For the Love of Animals

Last weekend I took a long drive for a noble cause. I don’t know how many people I know would agree but it was noble nonetheless. Because last weekend I went to give an abandoned dog a home… Anyway before I digress, like I said it was noble because here there was a beautiful little creature lying on the streets waiting for someone to take her home and sadly finding no one who could give her that. We fed her for a week and partially provided shelter but that was all we could give, what with having two well-grown obnoxious male dogs at home, hating the very sight of this angelic little creature. So then we decided to find her a home and hit a blank wall every time. We did think we made some progress when a philanthropic animal welfare organisation asked us to mention their name and tell Blue Cross to take her. Well to be honest Blue Cross agreed but didn’t turn up the following day. And when questioned simply refused to do anything about it, but they were being fair they said because they anyway planned to just sterilize the poor creature and put her back in the lane they’d picked her up from. But after frantic calls made to different animal welfare boards we managed to find one that truly believes in helping- The Animal Welfare Protection Trust run by a very kind elderly couple. Despite their age they manage a shelter that practically houses 200 dogs and 200 cats. Can you believe that number? I was genuinely humbled and donated what I could to help save that soulful-eyed little creature that knocked on our door on a rainy night. I’m sure you’re wondering what this is got to do with opportunities. Well there is certainly one lurking in this too but I’m not sure how many will be willing to take it up, because it is no easy task. While talking to the founders of The Animal Welfare Protection Trust, Mrs. Padmavathi, the wonderful lady behind this novel venture was quick to point out the lack of human support. There have always been philanthropists helping us but it would certainly be great to have people coming forward to help too. A necessity I’m sure but let’s leave their case out of this. I know it’s not easy to start a shelter but I don’t think it’s impossible; truth to this fact is this wonderful couple with limited means starting the Animal Welfare Protection Trust. In the more globally inter-connected world that we all seem to be living in, even raising awareness about animal welfare and tying-up with corporate houses should be a problem. Yes it can be quite a Herculean task but it is certainly not unworkable. Where there is a will there always has been a way… So all you people with a philanthropic-entrepreneurial spirit, I hope you’ll sleep on this and maybe, I’m hoping one of you will be able to start something that will not only be a source of revenue (we have to be practical, I agree) but let’s say I’m hoping will save the lives of at least a hundred of our more docile, unconditionally loving co-inhabitants. And like Mrs. Padmavathi says, “we’re in reality depriving animals of the environment that rightly belongs more to them than us”. Yes I think we are, so why not give something back to them in return, maybe in small measures but I’m very sure that starting something noble certainly offers a lot in return, and if you have what it take, then certainly monetary too. P.S. Speaking of animals, if you’re not looking to start a shelter I suggest you at least visit one when you can, because spending time with animals are proven to relieve stress much better than other scientific remedies that we’re more inclined towards. Trust me it works like magic! Don’t believe me? Try it yourself…