India, Nov. 7 -- As mornings emerge under a veil of smog and evenings turn nippy, it's an unmistakable sign of winter setting in across the Capital. For strays in the city, this change means scrounging for warmth, battling illnesses or retreating under cars and stairwells to escape the chill. As per the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the minimum temperature in Delhi recently dropped to 12.7degC, three degrees below the seasonal norm. This chill is spurring action among animal lovers.

"Every year, we make drum beds for strays. The covered structure keeps the wind out and the mattress helps give warmth," says Jagjit Singh from Stray Talk India in Gurugram. His team is building simple yet effective shelters for stray dogs. He explai...