The NCR dogs have run away. And hundreds of their caregivers are looking everywhere for them — posting rewards on Facebook, Instagram, handbills, and posters.
It happens every Diwali, but the dogs did get a two-year reprieve during the pandemic. This time, the noise of the firecrackers came back, and the dogs were in a warzone again. Now they are missing, and caregivers are feeling defeated looking for them everywhere.
“My friends and I are constantly posting on social media about it—on Instagram, WhatsApp, and Facebook groups. We are also distributing posters on foot, but the dogs are nowhere to be found,” says Mansi Rautela, co-trustee of South and Central Delhi dog feeder and rescue group Wagging Tales. Four of their stray dogs are reported to be missing since Diwali. She also said that this happens every year.
Many caregivers corroborated Mansi’s statement. And it doesn’t happen during just Diwali — even during Christmas, Bhai Dooj, Karwa Chauth, when loud firecrackers are involved in celebrations, dogs run away. Gayatri, who is studying at a veterinary school in Austria and never had such an experience before, briefly lost two of her dogs this year after Diwali. Both returned with bite marks and scratches on their bodies, indicating what horrors they might have been through.
Most rescuers and feeders are feeling out of luck as it has been days since they last saw their dogs. “It has been 13 days, and we still haven’t found our Chameli. She is old and needs a lot of care. I am doing everything to find her,” says Anupriya who runs an Instagram account called Dogs (& Cats) of Delhi. She has also announced a reward of Rs 25,000 for finding her dog.
Gurugram-based rescuer and feeder Chhavi Goyal, 32, is also looking for her stray dog named Senior Onja, an old who has been missing since 25 October. She says that some people took advantage of Diwali this year to deliberately hurt stray dogs. “I saw people near my dog’s feeding spot throwing crackers at him. These people can’t even be reported because they will easily get away with it by saying that they were just playing,” she says. Chhavi has announced Rs 10,000 as reward money too. While looking for Senior Onja, Chhavi is caring for the other dog siblings wailing in anxiety for their lost family member.
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Rewards, rescuers, PWD
Both Chhavi and Anupriya were contacted by mostly people who care for dogs. Then there are others willing to find the dogs just for the sake of the reward money. Some also make prank calls to make things worse. But the community of dog feeders stands united, and members are helping out each other to find missing dogs.
CCTV footage of the feeding areas is also helping feeders look for the dogs, but the red tapism of the Public Works Department is causing hindrance. Anupriya’s stray dog, Chameli used to live near Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal’s house, which is entirely covered under CCTV cameras. Even after submitting a written application, the PWD hasn’t provided the footage. “It has been days and PWD clerks are still saying it will take some time,” says Anupriya.
In these difficult times, auto drivers, watchmen, street vendors, and traffic police are also offering help. “I was able to find one of my missing dogs because NDMC workers helped me,” says Uma Ramesh, a Faridabad-based retired professional. She says that doing the footwork is most beneficial when it comes to finding missing dogs.
“I have been doing carework for stray dogs for the past 40 years, and social media has never helped me find my dogs. What works is talking to shop owners, ice-cream vendors, chai walas, and watchmen. In fact, traffic police are also very helpful,” adds Uma.
Many missing strays were found as far as 20-30 km away from home. Search parties are going out every day and dog caregivers are not losing hope.
(Edited by Humra Laeeq)