Here's How An 18-YO Animal Activist Is Building One Of The Biggest Animal Shelters In Chennai

In the past few years, cases of animal cruelty have come to the fore like never before and social media helped this happen and rightly so.

From people raping dogs to some flinging them off roofs, the cases are absolutely gut-wrenching.

Facebook

While stories like these leave us all momentarily disgruntled, there are a few who go that extra mile to care for animals who are abused or are left suffering from ailments. Among the small number is an 18-year-old animal activist named Sai Vignesh from Chennai.?

Sai Vignesh started rescuing and caring for animals when he was just seven, and the death of his pet dog Bairava when he was five strengthened his resolve.

"My interaction with animals started during my early childhood as I had seen my grandparents feeding the stray animals. They were my source of inspiration as they always used to tell me that it is important to help others in whatever means possible to bring a ‘meaning to why we were born," Vignesh, a law aspirant, told Indiatimes.?

Vignesh has never adopted a pet for himself but has been a saviour for thousands of stray animals.?

Sai Vignesh

"During the 2015 Chennai floods, I could find homes for few rescued pups. When Chennai was stuck by Cyclone Vardah in 2016, I was able to rescue few birds and pups from the disaster," he explained.

The same year, he turned vegan and today Vignesh's house in Chennai's Alapakkam is home to 15 injured and abandoned dogs, all of whom he personally cares for.?

Apart from this he has 15 other dogs he regularly visits and tends to in paid boarding facilities as his home doesn't have space enough for all of them.

"I also have more rescued animals (few paralyzed, few abandoned and few critically ill animals) at the paid boarding centers as my house doesn’t have enough space to have them all."

"Since we are living in a rental house, we have faced issues with the house owner(s) as we have rescued animals at home. We have shifted around 8 houses in the last two years. It's one barrier which prevents me from helping more animals," said Vignesh.?

Vignesh started an organisation named Almighty Animal Care Trust in 2017 to help animals in a more organized and better manner. The organisation works to make the lives of the animals better by fighting for them legally, rescuing, vaccinating and sterilising them.

Sai Vignesh

"I was fortunate enough to find loving adopters for more than 200+ homeless pups and kittens. I had the opportunity to rescue and get hundreds of injured/distressed animals treated. I have got more than 900 stray dogs vaccinated against rabies and many dogs sterilized."

Through his organisation he hopes to spread awareness among the people about how animals are equally important in this universe and they too deserve respect in our society.

In one of the awareness rally that Vignesh organised back in 2017 on cruelty meted out by government-run pounds, he met an animal lover named Sivamani. Back then, Vignesh spoke to Sivamani about his dream to build an animal sanctuary.?

Sai Vignesh

The next thing he knew, Sivamani donated 8.4 acres of land in Thiruvallur to be used as a sanctuary and medical dispensary for animals.?

"Construction of the medical dispensary is almost finished and now the construction of dog section has been started. We need to build sections for cats and farm animals as well," said Vignesh.?

The animal sanctuary will have four sections to house the animals, a? Dogs section, a Cats section,? Farm animals section (cattle, goats, hens and etc) and Free Medical dispensary with isolation wards.

Speaking to Indiatimes Vignesh said that, "Hospitals in Chennai aren't admitting dogs affected with Parvo and distemper viruses since they're contagious.?A lot of dogs are untreated and left to die. If they're treated at early stage, there are many chances of survival. Since the land is 8 acres, isolation ward can be built far away from the main sections of the sanctuary."

"Also, we're also in the process of selling our house in our native Tirunelveli to utilise the funds for the sanctuary. Even if we don’t get enough donation we will be able to run the shelter with this money we get from selling the house."

"I believe that this sanctuary should be able to help all animals in need regardless of the species, whether it's a dog or cat or cow or hen."

"I am trying to do my best in whatever way I can to help animals – be it rescuing or raising my voice against animal abusers by filing cases or raising awareness about the importance of being compassionate to animals."

Vignesh has also created a crowdfunding campaign in Milaap to raise funds for the sanctuary construction.