By Leslie Robinson | Founder/Director
Namaste' dear People,
This is the beautiful Indian greeting esoterically meaning, “I bow to your Innermost Self.”
It has been a good time-a time of effort and struggle. The Precious Ones, the animals, deal with such difficult karma…Indifference. Disregard for the sanctity of their lives. Outright malevolence. The absence of protection when they are in harm’s way. The unawareness of many when they are hungry or thirsty. The absence of legal protection when they are treated cruelly or unjustly.
It’s so, so important that more of us actively move to help. It’s important to build more facilities that will treat them…Care for them…Rescue them…Put energy into getting more laws in place that will protect them...It's important to simply be aware of them, and kind to them.
A lot of our Work deals with helping make things better for them, generally. In Eastern terms that means in helping lift their karma.
Sometimes when I’m traversing difficult territory, one with conflict, obstacles, and negative energy. Sometimes when things really get tough, and it gets hard to move forward, it helps me to remember that it’s not an “ordinary passage”, that these are efforts that count, that really lift weight from the Precious Ones. And it makes everything worth it, and more, as I see it getting “lighter” and “lighter” for the Voiceless Ones…and the quality of their lives uplifted.
At our fourth anniversary celebration, a long-time resident, Dev Gogoi by name, wrote the poignant words, “Public memory is short. Few can recall the rampant stray dogs everywhere, young and aged, starving and diseased, scavenging in the garbage heaps, fighting amongst themselves, ignored and abused by the human population, while remaining a menace to all including themselves. In four short years, the roads are more peaceful, with few strays to be seen, and the naturally loving relationship between humans and animals restored to its true state.
So that’s the “Name of the Game”, lifting suffering.
There’s an awareness that was given to me by my Teachers…INTERCONNECTEDNESS…That everything anyone does ultimately affects everyone else. It’s easiest to understand in a physical sense. That the simplest event, even a pet hamster squeaking that calls you over to him…affects everything else you do. From them on you’ll physically be in a different place than you would have been. You’ll run into different people. See different things. Think different thoughts….That old comment made at many poker tables among friends…said to the big winner who is getting incredibly good cards, “I wish I had been sitting in your seat”. But if you had, the cards dealt would have been totally different. It’s almost mind boggling to see how everything affects everything else.
To follow that thought through, if you put good energy into the melting pot, it spreads and spreads and spreads. Sometimes when I’m walking around, I just send “good thought waives” to everyone I see. I don’t know if it helps. But there’s a part of me that believes it does.
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In the last Report entitled, “Extraordinary Rescue of entire Village of abandoned, starving animals-Goats. Cows. Bullocks. Others”...
Many of you, perhaps most, read about the Rescue. For those who didn’t, I’m going to briefly summarize. The reason I’m bringing this up, is that the way it ended was extraordinarially bright.
First the background. A political figure about 75 km from here was killed by six men. The men, were all related and lived in the same village. The families of the six fled for their lives, leaving all their animals in the care of the remaining villagers. Sympathizers of the political figure burned all their houses, and under threat of death, prevented the remaining villagers from caring for or feeding the animals. We found out five days after the murder. The animals were starving. Five had already died.
The rescue was one of the largest I had heard of a shelter being involved in. These weren’t animals that were turned over to us. They were creatures that we went out to rescue. It was a dangerous operation, fraught with the possibility of extreme violence.
It involved 56 goats, 2 sheep, 4 pigs, and 23 cows/calves/and bulls.
Well, we got them. They were in our care for over a month. I asked Vishwa if he had a relationship with them. He said, “Sir, they answer back.” Om Namah Shivaya.
Then blessing of blessings…Saturday (Aug 19th), all day, finishing late night, the owners of the 85 Rescued Ones, who managed to settle in another village, reclaimed all of them. The Precious Ones had recovered fully from their nightmare, and they were in beautiful shape, psychically and physically.“
The owners were very happy. All the Precious Ones were heavier than they were before this all started. What was especially heartening is how happy these vulnerable creatures were to see the owners. Vishwa oversaw the whole operation and went back to their new village to help settle them in. He said the people really knew animals, were very loving, and their situation at the new village was very good.
We kept four young goats (two males and two females-four and five months old), and the four pigs to get them into circumstances where they could be happy and live out a full life rather than being slaughtered for food.
Vishwa found a place for the goats with a couple that live about 75 kms outside of Tiru. And we took the four pigs on a ten hour lorry ride to their new life. It was a wonderful place where they’ll run free in the half acre compound of a very loving lady, who already had one pig, five dogs, and for a temporary period, twenty cows. It was a “real trip” getting them there. First, the largest pig, a male, had gained around 50kg…and weighed in at around 175kg. (The pigs had to be put in cages, and then lifted over the six foot wall surrounding the Shelter. It took 7 or 8 guys to get them into the lorry...At midnight!!!). And the trip to their new home took ten hours. Om Namah Shivaya. Only our beloved Vishwa can handle things like this.
Wish you were here to see them.
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This is a time of need. As peoples’ Hearts have opened more and more, the number of Precious Ones coming to us thru clinic visits and emergency rescues has steadily increased. In the last two years it’s taken off exponentially. Also the traffic situation has gotten worse and worse for the Voiceless Ones, and that, too, significantly contributes to the number of monthly emergency rescues. So we are profoundly crowded and in need of a much larger facility. It is our number one priority.
The Precious Ones, dogs and puppies, except for special circumstances (injury requiring restricted movement, illness, quarantine, etc.) are not kept in cages but run free and are happy. They are in two main areas: The Veranda which is for puppies, younger dogs, and creatures that don’t need a lot of space to run around. It is covered by a roof and consists of two large pieces--23ft x 23ft and 11ft by 11ft. And the The Garden that has a lot of room. Including the retaining cages along the sides that are usually open, it is an area of 40ft by 150ft.
It’s in the Veranda that the crowding is so evident. There’s a miraculous quality about it. Because of the crowding, one would expect there to be continuous fights, and intense energy. But it is just the opposite. Chants are playing continuously. And our devoted Staff, about whom I could write a book, so beautifully cares for them. The Voiceless Ones still feel safe, cared for, and loved…AND are happy. They still play, but they can’t run around freely with abandon like they used to do.
The energy one experiences is one of spaciousness and love. The main thing in our beloved Shelter is HEART. But one has to experience it. It’s not unusual for animal lovers to get teary when they experience the Shelter for the first time because they didn’t know that anything like it existed. Below are links to two short videos that give a sense of the energy behind what has unfolded.
Our Number One priority is to get into a much larger facility.
It appears that the Municipality is going to allow us to extend the land we are using. It’s not a lot, but it would be enough to significantly mitigate the pressure for a year or so while we go about getting into a much larger facility. It involves raising BIG money, buying land, and building. Say a prayer for us. And…Blessings to you.
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In the meantime…September has basically been a month of activity like the ones preceeding.
We have seven major programs: A sterilization/anti-rabies program…A clinic…Hospital facilities for in-patients…Sanctuary, if an animal cannot make it on its own…An adoption program.(We have trained college students going out up to 100 kms looking for good homes for our puppies. Since opening we have placed 900 in good homes.)…24/7 emergency rescue. (If an animal is injured during the night, we will be there in 20 to 30 minutes. Our doctors are on 24 hour call.)…Hospice-we are a “no-kill” shelter.
So this month, the month of September, we have had:
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There are so many inspiring transformations happening…Here, to share, are a few.
Shanti
She was a two month old babe when Aleksandra found her lying on the roadside. Her body deeply hurt. Spine damaged. Deep wounds in both joints. Paralyzed. Barely alive. Suffering.
Aleksandra nursed her lovingly for two months. Loved her. Then she had to return to Poland. She heard of us through a mutual friend. And wrote…Would we???...Yes, if she could get her here. Kerala was a great distance away. But Aleksandra did get her here. She took an overnight thirteen hour train.Then in a 2 ½ hour car ride, reached the Shelter.
She had named her Shanti. She couldn’t sit up. Her back paralyzed. Two grievous wounds on the back legs still not healed.
She was timid…And scared. The person who’d hugged, caressed, and cared for her…suddenly was GONE.
We put her in a small cloistered space in the operation theatre. Four puppies to keep her company. Elaine. Sekar. Raja…Gave her healing love. Reassurance. Gentle strokes. Kisses…A fussy eater would be a cosmic understatement. She had to be coaxed—Pedigree…milk…eggs…and other doggie delights. The puppies snuggled her. Oh, but she was so, so shy.
It’s been two months. Dear Shanti is on the road back. After several weeks, we started putting her in an area during the day where a number of other smaller puppies were playing, fighting, snuggling and doing whatever puppies do. And it was no longer timid Shanti. She became bossy with the pups. At night,though, she snuggled up to them. And it was no longer Shanti, the timid eater. She started eating everything we gave her…AND more.
She was getting plenty of attention during the day. Baths to keep her legs clean of urine since she tended to pee on them. She got powder/cream applied every few hours to keep her clean and dry. She started managing to stand a little. Unsteadily, but nevertheless stand. Dr. Raja said she’s got a good chance of coming back far enough to move around and play…but not bound around like other dogs.
The fear has melted away. She’s happy now. I just spoke to Elaine. She’s made friends with a little five month old black and white pup, named Sekar. They hang out together all day. It’s really sweet. They chase, wrestle, and lie down side by side. And she’s starting to get the use of her back legs. (Dr. Raja, again said, she’ll never be totally normal…but, more than enough, to chase, wrestle, and wander.)
The first photo following Report is of Shanti and Sekar.
Masala Chai
Pandi went out to rescue him. He was unconscious on the side of the road. He probably was hit by a rickshaw. It was a head injury. Poor baby was only six months old.
Dr.Raja gave him pain killers, diuretics to relieve the pressure in the head, Neurobion and i.v.’s for nutrition.
He was unconscious for ten days. Dr. Raja didn’t think he’d make it. He was stroked. Hugged. Kissed. Whispered to…And then, on the tenth day he started becoming conscious. Elaine was with him, which is how he earned his name. The first thing he consumed was masala chai.
He’s aware, now, of the other dogs. He softly growls when they come near. He’s sleeping alone on a soft mattress, and hasn’t yet made dog friends, but fully responds to the affections of the Staff.
He can support himself, sitting. And is now trying to get up. When Elaine comes in the morning he sits up and wants to be taken onto her lap.
Prayers…dear, dear Masala. All of Us are pulling for you, and we’re so grateful as you get so much stronger and stronger each day that it looks like you’re going to make it.
Love. Love. Love. And, more love, Little One.
Baby...an older story
One of our rhesus monkeys...Some children found her lying at the side of the road. A month old. She had a red string around her neck. Someone must have been wanting to "train" her as a performer, but threw her away. Bad wound on her stomach. Right leg and arm, lame. And she was paralyzed from an advanced stage of tetanus.
Her healing extended over four or five months. For a month she was paralyzed.
She was so, so sweet. When you picked her up and held her like a baby, she just peered innocently into your eyes. And she was really held a lot.
At the beginning she got two i.v.’s a day. A little later she was fed orally with a syringe. Every day she was massaged. Along with Neurobion (for nutrition) and anti-biotics, she was treated homeopathically. And then, at last, she slowly started moving. But with the lame arm and lame leg. (Such naked cruelty—the people who first had her)…
One day another rhesus monkey with significant leg wounds came into the Shelter. She was only several months older than Baby. We put them in the same cage, and she immediately gently lifted Baby and put her on her lap. And from that point on she tenderly cared for her throughout each day.
Baby completely recovered and they were put in a cylindrical cage, six feet by six feet with a conical top. They were pretty active…and, pretty happy. We finally sent them to a wildlife sanctuary 15 hours away that had much better facilities, and a considerable number of monkeys…Om Namah Shivaya, Dear Ones. ===========================
Interesting tidbits.
Forty years ago my Guru told me that the physician healed with the Heart. Thus, our core practice is demonstrative love--hugging, stroking, reassuring, and. yes, kissing. Our belief is that deep healing will only take place if a creature feels safe, cared for, and loved.
There are many ways of viewing this. We have, a number of times, when medications(allopathic or alternative) weren't working effectively, focused on loving, holding, and reassurring, and were able to bring about profound recoveries. Strangely enough, the animals can tell the difference between someone who is being very, very nice to them, and someone whose Heart is totally open to them.
We have a Staff of twent-one and they are all very good to the animals. But only about five or six have Hearts that are totally open to them. And those "PureHearts" are the ones we bring in on difficult cases. The animal knows it immediately. And, in human terms, it can bring them outside of themselves, and create a desire to live, again.
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Well dear People, we've come to the end of this Report.
So... Repeating from prior Reports...We're under pressure to get into a much larger facility, and that means buying land ($40,000 to $75,000), and building ($250,000). I believe it will take at least a year. We are about to actively move to start raising the money. If you know Bill Gates or Warren Buffet, call them! If you are Bill Gates or Warren Buffet...Please help.
If you know a gadzillionaire who loves animals, call them! If you know anyone who would like to donate a modest amount to the fund, encourage them. If you have contact with my Mother, tell her to send my Piggy Bank. Anything you can do would be great. If it's not money...Prayers...
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