The Jamshedpur Red Paws Rescue Foundation has arranged a walker for a stray dog whose hind legs were crushed in a road accident.

Fondly called DJ, the around four-month old female stray is now able to move with the help of the lightweight walker fitted with wheels. The stray is under treatment at a shelter being set up at Pardih near Mango by the Foundation, a steel city-based NGO.

"DJ was badly injured in a recent road mishap at Jugsalai. One of our volunteers informed us about the incident. The stray was writhing in pain when we reached Jugsalai, we subsequently brought it to the shelter," said Aniz Patel, founder of the NGO.

According to him, the stray was not able to walk and was in unbearable pain. We thought of doing something to help the stray walk. One of our volunteers, Piyush Agarwal, made a lightweight walker with plastic pipes and also fitted wheels. The walker weighs around half-a-kg and has been made by keeping the weight of the stray in mind. DJ is now moving with the help of the walker. We feel immensely happy watching it move," Patel added.

He informed that the injury has healed fifty per cent and the pain has also somewhat subsided.

“DJ is under treatment by a vet and volunteers are taking care of it. Volunteers give DJ the prescribed medicines. We are hopeful that she would be able to walk sans the walker," Patel said, adding DJ has nerve issue as a result of the accident. "There is no fracture in the legs as such."

She moves with the walker for four hours in the morning and evening. Rest of the time she stays inside a cage. "DJ needs rest since the injury has not fully healed. The more she rests more is the chances of recovery of the injury So we keep it in a cage. DJ lives in the company of 11 other canines, including a labrador, which was found abandoned near the Dalma hills on Wednesday evening. We feed rice, soyabean and dog food to the rescued canines," Patel said.

According to him, they were yet to formally inaugurate the shelter. "We have arranged the shed and cages. We thought of utilising the facility since we were spotting strays who needed urgent help. We plan to inaugurate the shelter sometimes next month," Patel added.

It is the second animal shelter of the state. One of the members of JRPRF has provided land measuring 150x30 ft. Around 40 strays can be accommodated at the facility. The Foundation is generating funds for the shelter.

A number of strays fall victim to road mishaps in the city. Some even die or are badly injured and eventually die. “We try our best to save strays but it is not always possible. After all, we are not experts in providing treatment for critical cases. Hence, an animal shelter was the need of the hour,” a member said.

Besides feeding strays, the foundation also conducts anti-rabies vaccination camps in periodical intervals at different localities. It also puts reflective collars on strays to protect them from road mishaps.