The Squads - Launch of WhatsApp Communities
Updated: Apr 18
Are you on a squad yet? You should be! We are rocking. Decentralised, purely hyperlocal, internally focused and self managed, these squads are making a significant difference to the animal population, human community and ease of animal welfare
After the success of whatsapp groups like Cubbon Park Canines, Knights of Cubbon Bark, Cunningham Canine Squad, JP Nagar Mini Commune, we felt that we should try and create some structure around the localisation and community in the effort to produce effective, resilient and informed Community Guardians.
The use of the word Squad creates a sense of purpose and being uniformed, armed and goal oriented. The common branding also creates a single united canine platform for Bangalore and allows sharing of best practices. The addition of both compassionate animal lovers, officials and specialist team members creates a diversity and spread of effective outcome oriented results , without losing out on warmth, we-feeling and community that motivates it. The removal of any commercial element whatsoever confirms its integrity and singleminded purpose.
*Objective* :
Create Communities locality wise
Keep it geo focused And HYPERLOCAL
Use a hub & spoke model with Facebook/Central Squad Admins as hub with squads as spokes
Focus on critical issues like Neuter (ABC)_ and Vaccination (ARVF) to protect the community
Strengthen community guardianship
Create standard action templates for feeding, rescue and escalation
Create metrics. More focused animal work rather than the haphazard AK47 approach used now
Create a sense of warmth & interdependence, build trust and optimism
Dovetailing with larger community and RWA
Involvement of local BBMP, SAWB and police in area
Channelise group wisdom and knowledge management on neuter, abuse, rescue & cruelty
Loyalty and brand as seen in a common logo
*Success*:
Buzzing WhatsApp groups creating a framework for anything animal related in Blr
Templates for cookie cutter community efforts that can be standardized all Blr/state/India
More ABC, structured feeding, more #AdoptDontShop, faster effective rescues, less cruelty, less illegal breeders and pet shops
Better funding for community effort
Recognition by AWBI and Civic authorities .
Here are a few squads in town:
Ulsoor Canine Squad
Sadashivnagar Canine Squad
Indiranagar Canine Squad
Thippesandra Canine Group (tie up)
Frazer Canine Squad
Richards Town Squad -Strays Matter
Jayamahal Canine Squad
Hennur Canine Squad
Hebbal Canine Squad
Malleswaram canine Squad
Richmond Canine Squad
Austin Canine Squad
CV Raman Canine Squad
ECity Canine Squad
JP Nagar Canine Squad
Bannerghata Canine Squad
BSK Canine Squad
Koramangala Canine Squad
Jakkur Canine Squad
Jalahalli Canine Squad
Lalbagh Canine Squad
Bellandur Canine Squad
GGL & SunCity Canine Squad
RMV Canine Squad - Cause for Paws
Kanakpura Animal Squad
RR Nagar Canine Squad
Lalbagh Canine Squad
Jayanagar Canine Squad
Majestic Canine Squad
Yemlur Canine Squad
Thanisandra canine Squad
Cox Town Canine Squad
Murugeshpalya Canine Squad
Anekal Canine Sqaud
Kalyannnagar (HRBR) Canine Squad
KR Puram Canine Squad
Rajajinagar Canine Squad
Yeshwanthpur Canin Squad
CP Volunteer Squad
Yelahanka Canine Squad
MiniForest Canine Squad
Nagarbhavi Canine Squad
Marathahalli Canine Squad
Canine Squad Admin Group
growing every day
Community Guardians
The canine squads are based on the principle of community guardianship which in turn focuses on looking after one’s own space and working with multiple stakeholders in order to manage status quo and/or create impact. Given the change in laws , the street dog issues, problems around pets in apts etc, this tends to be a lot more contentious. We can’t look after all of Blr, but we can manage our immediate area - WITH a lil help from our friends. Hence with the stakeholders like BBMP, Doglovers, Feeders and rescuers, General residents, the focus is to integrate, leverage to create maximum value and safety for the community.
The Circle of Influence
Look at it this way a if one can imagine us as part of a series of concentric circles.
The Pinkening of Bangalore
Right in the center of the dartboard is a small red dot which is the animal activist and welfarists. perhaps only a mere 10% of the population and an echo chamber at best. We honestly know most of the stuff, don’t need to convince one another of what needs to be done or how good we are - maybe work on just a few collaborations all strategic interventions. The balance 90% of population is spread over 3 concentric circles.
The next category comprises 30% - which is reasonably loving pet parents will look after not only their pets but take some care of those around, are somewhat helpful as & when needed. These are not rescuers or even active in the animal welfare space at all. However the good thing is that they have or have had pets , already inclined to be kind and helpful where animals are concerned.
Third category or circle is 40% of the population - those who are completely neutral, completely uninvolved, uninterested, uninformed or plain ignorant. This group will not do anything deliberately to hurt animals but is very passive about the whole issue and about the ability to be of any help at all. This one is most likely to feel a little sad but walk past an accident case, ignore a puppy on the road or merely worry about how the street dogs affect their homes and children . But they will not do anything harm dogs as such.
The final category of 20% are those people who are actively antagonistic towards dogs and pets, and even deliberately cruel either because of lack awareness of the laws, being old-fashioned, bad upbringing or just plain evil. It is just not worth our while to spend any time at all with this category because they are nearly impossible to convince, involve a massive expend of energy to even get through. So why waste valuable and limited resources on this set?In any case if they really were to be cruel the new PCA laws and a very engaged and outraged citizenry will ensure they are both penalized and corrected.
Rippling outwards by sharing , teaching and influence
Information & empowerment is key. So if you want to imagine the series of concentric circles we at the 10% red center should get a little lighter in color as we spread awareness and empowerment to the second circle of 30% who are on the verge of being engaged dog lovers and supporters but either have not received the information, community help or an understanding, and that it is not very difficult to do. By focusing on this group the multiplier effect is very high as they are already predisposed to be kind to animals. They may not have always adopted, or always rescued but they can be quickly transitioned and it is this group that we need to bring into the squads because this is the expansion motif that is critical for a squad to succeed. The red tinge does not and will never go across the city but the first circle of 30% is the sweet spot. It’s pinks up quickly ! Ideally when we move on to the third circle of 40% the color seeps more slowly but there is a possibility that they can be positively influenced as well and if they are it’s a big bonus. The second circle of the 30% can help! The idea is to hit this 30% of creamy whites who will eventually become at best most potent and most effective ambassadors as they are middle of the road, considered to be more enmeshed with a human community and not viewed as animal welfarists as such.
While there are many other related issues around the canine squads the the ripple, multiplier impact can best be understood With this visual and the 3-D impact of the red watercolor moving into the different circles the focus been looking as pink and compassionate as possible and BROADENING care for animal in ones area.
Some of our Squad logos
Squad Survey
Take a quick survey on the Squads an win a voucher for feeding