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The Importance of NGOs
It is a cold, rainy morning. Drudging through the early morning traffic, I am among the multitudes, on my way to work. Engrossed in my own world, I wait for the red light to turn green. Suddenly, I see him. Lying on the side of the footpath, he tries to shield himself from the unrelenting downpour. His hips jut out at an impossible, unnatural angle. Feeling sick to my stomach, it takes a few moments for me to realize that his spine might actually be broken. I continue staring with a morbid fascination, until the angry honking of my fellow commuters snaps me out of my stupor. I park my bike at the side of the road and go to him. He looks up at me and the look in his eyes brings forth tears to mine. People pass us by, eager to get to where they need to be. No one gives him a second glance. As I bend down and stroke his head, he responds by licking my hand. Now I think to myself, “I have to help this dog”. And I am glad I know what to do. It is depressing to realize that this is an extremely common occurrence in Pune, as it is in countless other parts of India. It is not uncommon to see starving, mangy and diseased stray animals, rummaging through open garbage dumps. Pune, alone has approximately 40,000 stray dogs.1 I cannot imagine what the number might be for the rest of the country! Being an ardent animal lover, this number scares me because I see it as 40,000 starving, defenseless animals that have no one to turn to. It makes me want to do something to change this situation. In my city, there are many people like me that see the situation, do not like it and want to do something about it. This is also where the problem lies as many people do not know what to do about it. Seeking (private) veterinary care is very expensive and is not a choice many would opt for. At the same time, handling these stray dogs or even transporting them can become an issue as they tend to bite if they feel cornered or intimidated. The first solution that comes to mind is to contact the local municipal authorities, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC). The next thought that comes to mind is that it is not a good idea. As a part of the CNVR (Catch, Neuter, Vaccinate, Release) program, the PMC is responsible for controlling the stray dog population in Pune. The manner in which the dog squad “catches” these stray dogs has been described as inhumane and come under immense scrutiny from the media. The PMC-run dog pound is also unfortunately, in a state of gross neglect. The pound is unhygienic, short of food and the dogs getting treated are neglected and often left to fend for themselves. 2 Overcrowding is a big problem as approximately 30 operations take place on a daily basis in a small operation theatre.3 The pound does not respond to and is not equipped in dealing with any emergencies. A solution comes to mind. Pune, for several years, has had a number of NGOs that have tried to ameliorate the condition of stray animals. Jeevraksha, founded by Lila Parulekar, is one of the oldest NGOs in Pune. A Director of the Marathi daily “Sakaal”, Lila Parulekar has selflessly converted her sprawling bungalow into a shelter for all homeless animals.4 Any stray animal in need of medical care or a loving home is welcome here. Animal lovers donate their precious time and money to ensure that the animals are cared for. The Blue Cross Society and ResQ Charitable Trust are two other NGOs that have risen to prominence through their dedication and hard work. Along with the regular sterilisation of animals, The Blue Cross Society hosts stray dog and cat adoption campaigns on a regular basis. They even go as far as offering discounts on the treatment of female dogs at their animal hospital. Many a times, these camps invite people who already own pets and offer vaccinations at subsidized rates.5 “Rescue, Rehabilitate, Re-home” is the motto that the ResQ Charitable Trust stands by. They rely on a strong volunteer-based support system to treat emergency cases. Volunteers that offer their time and services are called upon to go out on the streets of Pune to treat a variety of injuries, administer vaccinations and follow up on the cases. Volunteers are also called upon to oversee charity sales and are assigned “kennel duty” to look after the dogs that are being treated at the in-house kennels. Volunteers are in charge of the locality they live in to tend to emergency calls for that area. First aid courses are also offered on a regular basis, that equip volunteers with the right techniques to capture and treat stray animals.6 I dial the number ResQ helpline, it being the closest option to me, distance-wise. They assure me that someone will be with me soon enough. I wait. I think. The ResQ van arrives and takes my friend away. I go to meet him at the kennel in a few days and am happy to know that although badly paralyzed, he is recovering well. They will do their best to find him a home. I sign up to volunteer. References 1: DNA. “Pune has 40,000 stray dogs.” www.dailybhaskar.com. 28/09/2010. 24/06/2011 <http://daily1.bhaskar.com/article/pune-has-40000-stray-dogs-1408222.html>
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