In addition to providing medical assistance and personal attention to the injured dogs, initiate legal actions so that appropriate actions can be taken for a deterrent impact.

Lastly, don't let panic create a barrier in your decision making. Be quick & active as time is of essence & can make a difference in the life of the innocent animal.