A group of animal lovers provided walkers to a bunch of stray dogs at a pocket of Konnagar in Hooghly on Saturday.

The drive took place at the Tina Bazar Milan Tirtha area, around 40km from the heart of Calcutta. The dogs had been living with recent or old injuries in their hind legs — mostly caused by two and four wheelers.

A group called Unconditional Love for Animals organised the drive. The machines, which look like mini wheelchairs, provide added grip to the weak hind legs of the animals. The group members rescue injured animals and work for their rehabilitation.

“The drive started on Saturday. We would take this to other parts of Howrah and Hooghly. Several NGOs still take care of stray animals in Calcutta but not so many in the suburbs,” said Timir Baran Mazumder, one of the organisers of the drive.

The reduction in the volume of vehicles, brought about by the Covid-19 curbs, has reduced animal accidents, said activists. But the shutdown of many small eateries on the road has dried up the source of food for the strays, said animal activists.

Kanchan Mullick, the MLA of Uttarpara, attended the drive in Konnagar on Saturday.