Some curse them, throw stones at them, beat them, and even kill them, while a few pet them and form a special bond!  Domestic dogs, or Canis lupus familiaris, are known to be our 'best friends'. Yet, nearly 70-80% of the 90 crore dogs globally, about 70 crores, are free-ranging and include stray and feral dogs.  How do they survive and thrive in the dangerous streets without our active care?  It turns out, just like us, they have a 'family' that makes it possible.

Recent study shows that chronic illnesses might be shared with the members of a household. A team of public health professionals from from various universities in India and the USA have studied 2,574 households during 2013 and 2014, to understand the prevalence and stage of diagnosis of five chronic diseases.