Dogs evoke feelings of love and protection, whether they are pets or strays. An India-based professional runner and Instagram user @pribhatt29 shared a video, pleading to protect community dogs. With the caption, “Save strays,” the user films herself running with a stray dog trotting beside her. As the dog keeps step while the woman moves through the street, the video imparts a blunt advocacy for community dogs.
Instagram video shows a stray dog running with a women along an empty street
The story narrates a long on-screen message by the user, about the safety and companionship on empty routes. As a woman, safety can be a major concern, but the video asserts that a stray dog’s company makes her feel less alone. She writes in the on-screen caption: “As a woman who runs long distances alone, I often find myself crossing empty secluded streets in the early mornings.”
The runner continues, “But I ALWAYS ALWAYS found comfort in the company of stray dogs – who guard me and run by my side.” According to the user, “They don’t just guard streets. They guard souls.” The caption also adds all that dogs have to offer: “Loyalty. Loving. Protective.” It asserts, “Dogs are the best companions humanity could ever have.”
The video and its on-screen text ends with a plea: “Let’s protect them. Not banish them.” Urging viewers to “be the voice for the voiceless,” the user calls for a movement to “protect the protectors.” She ends the caption with a call to action, writing, “Save Strays. Protect strays,” reminding viewers that “Bcos of them, we are safe too.”
Viewers echoed the runner’s sentiment. One commenter wrote, “During TMM 5 dogs were walking alongside me at 3.30 am. I felt safe with them.” Another added, “We understand this feeling.. we support this feeling,” while a third user called the dogs “the best security walking right next to u!”
Many thanked the runner for spotlighting humane treatment for community dogs. The video’s message is straightforward, calling viewers to save stray dogs – not just for the protection of a woman, but for a compassionate management of shared spaces.
