This 23-Year-Old Animal Rescuer Reveals Why Animal Care Is Not A Priority In India
We stay in a country where even humans are deprived of a good life so thinking about animals is far fetched. However, some understand early on age that animals are precious. People? especially in India can be seen shooing away street dogs, pressing charges against animal activists or calling the vet van to throw the animals who are creating?a menace in their locality. Some would even prefer a world free of animals or desi dogs per se and in this battle, there are a few good souls who have taken the responsibility on themselves to look after the unspoken and stand up for the voiceless.
Whether it's banning animal fighting festivals, animal testing to heartwarming rescue efforts, the hard work of animal lovers is finally paying off. However, there is still a long way to go. The recent case of Ayesha Christina, an animal activist, who was beaten for looking after dogs, is proof the battle is far from over.
We spoke to an animal rescuer Anoushka Mehta, who has a charity spread across Delhi and Haryana by the name of The Modern Mowgli and she took us through the obstacles she faces looking after Indie dogs, cats or any animal on a daily basis. And despite that, the 23-year-old has been feeding 190 dogs everyday and has gotten 90+ Indian dogs adopted, all rescued from perishable conditions, in India, US & Canada.
An animal rescuer's life in India is extremely challenging
Anoushka points out why the animal charity is termed problematic. "One has to make do with very few resources. Not just that, we fail to receive the same amount of respect and appreciation unlike other NGOs and non profit agencies. The recent animal activist attack is an indication of that. Also, we belong to a poor nation and people fail to understand why we would want to spend our time, energy and money on animals or another species that communicate differently. They fail to feel that connect with them that's why it makes our lives challenging because for us, pain, hunger, thirst sees no languages, it just transcends everything.?
?It's important to update our charity pages so that we don't lose out on our donor and adoption base?
Anoushka clears the charity and Instagram updates are not to get famous. Explaining a day in her life, she says, "My day starts at 6am when my feeder staff reach college. I graduated from a University in Harayana for five years and had been feeding my strays and animals there. So it was my responsibility to look after them even after I graduated. I couldn't abandon my dogs since I made them so dependent on me. So I employed two people who come along with me to feed them every single day. Then I take my dogs for the vet visits in the evening. I get back home and then start preparing food for my 200 dogs in Delhi. "
"By 10, I go with my feeder bhaiya to give food to all the dogs in and around South Delhi. Apart from that I give them medicines, dress up, tend to their injuries. Around midnight, I get back home and update my Instagram page because its very important to grow my community. If I don't reach out to people and show them what we're doing, I feel i will lose out on my donor base, my followers, people who help fostering and adopting. It's important for me to make this charitable sustainable."
We need the govt and conservationists to look for humane methods and alternatives to tackle this issue of wild boars?
"It was heartbreaking and gut wrenching to see the elephant finding respite in the water after the cracker burst in her mouth. Later, I read it was for a wild boar, but aren't they animals too? It would have pained him the same way. We should feel the same amount of empathy for the wild boar and all those who suffered till now just like we felt for the elephant. Hence, its important to work extensively with those communities which stay in those villages. There cannot be conservation without their help.?
?We're only a handful of us working towards animal welfare and the last thing we want is that people quit?
The lockdown has been difficult for humans but it has also been difficult for strays who relied on people to give them food. However, even during the time of the pandemic there have been volunteers and NGOs taking care of strays and rescuing those in need. But not everyone seems to appreciate the effort such selfless people put in.?
"It was horrifying to watch the video of the animal activist who was beaten along with her group. She was doing a big service to our community by sterlising the dogs. And anyone with brains would know that the only way to tackle rabies and over population of animals is effective sterlisation. Yet people fail to understand our views and fail to step down from their high egos. And when they see a vet van, all they want to do is dump the dogs in those vehicles and throw them away. It's all illegal. They just don't understand who co-existence means.?
She adds, "I follow Aisha Christina and I know she's strong. She will not quit but there will be many people who will feel threatened and it will dissuade them, only deter them from helping animals in future. We don't want people to quit on this. We're only a handful of us, working towards it and the last thing we want to people quit. It has happened with me too. A couple came when I was feeding my dogs and twisted my arm, threw away my phone, pushed me. I was so scared for my life as the whole colony was out. I had to call the cops but it didn't help and the bit about physical assault was neglected. I too didn't press charges because I didn't have the bandwidth to deal with it since I had dogs to feed."
?Grateful that we have now stricter laws for animals and animal feeders?
If you want to feed stray animals, then here's what you should know. "It is illegal for any stray dog to be removed from their territory, the one they were born into, for them to be culled, for any act of violence that is carried out against them or against the feeders. Anybody harassing and threatening the feeder is seen as a punishable offense. If you see an injured dog, there are several first aid treatments u can give to the animal yourself till the ambulance doesn't come. Immediately get in touch with people who look after dogs in your area through Facebook and Whatsapp groups and ensure they get the care they need."
?Dogs should not be viewed as trophies - So please adopt, don't shop?
"People are obsessed with pedigree dogs. They're insecure about their social status and resort to buying dogs. Most people who see dogs as dogs would/should be more than okay adopting any dog as long as they can provide for them. If you reject a dog based on their colour, breed or sex, it makes no sense to me. Dogs should not be viewed as trophies.People jump from breed to breed. They bring dogs home without understand what work it entails.I will never send my desi dogs to a home that see them as a compromise, that see them lesser than any other dogs because they are just as good, just as smart as any other dog and they deserve a fair chance too. And if somebody is unwilling to give them a chance, then its truly their loss because dogs are just perfect."
?If you love dogs and animals, you are already halfway there?
If you love dogs and your family is not sure of getting one home or helping you with strays, then remember what this 23-year-old has to say, "Please be passionate, have perseverance and have a purpose. These are the 3Ps to get you anywhere in life and if you love dogs and animals, you are already halfway there, just have a clear direction. Initially I was only feeding dogs outside my home, then I gradually started taking the sick ones to the vet and then sterlising them and that's how the charity became what it is today. So just take small steps and help the voiceless."?
Anoushka aka Modern Mowgli maybe a one man army but she has a lot of supporters and friends pumping her up and helping her charity grow. The influx on her Instagram is huge but she is always available to speak to anyone regarding animal rescues and her love for them on her email -? Anoushkamehta19@gmail.com
