Adopt a pet, get a loyal friend

The tiny pups and kittens scampering all over the place at Vatsalya, the animal shelter at Shaktinagar may melt anyone’s heart with their cute looks and naughty tricks. These young ones barely a month old have seen the world as a beautiful place through the eyes of their care takers and the trustees of Animal Care Trust (ACT).

However, it is time they leave the shelter and step into the real world and are looking for a friend to whom they will be loyal for a life time. The question is, “Will you be that friend”?

Animal Care Trust, which runs Vatsalya, has started a new campaign “Adopt a Pet“ and has given a clarion call to all animal lovers to adopt a stray.

“Be an Indian, adopt an Indian dog,” says a smiling Suma Nayak, one of the managing trustees of Animal Care Trust, to City Herald.

Speaking about the campaign, she says Vatsalya receives more than 50 pups a month during the breeding seasons such as June-July and November-December and as many as 15 on an average during the other months.

“We are looking for homes for these animals, so that Vatsalya has more place to help other stray animals in need,” she says and adds that the dogs and cats are given free of cost and people are charged only the vaccination cost.

Speaking on the adoption tendency, Nayak reveals that many look for purebreds. Even when it comes to Indian Mongrels, the male dogs are taken like hot cakes and the females are left behind, she says and adds that people have a mindset that a female dog litters often and will be a problem in the future. “It’s time people should know that female dogs are better than males as they are quick and more alert and one can sterilize them at Vatsalya for free,” she says. She also adds that Indian Mongrels are ideal for adoption as they are hassle-free unlike Pedigrees which are known to have certain health problems.

Terrible condition

Many a times, when Vatsalya rescues the pets, they will be in a terrible condition, regrets Nayak. “We find the young ones in dustbins, gutters, drains. Some are even dumped in plastic bags. We will be shocked to think how a human being can be so inhumane. Many are actually thrown to die,” says Nayak.

Once the pups and kittens are brought to Vatsalya, they are de-wormed and vaccinated against rabies. If they are three months, then they are given the anti-distemper parvo vaccine, she says.

Many a times the ACT vans pick up pregnant strays and provide them a place in the shelter to give birth to their young ones. All the stray animals at Vatsalya are given bath and only the healthy ones are put for adoption, she adds.

Adoption procedure

Anyone can adopt a pet from Vatsalya. They have to fill forms. Children only accompanied with parents will be given pets for adoption, says Nayak. She adds that the Trust checks up on the pets and in-case of female dogs, the family is informed to bring the pet once it is eight month old for sterilisation.

ACT, since its inception in the year 2000 has given as many as 1500 pets for adoption, she says.

Animal Birth Control (ABC)

ACT has also partnered with MCC to sterilise the stray dogs in the City with the programme Animal Birth Control (ABC) and ARV (Anti Rabies Vaccination). The dogs are picked up by the ACT van and are sterilized at the centre. A ‘V’ shape notch mark is made on the ears of the dog that is sterilized. Later, the dog is left in the place form where it is picked.

MCC pays Rs 245 per dog, for the ABC/ARV sterilization though it actually costs Rs 440 per dog, says Nayak.

Members and charity

Nayak has also invited people to be members of the trust. “ACT would be glad to receive helping hands to do small work such as feed the pets or spend time with them,” she says and adds that Vatsalya in its ward Sneha houses crippled and sick animals who are in need of help and compassion.

“People who are interested can also help us with donations. Donation does not mean only money. A biscuit packet, milk for the pups, a small piece of gunny bag or old cloth and few plates to feed the animals would do,” she says.

In case if an animal is seen in distress or if someone wants to adopt a pet, people can contact 0824-6511053 or 09243304577, says Suma.

About ACT

With concern for abandoned and injured animals, animal lovers Dr Ganesh S Pai, Charles Paul, Suma Nayak, Dr Manohar Upadhyaya, Giridhar Kamath and Dr Shivaram Karikal decided to form a shelter for them. And thus came into existence Animal Care Trust (ACT) on March 30, 2000.

ACT is a registered charitable trust and is recognised by the Animal Welfare Board of India. For more details visit http://www.actmangalore.org/