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KARUNA RECEIVES AN AWARD
On 28th January 2012, Clementien Pauws, President of Karuna Society, was selected to receive an award from the Sahiti Gagan Mahal Trust, Penukonda (Andhra Pradesh) for all the good works that Karuna Society has accomplished over the years.
Every three years, this trust gives awards away to 20 individuals born in the Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh who have contributed to society in a special way in India or abroad. People from all walks of life are nominated, and a special section is open for people who are not born in Anantapur but have come from other regions and have made a difference for Anantapur district.
The function was inaugurated by Chief guest Retired Supreme Court Chief Justice Venkatachalamaiah joined by a special guest, our District Collector Sri Dhurga Das. This is the first local award for animal care and welfare. It is good news for the animals as it shows that the animals have come to the notice of many people. It also means that their care and welfare is an issue, bringing attention to the anti plastic campaign, the planning of the new dairies, and the illegal transport of cows for slaughter.
When asked about the reward, Clementien wanted to thank Karuna’s board members and staff publicly for their unwavering support and hard work under difficult conditions for more than 15 years. She also wanted to include their neighbour society IABWS (International Animals & Birds Welfare Society) Guttur, Mr G. Manjunath, who has taken up the ABC (sterilization program) in the district in a big way and has worked closely with Karuna Society from the beginning.
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BAN ON PLASTIC BAGS
POSTERS DISTRIBUTED IN PUTTAPARTI
The anti plastic campaign in Puttaparthi is taking shape. After a meeting with the local Municipal Commissioner, where we introduced the “Ban on Plastic Bag Poster” to the press, action took place on the 21st January 2012. Together with the team of Karuna staff and the Commissioner, we went from shop to shop removing all the plastic bags and even the thin plastic cups from the tea stalls and shops. We went to the weekly market and collected lots of the evil little bags. In the meantime the posters were pasted on all the roads. The women welfare groups are involved in the awareness program from the municipality. We will continue to work with them.
We can expect that within a few weeks/months the plastic waste will be considerably less. It will be an improvement for the landfills, and the main roads will look much better for tourists and VIP’s. Does this mean that all is well??? NO!! We discussed with the Commissioner the challenge that we are now presented with concerning all the old rubbish that is already lying around the outskirts of the villages, between the houses and in the drains. This situation will continue to exist, as the municipality does not have enough workers to clean up the existing rubbish. We need to find a way to remove the old and new plastic as well as other waste from the poor areas, as the animals who live in this area will still continue to eat plastic and die.
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OBITUARY FOR JILL
Jill, a female Indian street dog came to the Karuna hospital after being hit by a car when her hind legs were badly injured. One leg had to be amputated and the other one was left hanging as her back was now paralyzed. She lived with us “forever,” for more than eight years, the best watch dog in the compound. She died on 6th December, 2011. She received a beautiful burial in our compound.
Jill was the living proof of a healthy happy disabled dog, living with two and a half legs and still being able to run fast when she got excited. Thank you Jill, for sharing with us so much of your love and strength.
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ONE DAY AS A VOLUNTEER AT KARUNA
Dorothea and Barbara, two young volunteers from Switzerland, share with us their experiences of a typical day at the Karuna clinic.
Our day starts in the morning at around 8am. When we arrive at the clinic, five or more dogs are already outside, waiting for their breakfast and giving us an enthusiastic welcome. Making our way through the gate is like an obstacle race with all the hopping and wriggling legs, barking and wagging tails. Finally inside, we get yet another warm welcome from ten more dogs. They are all trying to get some attention from us. We are as happy to see them as they are to see us. After spending some time stroking and scratching the dogs, we start to check up on the more critical patients. What is their temperature? How do they look and what happened during the night? If there is something special going on, we report it to Clementien or the clinic attendant, Venkatesh.
By this time the workers are finished with cleaning the kennels and so the feeding takes place. Of course we can help with that as well! Around 25 hungry dogs wait impatiently for the bowls to be filled with warm rice, milk and vegetables. Together with the staff we make sure that all the dogs get their food, settle small fights and keep a close eye on the critical patients to check if they are eating. Some dogs also need special feeding with puppy milk.
After the morning routine work is done, the treatment starts, and there is a lot to do! We can help with making new bandages, taking care of wounds, preparing injections and drips, cleaning eyes and ears, and taking out ticks or giving tablets. Several dogs need special treatments. For example Maya, a female dog who became paralyzed overnight was brought into the clinic. We would help her by giving her massages with Ayurvedic oil and helping her to stand on her back legs. She is improving day by day, and we hope to see her walking again by the time we leave.Between treatments of inpatients, many dogs from outside need our help as well. Mostly they arrive at the clinic because they are not eating, are vomiting or coughing. Others have maggots in their wounds, infections in the ears or many other smaller or bigger problems. It is always a very good feeling to know that we could help an animal in its suffering! The outpatient work also includes writing down information about the treatments, the dog and the owner, which is sometimes quite complicated because of our missing language skills. However, somehow we always managed!Without noticing and with all the interesting work, noon comes around very fast and so we leave for lunch. After a long relaxing lunch break, we are back at the clinic at 3pm for the afternoon work: feeding puppies, treating the in and outpatients, making sure that all the dogs are well, checking the cats and so on.At 4.30pm it is time for feeding again, and finally, when the day comes to an end, every dog wants to go to its own sleeping place. We help the paralyzed dogs to their straw beds, inside or outside the clinic, or even in their own basket. Before we leave, we make sure everyone is alright and we wish them a good night after which, we get a thankful look. At 6pm the day is over, and we go home, tired but with many new experiences and the knowledge that we definitely used our energy for a good cause!
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT VOLUNTEERING, PLEASE EMAIL: karunasociety@gmail.com
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INJURED LEOPARD RESCUED
On the 14th February 2012, the Forest Department from Bukkapatnam Range, called us to help to rescue a paralyzed leopard that appeared to have severe injuries to his hind legs. Narendra from Karuna went to the area to coordinate the rescue where our truck joined him with medication and support. The leopard was identified as an adult male, about 7 years of age.
Dr Ashraf from the WTI (Wildlife Trust of India) was called for counseling about the anesthetic and first aid treatment. Thank you, Dr Ashraf, for your support. No local veterinary doctor was available at that time. The forest department here has no equipment, nor expertise, nor medication to handle a situation like this. Narendra was able to administer the medication and, with a net, the leopard was put into the truck and brought safely to Karuna Wildlife Rescue Center where he stayed overnight.
The DFO (District Forest Officer) from Anantapur, arrived the next day with more officials and it was decided that the leopard had to be transferred to the Tirupathi Zoo for further treatment. Again Narendra and our attendants managed to bring the leopard in the truck with the help of a net and the dog catching stick. That night, the leopard was delivered safely by our truck to the Tirupathi Zoo. We received a compliment for handling the animal with the least possible stress. The next morning we contacted the veterinary doctor in-charge of the leopard at the zoo and he informed us that the animal is being treated and seems to be making progress.
The latest news we have regarding the leopard is that he is improving. There is sensation in the legs but he is not yet able to stand. It is doubtful if he can go back to the wild, he might have to stay at the zoo. He needs some more time to heal. In a few days we will be able to have a better picture.
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