Preventing Pet Homelessness in Rudrapur

India is home to over 100 million cats and dogs, but a staggering 69% are homeless, living on the streets or in shelters. That’s over 69 million animals without consistent access to care, safety, or companionship.

Earlier this year, I joined the Mars Ambassador Program in Rudrapur, India, where I saw these challenges firsthand and witnessed the incredible work of Humane World for Animals, a key partner in our work at Mars to support vulnerable pets. Their approach to managing street dogs, built on education and collaboration, shows the power of prevention. And it’s not just a local story, it’s a blueprint for communities everywhere.

What struck me was Humane World’s focus on tackling root causes rather than symptoms. By combining spay-neuter programs with public education and local partnerships, they are creating sustainable change that benefits both animals and people. It’s proof that pet homelessness isn’t inevitable and that data-driven, community-led action can make a difference.

Prevention Begins with Birth Control

One unsterilised dog can lead to dozens more in just a few years. Breaking this cycle is critical. In India, only 42% of dogs are sterilised compared to 64% of cats, a gap that drives street dog population growth. Humane World’s Animal Birth Control (ABC) program in Rudrapur has made remarkable progress, sterilising over 5,000 dogs and reaching 70–75% of the local street dog population.

Our State of Pet Homelessness Project data shows that in many parts of the world, uncontrolled breeding is one of the biggest drivers of pet homelessness. But sterilisation alone isn’t enough to tackle this issue - lasting change requires shifting mindsets.

Education and Community Engagement Are Key

The State of Pet Homelessness data revealed that 31% of non-dog owners in India are scared of dogs, and 30% believe they are unhygienic. These perceptions can lead to fear, mistreatment and missed opportunities for coexistence - a challenge echoed in many countries.

Humane World for Animals tackles this head-on through school workshops, community meetings, and volunteer engagement. I joined several sessions and saw children, initially hesitant, begin to open up, ask questions and even show affection toward the dogs. 

Teaching compassion and safe behaviour doesn’t just change attitudes, it shapes future generations of pet-friendly citizens.

Volunteers are the heartbeat of this initiative. They help identify unsterilised animals, assist with catching, and support vaccination campaigns. Their involvement has shifted perceptions from “stray” to “community” dogs, encouraging empathy and shared responsibility.

The global takeaway? Whether in Rudrapur or Rio, empowering communities to understand and care for street animals is essential to reducing homelessness and improving welfare. Education builds trust and trust builds change.

Responsible Practices and Partnerships Build Trust

Humane World’s work is built on respect - for animals, people, and the planet. Their protocols for low-stress dog catching, medical care, and digital tracking put welfare and accountability first. Every dog is logged in an app and returned to its original location to maintain social bonds and reduce stress.

At the facility, dogs receive preventive care and treatment for any health issues, while the team stays alert for rabies, isolating suspected cases before they spread. Paired with widespread vaccinations, this vigilance has paid off. Rabies cases have dropped from several a month in 2024 to just two in the last four months of 2025.

Sustainability is part of the plan too. Feeding uses low-impact ingredients like rice and poultry by-products, transport emissions are kept low thanks to a central location, and efforts are underway to reduce anesthetic gases with high greenhouse impact.

None of this happens in isolation. Partnerships with local governments, schools, volunteers and biomedical waste agencies have built trust and enabled long-term success. Community members now bring dogs for sterilisation and vaccination, with 76 bought in in the first nine months of 2025 alone. That growing sense of ownership is more than local progress. It’s proof that when communities are empowered, change becomes scalable.

A Model for a Better Future

The State of Pet Homelessness Project reminds us that while data provides the foundation, it’s people and partnerships that turn insights into action. At Mars Petcare, our Purpose: A Better World for Pets, means tackling systemic challenges like homelessness through compassion and collaboration. The work I saw and was part of in Rudrapur is a reminder of what’s possible when data meets action.

Whether through sterilisation, education, or simply a kind gesture, every action counts. Together, we can reduce pet homelessness and ensure every pet has a safe place to call home.