Stray Animals: Vicious Foes or Misunderstood Victims?

Are these animals really vicious, or just scared?

Introduction

With the US-Iran war going on, many people have fled the UAE and other GCC countries due to increased alerts and drone attacks. However, in doing so, a new problem has started to appear: pet abandonment. Due to how many restrictions are placed on pets, owners believed that it would be better to just leave their pets on the streets rather than bring their lovable companions with them. Why is this a problem, and what are its complications?

Analysis

Before we dive deeper, we must first understand what a stray animal is. They are domestic pets or livestock that are lost, abandoned, or born on the streets without a home or owner, with dogs, cats, and cattle being mostly affected. While some countries like Norway, Germany, the Netherlands (globally recognized as the first and primary country to achieve zero-stray-dog status), and Finland are free from stray dogs, these are, unfortunately, the only ones, and we haven’t even considered the stray cat population.

Many people believe that stray animals are dangerous and violent creatures, and when people talk about this topic, the first thing that comes to mind is dogs. While stray cat attacks have been reported, they aren’t as dangerous as dog attacks. Despite both having a high probability of infecting a human, stray dogs are more aggressive and have a higher fatality rate due to their size and powerful jaws, which can cause far more damage before the infection even takes its toll. On top of this, stray dogs account for 99% of rabies cases globally (according to WHO). They usually attack in specific situations, such as territorial disputes, guarding their young, predatory instincts (chasing vehicles and humans who are running), and fear rather than direct human contact.

Despite all this, stray animals do have certain benefits, such as fending off wild animals like leopards from human-populated areas, preventing rodent populations from increasing, and providing some form of companionship. Unfortunately, these can backfire, as they also lead to the extinction of local species and can be unsafe around children. In India, of the species that dogs reportedly attacked, 31 are listed under a threatened category on the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red List, including four critically endangered species.

Reports (2024 and 2025)

In 2025, over 5.8 million cats and dogs entered shelters in America alone, out of which 3 million were cats and the rest were dogs. While this number has decreased by 0.2% from 2024, we still have a long way to go.

Results from a 2024 and 2025 report created by an organisation named “Shelter Animals Count”

Of the animals in shelters and rescues, over 4.2 million were adopted by loving families, with both dog and cat adoption rates increasing in 2025 compared to the previous year, with modest fluctuations that aligned with seasonal shifts, seeing higher volumes in spring and summer and reduced numbers in winter.

Number of cats and dogs adopted in 2025

Unfortunately, several of them were also euthanised, with the total reaching 597,000 in 2025. On top of this, non-live outcomes, i.e., instances where an animal leaves an organization or shelter facility deceased, missing, or euthanized, reached an enormous 757,000 in 2025, which is 4,000 less (or a 1% decrease) than in 2024.

If you want to see the detailed report, click the link below to learn more: https://www.shelteranimalscount.org/wp-content/uploads/2025-Year-End-Report-FINAL-3.pdf

Personal Opinion

The problem of strays was created by humans, because of which others (including the pet) have to suffer. Depending on where the pet is abandoned, it can either be difficult or easy for it to thrive without its human companion. In countries like the UAE, during the summer season, temperatures range from 38°C to 42°C, which makes it extremely difficult for strays to survive due to dehydration. Another example is India, where the temperature range is between 40°C and 47°C. Unfortunately, it only gets worse in the monsoon season, as floods make it nearly impossible for any animal to survive on their own.

Instead of neglecting them, we should try to care for them while keeping our distance. If you see any stray animal on the street, it is necessary to provide them with some water. Keep in mind that if you are using a bowl, please dispose of it afterwards. Many people also dump a ton of food for the strays, which is not advised, as it can attract more rodents and will start to stink over time. It’s also because of this that people start to notice food lying around, which no one wants. Many countries have made it illegal to feed a stray animal, and I feel that it is not the best idea, as it can be difficult for a once-owned house pet to survive on the streets, trying to find food while competing with other strays.

Conclusion

While stray animals are dangerous, they didn’t choose this life. The majority of stray animals were once-loved house companions treated like family, but sometimes humanity can be selfish, putting its needs above others' without thinking about the consequences. Feeding stray animals is illegal, but if you do try, please don’t make it too obvious by leaving behind bowls or huge piles of food, as that would only make it worse.

If you want to donate, volunteer, or support organisations that help these animals have a second chance, click the links below to learn more:

India

• Dharamsala Animal Rescue https://dharamsalaanimalrescue.org/donate/
• Animal Aid Unlimited https://www.animalaidunlimited.org/donation/

UAE

• Stray Dogs Centre https://www.straydogscenteruae.com/
• Animal Welfare Abu Dhabi https://myawad.ae/

USA

• ASPCA https://www.aspca.org/
• Best Friends Animal Society https://bestfriends.org/
• Humane World For Animals https://www.humaneworld.org/en

Sources

• https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/rabies%E2%81%A9?utm_source=chatgpt.com
• https://www.shelteranimalscount.org/2025-report
• https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/stray-dog-stray-dogs-video-in-dog-vs-leopard-clash-in-nashik-an-unlikely-winner-9138930
• https://news.mongabay.com/2018/04/dogs-in-india-are-a-problem-for-wildlife-study-finds/