The Dogs Of India

capt_mahajan · Dec 21st, 2006, 23:31

Rangss, amazing story.

Like many animals, there are many documented incidents of dogs' sixth sense. Like their other senses, this seems to be more developed than that of humans.

Sometimes wonder who the advanced species is.

'Truly man is the king of all beasts, for his brutality exceeds theirs'.. Leonardo Da Vinci

Noodle · Dec 21st, 2006, 23:37

Nattuasbs, great plan, especially the "Fix all of these dogs" part!

Yah, I often feel like that too.

Don't worry about rabies, it will be the first thing your vet will suggest to do. The rabies vaccine is readily available here (both for dogs and for humans, should it ever be needed).

This is my dream too, start a shelter, help the sick and injured street dogs, spay/neuter, vaccinate etc.

Alas, my purse isn't willing! The shelter here I help out has close to 300 dogs plus cows, donkeys, cats, birds etc. They employ 25 workers during day, 15 at night, plus a vet full time. She told me she needs 3 lakh rupees a month, about 5000 Euro, to keep it running. And it's in poor condition, most of the money goes for food and medicine.

But you could start on a smaller scale ... although once you start, how can you ever say no to an animal in need?

@rangss, yes, nice story. I would think that dog has played guide many times before and probably earns part of his living in this way

Nick-H · Dec 21st, 2006, 23:39

Rangss, that is a lovely story

Nattusbs, that is a great intention, but you will have to be concerned with more than Rabies.

Someone I met a couple of years ago here in Chennai used to do her bit looking after dogs on the street (repeating myself here, I think...). There are dog shelters here, but she would only take a very sick dog, or abandoned puppies she could place nowhere else, to such a shelter. She told me that the chances of survival where slim, as diseases were rife and no money for mecicines and innoculations. But if you can properly fund such an organisation, then great!

Nick-H · Dec 21st, 2006, 23:41

Wow, Noodle! I never guessed you worked with something on that scale!

k9healer · Dec 21st, 2006, 23:44

This is a subject that is dear to my heart. I work with the SPCA in Canada as an animal cruelty investigator. I have just returned from India where I was working with a group called VetCharity volunteering for a spay/neuter/vaccine clinic in Gangtok (Sikkim). You can check out their website at vetcharity.org

The people who organized this have worked tirelessly with the government to stop the poisioning and shooting of dogs and are working incredibly hard to develop, implement and make a success of their program. So far, it is working and the numbers of unwanted pups being born into the streets is greatly reduced in the Gangtok area. What people don't realize is what a fight it is to bring the program to new areas. This organization runs on very little money from the government and depends heavily on volunteers to keep it running.

The local people who work at this are nothing short of inspiring. The dog catchers start their day at 4am catching dogs, bring them back to the clinic and prepare them for the surgery process....they work at this all day and then return the previous day's dogs at night. They work 18 hour days - every day. The vets perform anywhere from 5-20 surgeries a day, in a clinic where you may only have lights for half of the day. Primitive by western standards, but they do a fantastic job and there is little to no wound breakdown. The dogs are kept only 24 hours in most cases and then returned to the street. This greatly reduces the stress on them. On top of that, the clinic also does vaccine clinics on the streets in an effort to reduce the threat of rabies.

So, when you see a dog on the street with a notched ear, you will now know just how much time and effort goes into each dog that has been caught. There are groups out there making a difference and I'm incredibly proud to say that I have been a part of it.

BabyBlue · Dec 21st, 2006, 23:54

I agree entirely with the fact that the dogs are breeding at a rate that makes it a problem for people. It's all very well saying we must live in harmony with them but what about them living in harmony with us ?!

Oh & by the way, a big angry pack of aggressive barking snarling dogs like the ones I was acosted by in Palolem being placated by 'whistling' ?! I can't see the smiley for 'laughing your head off' but if I did I'd use it here.

Anyway. In Varkala I had the pleasure of looking after a litter of puppies that had been born & abandoned by the mother. Some were too sick to save & the locals I approached didn't give a hoot about them so I started looking after the healthier ones who had a chance, giving them milk & bread etc & after 10 days when I left they were a little stronger & were adopted by local shopkeepers. I actually had a wrestling dilemma as to the ridiculous numbers of roaming aggressive dogs I've already come across & not wanting to increase that number but they were making so much noise apart from anything you had to help them if only to get a little peace!

Noodle · Dec 21st, 2006, 23:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick-H

Wow, Noodle! I never guessed you worked with something on that scale!

Nick, here is an article about the shelter which gives a pretty good description
http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/t...2/22/&prd=mag&

In 2002 she got the Venu Menon Animal Allies Award for her lifetime project:
http://www.vmaaf.org/pages/award_vmaaa.htm

@k9healer, wonderful project! I'm delighted to hear that and I commend you and the Indians who work so tirelessly!

k9healer · Dec 22nd, 2006, 00:26

Noodle - Jeev Raksha looks like an amazing place....and Lila Parulekar an incredible woman (although I'm sure there are many incredible people working hard there!)

I'm wondering - how would one make a donation to Jeev Raksha from Canada? I'd like to help a little if I can.

You can PM me the info if you have it.

Nick-H · Dec 22nd, 2006, 00:35

Amazing.

And it is even more amazing to see the list of award winners. Such a diversity of folk, and all caring for animals

Noodle · Dec 22nd, 2006, 00:37

k9, that's so nice of you! Thank you! I will pm you the bank details.

anilkhare · Dec 22nd, 2006, 01:07

nice work noodles..

ghummakadz · Dec 22nd, 2006, 10:43

rangss, I certainly believe your story.

Rewalsar is a major holy site for pilgims of three different faiths. My partner has a theory that many of Rewalsar's animals are beings who are either expiating bad karma and are about to be reborn as humans, or humans who goofed a bit and just got reborn as animals. One of the "town" dogs has adopted one of the monks who is a caretaker for the Guru Rimpoche statue here and chants scripture there on a daily basis. It will peacefully park itself near the statue, and allow itself to be petted, and enthusiastically greets "its" monk when he arrives. The dog will also station itself in front of the monk from time to time to receive blessings.

I have also seen a monkey gently handle Tibetan texts, lifting each page and turning it over as monks and nuns do.

Nick-H · Dec 22nd, 2006, 11:11

Quote:

The dog will also station itself in front of the monk from time to time to receive blessings.

I can just imagine the dog thinking, Biscuits. I dream of biscuits. And what do I get? Blessings!!!

Seriously... we could get into all kinds of controversy over this, but it seems to me that even the wild street dogs seem to have some kind of affinity and desire for contact with humans.

ghummakadz · Dec 22nd, 2006, 11:14

Noodles, a quick follow-up to your post:

Unfortunately Rewalsar is a very small town, where even most of our human doctoring is from a French clinic run by Montaigne du Bonheur because we're short on local talent. The vet I mentioned is the only one available in this area. The next closest vets are in Mandi, about 45 minutes away.

Currently my partners and I are working on setting up a household here. Once we're in place, we hope to capture the dogs as we can one at a time, and take them in to be fixed.

shilpaks · Dec 22nd, 2006, 11:24

Organisations like CUPA,SPA and PFA are trying as much as they can to accomodate the street dog population. but they obviously dont have the infrastructure to keep all the dogs.
there is a neutering program that is run by the government, but it hasnt been v successful for whatever reasons.
also if we complain to the muncipality they take the dog away but only to kill it in through v inhumane ways-poison it after days of starvation,etc.
we have to live in harmony with animals, coz if not the cities where would these poor animals go?
so one of the options is that the people of that area to adopt the dogs and make them people friendly, so that they donot bite or stalk other people.

Shilpa

Dec 21st, 2006, 23:39	#33
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 28,371	Rangss, that is a lovely story Nattusbs, that is a great intention, but you will have to be concerned with more than Rabies. Someone I met a couple of years ago here in Chennai used to do her bit looking after dogs on the street (repeating myself here, I think...). There are dog shelters here, but she would only take a very sick dog, or abandoned puppies she could place nowhere else, to such a shelter. She told me that the chances of survival where slim, as diseases were rife and no money for mecicines and innoculations. But if you can properly fund such an organisation, then great! __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

Dec 21st, 2006, 23:54	#36
BabyBlue Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: India Posts: 70	I agree entirely with the fact that the dogs are breeding at a rate that makes it a problem for people. It's all very well saying we must live in harmony with them but what about them living in harmony with us ?! Oh & by the way, a big angry pack of aggressive barking snarling dogs like the ones I was acosted by in Palolem being placated by 'whistling' ?! I can't see the smiley for 'laughing your head off' but if I did I'd use it here. Anyway. In Varkala I had the pleasure of looking after a litter of puppies that had been born & abandoned by the mother. Some were too sick to save & the locals I approached didn't give a hoot about them so I started looking after the healthier ones who had a chance, giving them milk & bread etc & after 10 days when I left they were a little stronger & were adopted by local shopkeepers. I actually had a wrestling dilemma as to the ridiculous numbers of roaming aggressive dogs I've already come across & not wanting to increase that number but they were making so much noise apart from anything you had to help them if only to get a little peace! Last edited by steven_ber : Dec 28th, 2006 at 14:11.

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Dec 21st, 2006, 23:31	#31
capt_mahajan Dis member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 10,865	Rangss, amazing story. Like many animals, there are many documented incidents of dogs' sixth sense. Like their other senses, this seems to be more developed than that of humans. Sometimes wonder who the advanced species is. 'Truly man is the king of all beasts, for his brutality exceeds theirs'.. Leonardo Da Vinci

Dec 21st, 2006, 23:37	#32
Noodle Crazy for the furry ones Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Pune, India Posts: 1,026	Nattuasbs, great plan, especially the "Fix all of these dogs" part! Yah, I often feel like that too. Don't worry about rabies, it will be the first thing your vet will suggest to do. The rabies vaccine is readily available here (both for dogs and for humans, should it ever be needed). This is my dream too, start a shelter, help the sick and injured street dogs, spay/neuter, vaccinate etc. Alas, my purse isn't willing! The shelter here I help out has close to 300 dogs plus cows, donkeys, cats, birds etc. They employ 25 workers during day, 15 at night, plus a vet full time. She told me she needs 3 lakh rupees a month, about 5000 Euro, to keep it running. And it's in poor condition, most of the money goes for food and medicine. But you could start on a smaller scale ... although once you start, how can you ever say no to an animal in need? @rangss, yes, nice story. I would think that dog has played guide many times before and probably earns part of his living in this way

Dec 21st, 2006, 23:41	#34
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 28,371	Wow, Noodle! I never guessed you worked with something on that scale!

Dec 21st, 2006, 23:44	#35
k9healer Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 35	This is a subject that is dear to my heart. I work with the SPCA in Canada as an animal cruelty investigator. I have just returned from India where I was working with a group called VetCharity volunteering for a spay/neuter/vaccine clinic in Gangtok (Sikkim). You can check out their website at vetcharity.org The people who organized this have worked tirelessly with the government to stop the poisioning and shooting of dogs and are working incredibly hard to develop, implement and make a success of their program. So far, it is working and the numbers of unwanted pups being born into the streets is greatly reduced in the Gangtok area. What people don't realize is what a fight it is to bring the program to new areas. This organization runs on very little money from the government and depends heavily on volunteers to keep it running. The local people who work at this are nothing short of inspiring. The dog catchers start their day at 4am catching dogs, bring them back to the clinic and prepare them for the surgery process....they work at this all day and then return the previous day's dogs at night. They work 18 hour days - every day. The vets perform anywhere from 5-20 surgeries a day, in a clinic where you may only have lights for half of the day. Primitive by western standards, but they do a fantastic job and there is little to no wound breakdown. The dogs are kept only 24 hours in most cases and then returned to the street. This greatly reduces the stress on them. On top of that, the clinic also does vaccine clinics on the streets in an effort to reduce the threat of rabies. So, when you see a dog on the street with a notched ear, you will now know just how much time and effort goes into each dog that has been caught. There are groups out there making a difference and I'm incredibly proud to say that I have been a part of it.

Dec 22nd, 2006, 00:26	#38
k9healer Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 35	Noodle - Jeev Raksha looks like an amazing place....and Lila Parulekar an incredible woman (although I'm sure there are many incredible people working hard there!) I'm wondering - how would one make a donation to Jeev Raksha from Canada? I'd like to help a little if I can. You can PM me the info if you have it.

Dec 22nd, 2006, 00:35	#39
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 28,371	Amazing. And it is even more amazing to see the list of award winners. Such a diversity of folk, and all caring for animals

Dec 22nd, 2006, 00:37	#40
Noodle Crazy for the furry ones Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Pune, India Posts: 1,026	k9, that's so nice of you! Thank you! I will pm you the bank details.

Dec 22nd, 2006, 01:07	#41
anilkhare Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: mumbai Posts: 405	nice work noodles..

Dec 22nd, 2006, 10:43	#42
ghummakadz Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Rewalsar, HP Posts: 45	rangss, I certainly believe your story. Rewalsar is a major holy site for pilgims of three different faiths. My partner has a theory that many of Rewalsar's animals are beings who are either expiating bad karma and are about to be reborn as humans, or humans who goofed a bit and just got reborn as animals. One of the "town" dogs has adopted one of the monks who is a caretaker for the Guru Rimpoche statue here and chants scripture there on a daily basis. It will peacefully park itself near the statue, and allow itself to be petted, and enthusiastically greets "its" monk when he arrives. The dog will also station itself in front of the monk from time to time to receive blessings. I have also seen a monkey gently handle Tibetan texts, lifting each page and turning it over as monks and nuns do.

Dec 22nd, 2006, 11:14	#44
ghummakadz Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Rewalsar, HP Posts: 45	Noodles, a quick follow-up to your post: Unfortunately Rewalsar is a very small town, where even most of our human doctoring is from a French clinic run by Montaigne du Bonheur because we're short on local talent. The vet I mentioned is the only one available in this area. The next closest vets are in Mandi, about 45 minutes away. Currently my partners and I are working on setting up a household here. Once we're in place, we hope to capture the dogs as we can one at a time, and take them in to be fixed.

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Dec 22nd, 2006, 11:24	#45
shilpaks Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 265	Organisations like CUPA,SPA and PFA are trying as much as they can to accomodate the street dog population. but they obviously dont have the infrastructure to keep all the dogs. there is a neutering program that is run by the government, but it hasnt been v successful for whatever reasons. also if we complain to the muncipality they take the dog away but only to kill it in through v inhumane ways-poison it after days of starvation,etc. we have to live in harmony with animals, coz if not the cities where would these poor animals go? so one of the options is that the people of that area to adopt the dogs and make them people friendly, so that they donot bite or stalk other people. Shilpa