The Water Bowl Project

Heading into the hottest part of our Indian Summer, the temperature all over the country is soaring. One of our IDA supporters had a great idea. She has started a Water Bowl Project all over Mumbai, to benefit all the street animals and birds that have very little access to drinking water. Anyone who wants to, can order a bowl, like the one seen in the picture, and place it in an unobstrusive place, where any thirsty animal can come and have a much-needed drink of water. Already the project has proved to be very successful and over a hundred bowls have been placed in various areas in Mumbai.
The most amazing thing is that Sarita Raturi, the person who started this project, is based in the USA! She is from Mumbai, so understands very well how street animals suffer during the hot season. If you want to learn more about the project, do contact her on sarita@gtsamerica.com

Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Day continued

I think today of all days, it is most appropriate to post this picture of this beautiful little bull, to demonstrate exactly how simple it can be to prevent cruelty.


It was 4th June 2008 when I spotted him walking down the Eastern Express in Mumbai, an extremely long and broad road with no shade whatsoever. It was about 2.30 in the afternoon and the heat was unbearable. This small animal was yolked to a huge bull, about one foot taller than he was.


He looked in such a bad condition that I went to have a closer look. HIs front leg was lame, both his horns were broken and one was bleeding and covered with a filthy cloth, he had a large tumour on his neck beneath the yolk and he actually had small holes running along his spine. He was in such a filthy condition, that his actual colour was not discernable.


He was one of our kerosene cart bulls. These small carts take kerosene, for the big oil companies, into the most inaccessible areas in Mumbai.


I told the driver to get him off the road and noted the number of the cart. This is all it takes. This is the Registration number on a small metal plate nailed to the side of any animal cart.


I then contacted another IDA member to take further action.


Fotunately, the next day, the driver actually took the bull to the animal hospital and we were all happy that it would at least get some much needed medical treatment.


Months later, we all went on a trip to the farm for rescued animals, maintained by our President Fizzah Shah. I got the shock of my life when we entered the cattle shed. There before me was the little bull. And he looked just great! The last time I had seen him, he had been miles and miles away from this truly wonderful place. Fizzah has rescued 20+ bulls and saved them from slaughter and all are happy and contented in this peaceful place.

That's all it takes to save an animal from further cruelty. In this case it was the strong, protective circle of care and concern that IDA had provided. The picture above was taken a few days ago and it is wonderful evidence of what happens when you take some sort of action to help an animal that is in extreme distress.

Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Day, 10th April

I thought I would post this picture from the DNA of 5th April 2010, for all of you to see on this particular day. This is why we need to be reminded to pause once in a while and wonder just how these things can happen in our country that has some of the best laws in the world for the protection of animals.

The mis-matched pair in front seems to be leading the other two. Why on earth has such a slender animal been attached by a yoke to a mature bull that is twice it's size? One can hardly imagine what it is going through. This took place in Pune, where the summer temperature this year has been in the 40s. This is a normal 'festivity' that takes place in rural Maharashtra between the farming seasons. Dehydrated, exhausted and frantic from the goading and chaotic atmosphere, these animals go through tremendous suffering.

These are special animals in India; they are our working bulls. They are worked hard all through their lives, and then most of them are sent to the slaughter house. So forcing them to race when farming activity has come to an end for the year, simply for the entertainment of the public, is nothing short of the worst cruelty.

As this particular race was described as part of the State level races, you can write to our Chief Minister, Shri Ashok Chavan and suggest that these races be banned as all animals in India are protected against all types of cruelty in the Constitution of India itself.

His email : chiefminister@maharashtra.gov.in

Sami and Onni Sleeping

It's still very cold in Finland, and Sami, the IDA pup who was adopted in Mumbai and now resides in Helsinki, loves to have a nap on the comfy armchairs ( he does have his own basket as well). Sami looks a real fashionplate in his hand knitted wooly coat and he likes to wear it indoors. In the first picture he's sleeping with his toy reindeer and his big brother Onni is very comfortable in his basket with all the toys that belong to him! His guardian tells us that Onni loves to rearrange all the little toys in his basket, to his liking, and then he makes himself comfortable among them and takes a nap. A bit crowded, but that's the way he likes it!!
Sami's naughty. He just loves to stretch out on the armchairs meant for the human residents!
But doesn't he look sweet??!

Today is International House Sparrow Day

On the 20th of March, the existance of the common house sparrow is celebrated the world over. We all have a soft spot for this little bird. Sparrows are cheeky! They don't mind at all being around us humans (especially if we are owners of a 'grain' or kirana store!).
We have always taken this cheerful little bird for granted. Now a terrible thing is happening. The house sparrow is slowly disappearing and is actually struggling to survive. In Mumbai, we know the problem - massive depletion of greenary, constant construction work and road building going on, makes it very difficult for this little bird to locate suitable nesting sites.
Sparrows do make pathetic attempts inside buildings, putting together untidy nests in electric boxes and so on. Of course, we know what happens next - the nest is simply thrown out and the hopeful pair have no place for their eggs or their off-spring.
How can we help our sparrow friends ?
Modern roofs are not sparrow friendly. We need to provide them with other alternatives to nest. A nest box in a sheltered place in the building, would be helpful even though sparrows often take a year before 'adopting' them.
Young sparrows need lots of insects to feed on, so insect-friendly gardens and areas of open soil (free of the usual cement cover), may help to slow the decline of this endearing little bird.
In Maharashtra, there is a young man who has worked ceaselessly to make things better for the sparrow. His name is Dilawar Mohammed and he is such a tireless crusader for the cause, that Time Magazine named him Hero of the Environment in 2008. For more information on how you can help save and nurture this cheerful little bird, go to his web site www.natureforever.org/adopt.html

Accenture Employees Visiting IDA Deonar

Want to know the secret of happiness? It's holding and playing with a small puppy! These young employees from Accenture, enjoyed themselves on their conducted tour around the IDA Deonar Centre. They met all our lovely inmates and particularly enjoyed themselves with the young ones. The young lady in the last picture is almost surrounded by the fat puppy brigade, and Gunner, the large pup at the side of her is singing his head off! All of them just love to have company, especially the human kind!

The First IDA School Programme

The IDA team visited a school in Bandra and got to meet two divisions of 5th Std kids. This is our recent venture - spreading awareness with regard to animal issues among school children. We went well armed with jigsaw puzzles, quiz games, interesting props and lots of information to give to all the kids involved. All of them enjoyed the session and through some noisy, and sometimes boisterous interaction, we managed to 'educate' them about animal companions and their needs and stray dogs and how many things they need as well. We are looking forward to carrying out many such programmes and will be preparing to deal with as many animal issues as we can.