Aavaara Kutta
Stray dogs have become overpopulated on India's already crowded streets.
Over 30 million stray dogs, known as "aavaara kutta" in the Hindi language, freely roam the bustling streets of India.
In the pink city of Jaipur, man's best friend has become a nuisance. More than 70 complaints are made to the Jaipur Municipal Corporation each day about the city's strays.
Jaipur local Clarice James explained that the city can't afford to keep the strays off the streets.
"There are so many catchers that gather the stray dogs, but it's so expensive to pay them," she said. "The shelters the dogs go to are also really big and they don't have enough money to feed so many dogs."
Because of this, Clarice said it is common for Indian people to offer their scraps to their four-legged neighbours.
“In our home, for example, when we have food leftover from meals, we give it to the stray dogs.”
Jaipur tour guide Devender Singh elaborated that some people feed stray dogs for religious reasons.
“We are a people that believe in reincarnation and some believe feeding stray dogs helps continue the cycle,” he said. “They feel that everyone has the same soul and that if they feed the dogs, it will bring them good luck."
Devender says whilst locals try to keep their distance from the disease-ridden canines, its becoming extremely difficult.
"The birth rate of dogs is so high and it is increasing day by day," he complained. "Dogs are everywhere; in the cities and in the villages."
A stray dog curls up in front of closed market stalls in the early hours of the morning.
Unfortunately the strays cannot be saved without sufficient funding and services. For now, the dogs remain an attraction for foreigners and a source of contention for the locals.
