Let’s Talk Strays

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The Story of AWSA

This story is based on my personal experience in AWSA and with strays. AWSA started with the rescue of one small kitten at IBA and before we realized it, we became a team of over 40 volunteers. Moreover, we are actively managing the cats and kittens on campus, performing rescues, and simply trying to help everyone coexist.

The dirty, the ugly, the unloved

Thousands of strays are killed each year with only about a handful of voices working in their favour. Mistreated strays and not regard them as a part of the ‘social setting’ and are considered outcastes simply for their existence. We don’t mind paying hundreds of thousands for animals of exotic breeds.

But that’s okay if they are loved and adored. But in many cases, having such exotic pets is considered a matter of societal status, where the matter is taken up as of one’s reputation in the society. In that case, these animals are objectified, and a materialistic claim is made of their existence which is unreasonable and unfair.

Most stray rescuers vote unanimously over the fact that stray animals make perfectly good pets. But the stigma that dictates strays as being “unhygienic” and “dirty” undermines their value. The same stigma has also caused them to be shunned and hated among the Pakistani populace, which now looks at these animals with loathing and disgust in their eyes. People fail to see the beauty in their existence and have idealized their image over that existence.

The IBA campuses – a different story altogether

The IBA campuses are prime examples of how some kindness and care can change the attitude of an animal. Our on-ground care program makes sure these cats are taken care of so that once they are deemed fit, they can be put into the adoption process and get adopted into loving families early on. Furthermore, we have gotten over 14 campus cats adopted last year, these successful adoption stories are AWSA’s pride and joy.

The crux of the matter: can a stray adjust into my home?

Before we proceed to answer this question, it is important that the stigma associated with the word “stray” is addressed. Stray does not mean the cat is not friendly or capable of staying close to humans. Moreover, often, strays found in the vicinity of human populations are usually very friendly. However, cats that continuously display hostile behaviour are instead called feral. And even those with some patience and kindness can be sociable towards people.

At AWSA, we run an all-year-round adoption campaign. Given a little patience and care, our strays adjust to their new homes just like any other pet. Although, over half of these adoptees were not potty trained. However, after some careful monitoring and teaching, using the litter became easy for them. In most cases, it took only about a day or two for the habit to catch on.

Successful Adoptions of Strays

Aman was found on campus after being abandoned by his mom at only a few weeks old. Aftercare and constant consideration by on-ground volunteers on campus, only a few months later, he was adopted into a family that treats him like his own. Aman now a big boy, nevertheless, loving and caring just like the day we found him.

Misty, now called Noodles, also found on campus was adopted by loving pet parents. Moreover, Noodles now has her own Instagram page. She has been successfully living with her family for many months now and is a big, healthy girl.

Of course, Aman and Noodles are just two out of the fourteen success stories we have to tell. But unfortunately, however sweet these fourteen success stories are, the bitter truth at the end of the day is that there are hundreds of more eager strays who will either starve to death or die of disease if they don’t find a loving home.

What can you do?

Although we cannot possibly look after the hundreds of strays around us, we can help some. Similarly, you as an individual cannot possibly adopt all the strays in the world to help.

But you can adopt one and at the end of the day, it is that individual effort that makes all the difference.

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