Bengalureans reach out to pets in peril in marooned Chennai

Several animal lovers from Bengaluru are extending help to the untold number of pets and strays marooned in the floods in the Tamil Nadu capital.

Social media is abuzz with posts and requests to arrange for food and temporary shelter for animals. Also, there has been a concerted effort to provide assistance involving public sector organisations, veterinarians, animal rescue charities and volunteers.

One such group of animal lovers has started an initiative on their Facebook page ‘Bombat Dawgz’ to collect food, which will be sent to Chennai as soon as the water recedes.

Mandhakini Vasudevan, an animal welfare worker from Bengaluru, who started the initiative on Facebook, said, “I saw a post about helping people stuck in the rain. So, I decided that animals too need us and hence this initiative. As the word is spreading, more and more people are joining us. People can contribute food for animals and humans, which will be sent to Chennai through trucks. The items are likely to be distributed through the Army, rescuers or NGOs.”

The food products, blankets, candles, torches and other necessary items can be dropped off at various delivery points in the City or people can also buy food from an online website, which is being coordinated by one of the members.

Sudha Narayanan of Charlie’s Animal Rescue Centre (CARE) said, “This is a grim situation. We are not yet aware of the number of animals or the exact situation there, so we are waiting for the rescuers to get back to us. In case, abandoned or lost pets or strays are transported to Bengaluru, we will go an extra mile to make space in our shelters and look after them until they are united with their owners or have found a permanent home.”

Chinthana Gopinath, an animal welfare worker from the City, said, “We have started this initiative to collect food supplies for cats and dogs. We have a group of friends who are from Chennai, but are working here. So, the collected food items will be sent to Chennai through them, once the water level goes down.”

Leaving a member for your family behind is unimaginable. Many people are stuck in their apartments with their pets and are refusing to leave them behind. “Human life is always put at a greater premium. But, we also need people to reach out to the animals. Shravan from ‘Hotel for Dogs’, which is a boarding facility in Chennai, is reaching for all such distressed souls,” informs Chinthana.

Deepti Tomar, who became a part of this initiative, said, “This is a noble initiative taken by the people of Bengaluru and the process of donating is also simple and hassle-free. People in any part of the country can become a part of this noble cause.”

Good Samaritans in the City are using social media to make sure their voices are heard and help reaches the silent set of victims.