By Leslie Robinson | Founder
Dear People...Dear Animal Lovers...Dear Supporters.
Namaste'. I bow to your Innermost Selves.
The general news in the media is unsettling. I've had to discipline myself not to look too often. I regularly pray for Peace.
This is a Prayer I wrote some time ago. I don't think I put it in one of the recent Reports. If I did, please forgive the repetition. It's a Prayer in which I'm able to ask for Blessings for Everyone.
=======================
For those who Believe. For those who don't Believe.
For those who are Dear to me. For those who are not Dear to me.
For Friends. For Enemies...
For Everyone.
May we all be Blessed. All of us.
No exceptions.
May we all be Blessed with more compassionate understanding.
These are such difficult times.
So difficult.
So confusing
May we all be good to each other.
To the many with Light inside.
Memories. Thoughts. Feelings.
May we lift our Inner-state.
May we put that Higher energy out to help others.
Even the smallest action is powerful.
Thru Interconnectedness any one thing affects everything else.
Even the smallest action has power.
Bless us...Bless us...Bless us...
=======================
Hoping you are all doing excellently in these difficult times...
Sending Love, and more Love.
Leslie
===================================================
===================================================
To remind you of the level at which we are operating, below are our STATISTICS SINCE OPENING JAN.2007 THRU DEC.2024
MONTHLY (these figures are current), we:
The stats are stunning. But the most important thing is HEART. It suffuses all of our Work.
===================================================
This Report discusses why the survival of the Shelter and its handling of the incredibly large number of emergency rescues has become critical to the functioning of the Municipality, itself.
===================================================
When we first opened in January of 2007, many people avoided coming here because the animal situation was so bad. There were 350 suffering and dying animals on the streets--mostly dogs and puppies, but others, too (monkeys, cows, peacocks...) And the numbers were steadily increasing. Many people staying in Ramana Ashram would not go across the road for chai or a coconut because it was too much to be approached by the pleading and suffering puppies and dogs that were so abundant.
More and more people are visiting the sacred Mountain Arunachala, the big Shiva temple, and Ramana Maharshi Ashram. The auto traffic is narrowly concentrated around the mountain. And it has steadily increased--more cars going faster and faster. And the number of animals being hit has steadily increased.
Things are very good now.
It has turned out that the survival of the Shelter is critical to the functioning of the Municipality, itself.
It’s because of our effective humane handling of the incredibly large number of emergency rescues.
(We have no control over the large number of animals hit.)
Our six best Staff do the rescues. Two go out on each rescue. (They are very loving and good at what they do.) Most of the accidents are not serious. The Precious Ones are basically in shock, so are quickly able to go back to their territory and remain free. (though I sometimes worry about the overload for the Staff; please say a prayer for them.)
IF EMERGENCY RESCUES STOPPED, IT WOULD QUICKLY BECOME A NIGHTMARE HERE.
Not in 2 to 4 years -- but in just 2 to 4 months!
THINGS WOULD QUICKLY DETERIORATE...In 4 months there would be 350 to 450 suffering and dying dogs on the streets. Traffic would be crippled. AND it would steadily and quickly get worse.
IT STAYS GOOD ONLY BECAUSE WE ARE OPERATING INTENSELY DAY AFTER DAY. (Presently, we are doing 100 to 120 emergency rescues a month.)
===================================================
AND things really, really are good! The Shelter is going well. All three Animal Groups (In-patient animals, Owner animals, Homeless animals.) are doing beautifully.
In-patient animals. Usually between 150 and 250. Occasionally people visiting the Shelter for the first time get teary because they didn’t know a place such as ours existed. Our animals are actually happy.
Owner animals. We have put a lot of energy into building relationships with the citizenry. We let them know we provide very, very good care, treatment and operations, AT NO COST! All animals-- dogs, cats, cows, calves, donkeys, pigs, parrots, horses, buffalo—ALL! We really don’t charge no matter what kind of animal needs our help, or how much help it needs. And it is widely known that if there’s an emergency during the night, even out of town, we will cover it. If a citizen cannot bring the animal to us, we will cover it. The whole community knows we provide this service, whether or not they own animals. (We get between 800 and 1500 visits a month in our Clinic, most of whom are Owner animals.) And they are truly very, very grateful. AND they know it’s important to us that the street animals are treated with kindness. And this really shows up in how beautifully our homeless animals are treated by the people amongst whom they live.
SO THANKFULLY, the Homeless animals (there are 9000 homeless dogs.) in Tiru are cared for beautifully. Many visitors say they have never, in India, seen people so caring for homeless animals--and the animals so open to people, as on the streets of Tiruvannamalai.
===================================================
Here are some recent rescue stories from Vishwa to warm your Heart. For many of you, it's your favorite part.
Got a noon call at the Shelter from some people living near Rangammal Hospital. A dog that had been hit by a car was lying on its side and crying. Venkatesh and Tamil went. It was a 4 year old female, medium size--about 15kg. She was afraid and tried to bite them. Dr. Raja treated her. There were no outside wounds. But she had a broken spine. He gave her a painkiller and an injection in the spine. She went onto the Veranda. Mani and Supervisor Raja cared for her. She bonded with both. She's getting massages from the lady caretakers. We've had her two weeks. No operation is needed. Some puppies snuggle her. She licks them but isn't able to play yet. She's out of pain. Dr. Raja is giving her tablets and injections. It'll be a while. Maybe a month... before we release her.
Regular visitors to the Shelter called at 3pm. A dog had been hit by a 2-wheeler. His testicles were exposed. He was in a lot of pain, crying, running here and there. Pandi and Hari went. It took 20 minutes to catch him. He was 3 years old. Medium size, about 14kg .Dr. Mahesh operated. We've had him three weeks. He first went into isolation. Supvr Raja and Hari looked after him. He bonded with both. After a week he went onto the veranda. He's playing with the other dogs. We'll release him in 2 or 3 days...Om Namah Shivaya.
Dr. Raja got a 2pm call from a municipal counselor near the Collector's Office. There was a dog that had a bad skin condition and smelled badly. Prem and Tamil went. He was afraid. It took 45 minutes to catch him. He was a year old. Medium size--about 10 to 12kg. Dr. Raja gave him an injection. He had a warm medicated bath and went into Cage 2. We had him a month before releasing him. He was very, very happy to be free...People couldn't believe it was the same dog we had rescued... They will feed him.
===================================================
Before signing off I want to say something about my beloved Dr.Raja and Vishwa. They've been with me from the beginning. And it is together that we built this wonderful shelter. We went thru so much. So many intense exchanges. But the motivation was always pure. Bless them. Bless them.
In the earlier years they were my students...But now, they are moving with their own Shakti. Their own strengths. Vishwa is the Director of Operations. Dr. Raja is President, Trustee and over Medicine and Reporting.
And things are going beautifully. I think it's beyond where I could have brought it even in my Prime...At times, I have to remind myself that it's all one happening...Om Namah Shivaya.
===================================================
This brings us to the end of the Report.
Blessings. Blessings. And, Blessings on all of us.
As in previous Reports, I've included a collection of photos--some new, some old...Enjoy.
PLEASE...REMEMBER...DONATIONS.
THE PRECIOUS ONES NEED US...AND WE NEED YOU!
RECURRING DONATIONS, EVEN QUITE MODEST ONES, ARE BEST FOR US.
GOING FORWARD WE HAVE TO INCREASE OUR SUPPORT...IF YOU'RE ABLE TO BRING IN NEW SUPPORTERS THAT WOULD REALLY HELP...OM NAMAH SHIVAYA.
===================================================
Until next time, sending Wishes for all things Good,
From all of us...me, Dr. Raja, Vishwa, the Staff...and of course, The Precious Ones.
Leslie, The Aging Expatriate Warrior.
Arunachala Animal Shelter has earned the folllowing badges on GlobalGiving.
===================================================
Links:
Project reports on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.org by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.
If you donate to this project or have donated to this project, you can receive an email when this project posts a report. You can also subscribe for reports without donating.
Support this important cause by creating a personalized fundraising page.
Start a Fundraiser
