Gas shortage: Rescue centres unable to feed animals

The LPG crisis owing to the conflict in West Asia has affected animals also. Many animal rescue centres are finding it difficult to provide food to dogs and other animals as they are unable to procure commercial LPG
cylinders. 

“We need at least one commercial cylinder every two or three days since we cook rice and meat for over 170 dogs. Now, it has become difficult to get a cylinder and the prices in the market outside have gone up to Rs 8,000 making it too expensive for us to cook and sustain,” said Praveen Kumar L, founder President of the We Save Animals (WSA) Welfare Trust. 

Following the crisis, many of them have tried to switch to firewood cooking. However, even that has proven to be expensive since the demand for wood has gone up over the last two weeks. 

A few centres have also experimented using electric stoves but the costs are a concern, those running the centres said. “Unlike gas stoves, we will have to cook for longer since we cook on a large scale. Also, to meet the needs, we will have to cook multiple times. This increases the power consumption drastically. In fact, power consumption has gone up by nearly three times and this is expensive,” said Samyukta Hornad, founder of the Praana Animal Foundation.

While cattle can be fed raw food, dogs and cats need food that is cooked well. “Both rice and meat have to be cooked. Though we can feed biscuits sometimes, it is not good for their digestive system,” Kumar said.

Stray dogs at risk

Many activists and volunteers working on the ground also observed that the stray dogs were also finding it difficult to get food since many small roadside eateries which were throwing away excess food to dogs have now shut down. 

“Small roadside shops and eateries were the main source of food for many strays. Now that many have closed, the dogs are finding it difficult to get food,” said Mohit K, a volunteer with many animal welfare
NGOs.

Kumar also noted that only a few dogs were able to get food and their organisation was trying to feed the others. “If there are about 50 dogs in a locality, only 20 of them are able to get food now. Hence, we try to go around and feed dogs at least once a day,” he said.

The summer heat has added to the problems as many dogs find it difficult to get water. These conditions together have caused problems for many stray dogs, volunteers observed.

Many activists and volunteers working on the ground also observed that the stray dogs were also finding it difficult to get food since many small roadside eateries which were throwing away excess food to dogs have now shut down.  “Small roadside shops and eateries were the main source of food for many strays. Now that many have closed, the dogs are finding it difficult to get food,” said Mohit K, a volunteer with many animal welfare
NGOs.

Kumar also noted that only a few dogs were able to get food and their organisation was trying to feed the others. “If there are about 50 dogs in a locality, only 20 of them are able to get food now. Hence, we try to go around and feed dogs at least once a day,” he said.

The summer heat has added to the problems as many dogs find it difficult to get water. These conditions together have caused problems for many stray dogs, volunteers observed.