As the President of Karuna Society I need to have an urgent and serious word with you:
“Without substantial local support, the outpatient department will be closed soon.”
What is this about?
For more than 25 years Karuna has provided free medical first aid, inpatient care and a shelter for animals in distress – thousands and thousands of animals: dogs, cats, cattle and wildlife, all received our support!
The expenses for this were mostly provided by foreign donors/ animal lovers but times have changed!!! Although the medicine expenses are covered by a grant from The Marchig Trust, UK, they do not cover any salaries. Some salaries for the cattle herders are paid by Help Animals India but the shelter and OPD salaries are not included (approximately one lakh rupees, or $1,200 per month). Local donations are almost non-existent and visitors/devotees/animal lovers are much less.
Let me explain the bitter truth: Karuna Society has no Corpus Fund to speak of (just a few lakh rupees). We survive month to month only on donations.
Every day our Out-Patient Department (OPD) is overloaded and although we have a policy about which animals and owners we can serve, it is difficult to stick to it especially when there is pressure on our staff and management. Many people use pressure and manipulation to get their way and relieve themselves from the burden of a sick animal that needs care – without thinking about their own responsibilities or about us!
Yes, many times we receive praise for what we are doing but you may not be aware of the anger and the insults management has to endure when dog owners do not get their way.
Our service is first of all focused on the suffering of the animal, NOT on the discomfort of the owner/caretaker. As a result we are being abused and mistreated.
BUT…. we have the animals to think of!
We are asking you to realise the importance of our work for the local animals and we are asking financial and moral support from the local community! And, we are asking you and all officials to respect our policies and to help us to find the best solutions in emergencies.
Please see our OPD and Animal Care Guidelines HERE.
