When the lockdown to contain the spread of coronavirus pandemic was announced on March 25 last, denizens hurried to shops to buy essentials.

With most of the businesses shut and lives coming to a total halt, the streets wore a deserted look.

While most of the people confined to the safety of their homes, the stray animals that found a home on the streets had nowhere to go. They are not getting leftovers and suffered due to lockdown.

Hence, several volunteers of ‘PUHOR’, a nongovernment organizations (NGO) based in upper Assam’s Jorhat, have come forward to feed dogs facing starvation due to lockdown.

The stray dogs in Jorhat town now need not worry about food and a caring hand anymore with PUHOR providing daily feeding, rescuing, providing shelter, free medical treatment.

“Under the aegis of a few active members ‘PUHOR’ is engaged in distributing good and healthy food to the stray dogs. Interestingly, even the dogs have become familiar with the members of the NGO and the kindness shown towards them. The dogs eagerly wait at the same place for the members to come and provide food,”,says Nandini Choudhury, a member of PUHOR.

While many of these free roaming dogs have been adversely affected during this lockdown phase, members of this NGO are rigorously providing food, rescue measures and medical treatment.

According to PUHOR president Dr Apurba Buragohain, so far, more than 50 stray dogs have been rescued and given free medical treatment.

Around 150 of these street dogs have been given Anti-Rabies vaccination at an Anti-Rabies camp held on March 1 this year in Jorhat to ensure safety from this life threatening disease.

With an ‘adopt don’t shop’ kind of approach, PUHOR also offers a free adoption option. Any dog lover may approach and adopt these innocent creatures.

PUHOR, which is working for animal welfare, was formed on January 1, 2020 in Jorhat.

It now planning to reach out to the neighboring areas and extend helping hands to the stray animals.