A new story for stray animals

In Mangaluru, an animal lover’s efforts are helping sick and abandoned stray animals find homes, writes Hanna Fathima.

The struggles of stray animals often go unnoticed. Dedicated to changing this, a passionate animal lover in Mangaluru has spent over 25 years rescuing and rehabilitating stray dogs and cats.

Usha Suvarna finds sick, injured and malnourished animals on the streets, often alerted by concerned citizens. She rescues them and brings them into her home where she provides food, medical assistance and care.

“Each life I save is a reminder of how much love these animals need. I believe that all animals deserve a second chance, regardless of the hardships they have endured,” says Usha.

In 2000, a stray dog entered her home. Usha offered some food, and the dog chose to stay. The very next day, the dog whelped a litter of puppies. Usha cared for the mother and her puppies for a month. She then handed the puppies over to the Animal Care Trust in Mangaluru. 

Observing their efforts deeply inspired her. This experience ignited her passion, and she soon began volunteering in rescue operations with the trust, marking the beginning of her journey.

This eventually led her to open her own organisation to care for animals in distress. 

Her efforts go beyond bringing animals home. Many are treated on the spot, fed daily or helped through alerts from a local network of shopkeepers and others. With countless calls for assistance, she has rescued and cared for over 20,000 animals for the past 25 years.

“All rescued dogs here undergo sterilisation. Since most adopters often prefer male pets, sterilisation helps manage both adoption and population control. However, the cost of animal birth control remains a significant challenge,” she says. 

Pet parents

As the strays recover under her care, Usha actively seeks pet parents who can provide them with safe homes. She stays in touch with the new owners, regularly seeking updates on the pet’s well-being and progress.

Finding suitable pet parents is challenging as most adopters prefer not to adopt female animals. Usha consistently works to dispel these notions. 

Additionally, even if many people come forward for adoption, the concern lies in ensuring that pets are properly cared for after they are taken home.

It is vital that these animals who have already faced hardships are not abandoned again, especially if they encounter health issues, she adds. 

Her follow-up process involves monitoring video clips from pet parents, allowing her to observe the progress of the adopted pets. 

“Over a year ago, I adopted a dog named Rocky from Usha. Rocky had suffered a severe neck injury from a rubber band tied around her neck. I came across Usha Suvarna on Facebook. Usha provided the necessary medical attention before I could adopt Rocky,” says a rescue adopter, Vathsala. 

This adopter initially wanted a male dog and came across Rocky through social media and decided to take a chance. “Today, she is healthy, happy and thriving,” Vathsala says. 

Although Usha did not receive formal training, she gained valuable knowledge in treating animals, understanding their basic necessities, and responding to injuries through her observations while volunteering at the Animal Care Trust.

“Watching my mother rescue animals in the direst conditions deeply inspires me to support her mission. I often accompany her during rescues and assist her in any possible way I can,” says Trisha, Usha’s daughter. 

Obstacles

The cost of food, medical care, surgeries and critical care for the rescued animals is substantial.

The expenses of specialised diets place a higher financial load as well. Usha’s dedication has garnered online support from a growing network, who have been moved by her mission.

“Although I was not initially aware of Usha’s efforts, I took her contact number to confirm that she was indeed rescuing pets. Inspired by her dedication, I provide approximately Rs 4,000 worth of cat food every month. I ensure the food is delivered on time and personally handle the payments to the food shop,” says Jayaram, a tax consultant and a pet lover.

; Usha with a cat in her care. 

For spectrum use only 

Usha and a rescued dog. For spectrum use only