In Odisha, the adage that dogs are a man's best friend rings true, especially when considering the dedication to rescuing canines and other animals. The Odisha Fire & Emergency Service (OFES) exemplifies this commitment, extending its services beyond typical fire emergencies to include animal rescues.
OFES has saved approximately 69,980 stray animals and birds from critical situations in the past five years. These rescues often involve animals, including cattle and dogs, trapped in drains and manholes. This number surpasses the 44,120 human rescues carried out during the same period, highlighting the department's efficiency and growing public awareness of animal welfare. However, the official data indicates that between 2020 and 2025, there were 10,426 animal deaths compared to 6,545 human fatalities due to fire and other calamities.
DG (fire service) Sudhanshu Sarangi emphasizes that every distress call matters, whether for a human or an animal. The successful rescue of a cat trapped in an abandoned well in Nayapalli underscores this sentiment. The increasing number of animal rescues each year—9,572 in 2020, 10,174 in 2021, 13,373 in 2022, 13,813 in 2023, and 14,576 in 2024—further illustrates this growing focus. In the first half of 2025 alone, OFES has already conducted 8,469 animal rescue operations.
Recognizing the importance of specialized assistance, Odisha has become the first state in India to establish a dedicated K9 squad within its Fire Services Department. This squad comprises Labradors and Belgian Malinois, specially trained for rescue and relief operations. These dogs can identify dead cells, proving invaluable in situations like earthquakes or landslides where they can help locate trapped individuals. The K9 squad's creation was partly motivated by the Bahanaga train tragedy, which underscored the need for trained dogs in rescue efforts. In one instance, Odisha sent "Storm", a German Shepherd with expertise in tracing dead bodies and survivors, to Kerala to assist in landslide rescue operations.
Private organizations also significantly contribute to animal welfare in Odisha. During recent floods in Balasore and neighboring districts, a Bhubaneswar-based organization, in collaboration with Yuva Vikas Foundation, distributed over 36,000 kg of emergency feed for 12,000 animals in affected areas. This initiative addressed the dire situation where animals were confined in waterlogged shelters, suffering from illnesses and lacking access to proper fodder and veterinary care. Chandrasekhar Dash and his team in Bhubaneswar have established a rescue facility in Patiagarh capable of housing 50 animals at a time and have rescued over 1,000 animals in five years. Rehabitat Foundation, Kalinga Yuva Sen, and People for Animals Bhubaneswar also support the city's animal welfare by participating in stray dog birth control and rescuing animals from distress.
