Shantanu Naidu, a 24-year old Pune-based design engineer, is trying to improve the situation of stray dogs with his intellect and the support of 15 youngsters. Every year, thousands of strays lose their lives due to road accidents and ‘Motopaws’ was born to put an end to this problem.

The organization takes care of strays in Mumbai, Pune, Goa, Delhi, Bangalore, Lucknow, Indore, Kolkata, Dehradun, Mysore and Mangalore by tying specially designed collar bands that shine in the dark. The team has tied reflective collars on 2,700 dogs till date.

Shantanu, who initiated this noble cause, now has expertise backing from Mr. Ratan Tata for his campaign. In this exclusive interview with Pet Fed Times, the former talks about how innovation is helping Motopaws and what are its future plans for the welfare of dogs.

What has been your driving force?

After seeing so many dogs being run over regularly, we realised that changing the mentality of vehicle owners was a slow and unsure process. So I chose something which has a more scientific basis: Innovation.

What are these ‘glow in the dark collars’ made of?

I selected an industrial retro reflective material for night time visibility that reflects from a distance of 150 metres when the car light falls on it. This gives the driver sufficient time to see the dog. For daytime visibility, we use an orange fluorescent mesh.

The base material to mount all this is used denim. After stitching the industrial fabrics on it, we provided three sizes via variations in buttons and slits. As a result of the collars, the society has started to consider these dogs as pets, thus treating them in a more affectionate way.

We will soon be introducing anti-bacterial fabric lining for prevention from ticks and fleas.

Are you planning to expand the network of Motopaws in other cities?

We aim to grow Motopaws to as many cities as possible. Moreover, we will be collaring cattle from the next drive. We have identified farmers for the same.

Has your team encountered any furious dogs on the streets till date? How are dogs, which resist wearing collars, handled?

For furious dogs, we are working with many people who are into animal welfare and in-charge of sterilization. These dogs are in sedated state post sterilization and so can be collared before they are released. These collars are tagged with their respective areas for identification.

What has been the main source of money to initiate this and to manufacture the collars initially?

Initially, we self-funded our campaign. All the core members willingly contributed the necessary amount. Later, we were funded by Aadivenoo KTM, a bike showroom chain.

Business tycoon Ratan Tata is funding and backing your project now. How did this happen and how does it make you feel?

Our relationship with him is because of his generosity and kindness towards dogs. We had multiple meetings with him regarding Motopaws and dog welfare. He is an amazing mentor and has helped us in multiple ways. This “under the wing” relationship makes us feel nurtured and cared for.

What are your future plans for Motopaws?

Consolidation and evolution. Consolidation of all the databases of sterilization, vaccination and finally collaring, so that all aspects of animal welfare are taken care of. Also by the next campaign, we will be releasing a reflective gel for puppies that will help them become visible for at least 2 months, until they develop basic traffic sense.

Any message for those who are trying to do their bit for homeless dogs?

The animal welfare community is a thriving segment and is at its peak right now. However, helping to fill the gaps in each other’s projects is the way to move forward. We look forward to work with everyone out there to achieve this goal.