Puppy love in the time of Covid - 2nd September 2020

The world marked International Dog Day on 26th August, which this year had an extra special meaning for many families.

The Covid-19 lockdown left people feeling isolated. Many people turned to our furry friends for comfort.

India, which has had more than 3 million Coronavirus cases, imposed a month long lockdown. As soon as the lockdown started lifting, people rushed to adopt a puppy.

Dawn William is the manager of an animal welfare organisation.

William: "People feel fine when they have a dog, have a pet at home. You know, you have to care for it, you have to give him a bath, you have to take him for a walk, you have to play with him and, he has also a lot of demands from you, so it keeps you going."

India has an estimated 30 million street dogs. Animal activists have always campaigned for people to adopt the stray dogs. These mixed breed dogs are referred to as "desi" or "indie" dogs.

Although older generations tend to like pedigree dogs, younger people have started opting for a "desi".

Avani Naresh: "So basically, what I feel is, dog absorbs your entire stress, so they understand, you know, what you are going through. And that's like the brilliant thing about the dogs, about the pets."