Street Dog Recovers After Alarming Maggot Infestation [Watch]

India has a serious stray animal problem, with an estimated 80 million strays in need of homes. With so many homeless animals and so few shelters and resources to help, many of them are forced to live on the streets.

In Udaipur, street dogs are a fixture of the city as much as cars, cows, and people are. But life is hard for them. Many people view them as a nuisance and want them gone. As a result, thousands of street dogs become sick or injured and have no one to turn to for help.

Thankfully, there are kindhearted people who are stepping up to make a difference in the lives of street dogs in Udaipur. Rescuers with Animal Aid Unlimited, India have opened phone lines so locals can call for help when they see a dog suffering or in urgent need of help.

“Most cities don’t have hospitals for owner-less animals, which means injured or ill animals often die from treatable conditions. But in Udaipur, a call to our helpline saves a life,” the rescue explains.

According to their website, the rescue receives around 70 calls for help each day, sometimes up to 100. One of those calls ended up being for a poor stray they named Balveer.

The dog was suffering from a deep wound on its neck that had filled with maggots. They knew if they didn’t take the dog in for treatment immediately, he wouldn’t have much longer to live.

Once back at their hospital, they cleaned the wound of maggots and found another “entry point” the maggots were hiding in. Throughout the whole painful cleaning process, Balveer didn’t protest once. It was like he knew he needed the help and could sense the rescuers were giving it to him.

While they expected the wound to heal once the maggots were gone, it ended up getting significantly worse from a persistent bacteria spread. Balveer was giving up hope and seemed ready to die, but Animal Aid Unlimited wasn’t ready to give up on him quite yet.

With a lot of patience, persistence, and care, Balveer slowly began to make progress. As his wound healed, his spirit seemed to heal too. He began to smile, wag his tail, and allow his personality to shine through!

Watch Balveer’s recovery and transformation in the video below:

(WARNING – GRAPHIC)

Sign this petition to stop the mass killing of street dogs in India.

Read more about how people are making an effort to help the street dogs of India, like by changing the public’s perception, giving them a job and training, and improving their health. Rescues like the Arizona Animal Shelter, Clewiston Animal Service Rescue, and Animal Aid Unlimited are making a difference for dogs in need. People around the world, including in Afghanistan, Kabul, and South Korea among other countries, are speaking up for animals in need and being the voice for the voiceless.

To reduce the number of suffering dogs on the streets and dogs who are euthanized, it’s important to adopt instead of shop for a dog. Familiarize yourself with tips for adopting so you’re well prepared and read about five things you can do to help stop puppy mills. 

Related Content:

• Street Dog in Istanbul Becomes Commuters’ Best Friend
• Dogs Rescued from Breeding Facility After Activist Organizes Sit-In
• Watch the Rescue of a Homeless Dog and 8 Puppies in a Heavy Rainstorm! (VIDEO)
• Dog Rescued from Arctic Ice Floe
• Bridge Inspector Rescues Dog Hanging 120 Feet Above River
• Dog Trapped at the Bottom of a Sinkhole Gets Rescued

For more Animal, Earth, Life, Vegan Food, Health, and Recipe content published daily, subscribe to the One Green Planet Newsletter! Lastly, being publicly-funded gives us a greater chance to continue providing you with high-quality content. Please consider supporting us by donating!