Throughout the COVID-19 influenced lockdowns, it is a known fact that stray dogs were deprived of any form of food in comparison to the normal times, where one would find and witness good Samaritans in the form of retailers, shopkeepers, offices, and passers-by feeding these animals. But the gloom of COVID -19, the last year lockdown and this year’s lockdown created a void that made strays go hungry without food.
On a rescue mission to stray dogs, SaveNishabd initiative became India’s first crowdfunding platform for stray dogs that need to be tended, cared, and attended to. This platform was seen by dog lovers as a lifesaver for stray dogs during lockdowns and what commenced as a service to animal in the lockdowns continues to become a movement of sorts. The platform is also widely accepted as one of the fastest growing crowdfunding platforms in India.
The NGO behind the notion of having crowdfunding platformsdedicated to animal welfare is Nishabd; a saviour in the Delhi NCR region that works for the needs of stray dogs, mostly through fundraising. Nishabd is a volunteer-based NGO is working towards the animal rescue and welfare and the not for profit organization with the support of its volunteers and donors have come to the rescue of 1800+ dogs, rehabilitated 60, and medically treated 1800 dogs in the NCR region.
Nishabd is a young, dynamic, and zealous organization that advocates for animal welfare, especially for the stray dogs, which have been ignored at large in our community. This NGO began its humble journey in 2018 as a not-for-profit, no-kill volunteer organization to rescue dogs. Nishabd has invested in space and infrastructure to develop a shelter for stray dogs and is located at Dadri, Uttar Pradesh. The resources for this development were funded by Ramagya Group, the organization that gave Nishabd traction. The organisation receives donation from benevolent donors across India who donate for dogs and often also come to adopt a dog in their shelter.
Apart from its achievements and milestones, the Nishabd’s shelter has taken responsibility to feed stray dogs in Dadri and Noida regions on daily basis. With the services of veterinary surgeons that form part of Nishabd, the NGO has also successfully saved over 25 canines through life-saving surgeries. Nishbad is also on a mission to reduce zoonotic disease transmission in the NCR region by its various vaccination initiates undertaken.
Quoting Mr. Utkarsh Gupta (Director, SaveNishabd), “It was our privilege to help feed and tend to stray dogs during the lockdown and I am sure the example created by Nishabd will be followed by many people. Utkarsh further added that besides what we do on a regular basis for stray dogs, we funded and commissioned 2 mass vaccination drives for stray dogs in the Vasundhara Enclave and Preet Vihar areas in Delhi recently.
It is heartening to see a young entrepreneur, Utkarsh Gupta taking the initiative to bring the community together with Nishabd as a platform that feeds, aids, rescues and tends to the medical needs of stray dogs.
