Paws a While - newsletter of AHF, Ahmedabad DEC 04

[Guest guest]

 

 

 

 

& #61607; From the editor’s desk

 

Wishing all our “Paws a While” readers a very Happy 2005. Hope this year ushers

in joy and happiness for you, and for our animal friends.

 

Although there is undoubtedly a lot of cruelty that animals go through, there

are thousands of common simple people who try to make life easy for the animals

around them – Take the tea stall owner who religiously feeds a dog and her pups,

or the miniscule restaurant worker who gives bread and milk to the animals

around, or the scooter mechanic who gives milk to the neighborhood cat. These

people do deserve mention, and this issue of “Paws a while” is dedicated to

precisely such people.

Although it would be wrong to speak of conditions in other areas, in other

countries and states, Ahmedabad is one place where humanity is not all lost-

which is what gives us the courage to carry on. There are enough people who feel

that animals and birds could do with our love and affection.

 

After four years of back breaking work, AHF is a place many know about, now--

the daily wager on a bicycle, to an affluent industrialist in a limo.

On the flip side, however, it goes without saying that we are sometimes faced

with people who have no idea of what it takes to be running a ‘business’ of this

kind.

 

Apart from this, life at AHF is going on ok, with maggoty dogs coming in very

often for treatment.

 

As for our permanent residents (animals who have adopted us, instead of the

other way round),

Shakeel(the permanently grounded great horned owl, rescued from a black magic

guy) is doing fine, as are –

 

Chinnu (the dog who suffers from dwarfism), Ricky martin (the dog with rickets),

Shahenshah (the in house alarm clock- the cock), Raju, Bhuro- the dog undergoing

mushroom capsule therapy, bhuri,

Alkali – the dog who survived acid burns on his back, Victory, Laby, Scooby,

Justice (the blind dog), and, Kneram (the dog with her hind legs paralyzed)

 

Just as life was going on normal, the news of the tsunami hit us like a

thunderbolt. It has claimed the lives of thousands of people and Rahul Sehgal –

the director of AHF rushed to Chennai – the worst affected area in India, to

assess the situation of animals there, and to help them out. He returned just as

I mail this newsletter to you. I couldn’t include his reactions on the tsunami

and its toll on animals there, but promise to keep you posted about it in the

next Paws a While.

 

 

& #61607; Finally, ‘Paradise’ found . . . . .

Work on Paradise - our newest venture that will come up at Gyaspur – Ahmedabad,

has already begun. It will boast of the best and the most modern equipments and

facilities for animals.

We would like to thank SPANA (Society for Protection of Animals Abroad) for

their generous aid that will help us build Paradise.

We are also thankful to Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation for giving us a 5 acre

land and 2 brand new , modified vans in order to fulfill our dream of being able

to save more and more lives.

Hopefully, The ABC center of Paradise will start functioning from the 14th of

February

& #61607; Survivor of the month – ‘Alkali’

He is a plain, non descript brown dog - a victim of mans’ cruelty and

heartlessness. Alkali survived an acid attack and had extensive acid burns from

his neck to the tail. Alkali has been in AHF since the past 2 years, and is

still under treatment as his skin has not regenerated completely. Alkali is now

under supervision of Dr. Budhe who makes sure that he is anointed with

antiseptic twice a day. He now is recovering rapidly, and is a shining example

of what timely care can do for a doomed dog. Dogs like Alkali can be saved, but

how do you treat people who have minds so narrow and intolerant who cannot even

let dog free?

 

 

& #61607; HELP the BIRDS 2005

India is a land that is deeply rooted in its culture and tradition, and

festivals are an inherent part of the Indian landscape. Such a festival –

Uttarayan is celebrated in January, where people fly kites to their hearts’

content. Ahmedabad is one place where Uttarayan is celebrated with exceptional

enthusiasm, people really “pull the strings” during this time. Little do people

realize that 20% of the bird population is affected during one month, as they

get entangled in the glass-coated strings or manja. Hundreds of pigeons,

vultures, storks, cranes, parrots, eagles, hawks, bulbuls fall prey to these

deadly strings. This, of course is apart from the scores of monkeys, goats, pigs

and dogs who come to AHF in need of first aid. Maybe even sadder is the fact

that although the madness ends on January 14th, the destruction doesn’t.

Uttarayan cases continue to be bought till June or even July, for example, the

monkey baby who was electrocuted and had kite strings wound all over its body.

Or the cow that came had her tongue cut by a sharp kite string as she was

grazing.

 

In order to give the birds if not their right to fly, at least their lives, we

have organized a campaign called Help the Birds – 2005, from the 10th to the

20th of January.

 

The campaign will be starting full throttle from January 7th when we will be

distributing handouts, putting up posters at every imaginable place, and banners

at the 30 satellite centers. The pamphlets implicitly say what to do in case one

finds an injured bird (keep in an airy shoe box, don’t feed it food or give it

water and bring it to the nearest satellite center.) All the volunteers will be

attending a special orientation session on this day.

 

& #61607; Dr. Dog

The benefits that dogs seem to have on people are amazing. It is apparent that

people open up and lose their inhibitions sooner with animals around.

 

The Blind Peoples’ Association,

Manav Sadhna- a school for the underprivileged,

Prem Fateh-an institution for alternative therapy,

Samip – a school for hyperactive and attention deficit children and

Visamo – an institution for slum children

Mahatma Gandhi International School

Were the institutions that had Dr. Dog visits.

Dr. Goofy, Dr. Kelly, Dr. Eve, Dr.Begum, Dr. Toffee, Dr. Angel seem to be taking

their jobs as doctors pretty seriously.

 

& #61607; The month that was - - - -December

 

A barn owl – Barnie was bought to us after crows were hitting it again and again

and after it entered a house. Barnie is now doing fine, as is his neighbor

Shakeel (the Indian great horned owl). Wish we could decipher what they talk to

each other……….

 

Another new arrival was the vulture ‘Garud’ who was brought in with kite strings

wound round her wings, and cutting through her flesh. She lied listless in the

cage vacated by Fruity – the fruit bat, and underwent regular treatment, under

Dr. Tina. Garud unfortunately died and succumbed to enormous blood loss.

 

Rocky, a dog that was brought to us with maggot wounds and in a pitiful state

was treated at AHF. Once rehomed, she was brought back to the shelter as the

owner did not treat her well. Rocky is rehomed again, and we wish she brings

delight and happiness to her new owner.

 

December saw the arrival of a porcupine – (a rare sight indeed, in

industrialized Ahmedabad), which was badly bitten by a pack of dogs. She

suffered wounds on her entire body, and was brought to us in a state of severe

shock. She failed to live, despite repeated attempts…

 

Ahmedabad is a rapidly developing area that has a lot of schools. Karuna Club is

an innovative program run by Karuna Trust – Chennai and it aims school children.

We hope to be working along with them in order to instill and inculcate a sense

of kindness and compassion towards animals.

 

MONTHLY STATUS FOR DECEMBER

 

Admitted animals – 667

Dead animals – 170

Released animals – 160

Euthanasia animals – 76

 

 

AHF would like to thank -

 

Mr. Amit Mulchand for the laptop he has donated to AHF

 

Mr. Vijay Sheth for the generous donation for “Help the Birds - 2005” campaign.

 

Essal Gel Toothpaste, for printing the banners, pamphlets, handouts and posters

for Help the Birds – 2005.

 

 

Rahul sehgal

 

" Become a HUMANIMAL "