FB plea gives dogs new lease of life

Volunteers, NGO workers offer to look after 130 canines after learning about their shelter owner's death through social networking site

FB plea gives dogs new lease of life

Volunteers, NGO workers offer to look after 130 canines after learning about their shelter owner's death through social networking site

Man's best friend: Ayesha Gandhi (left) and Anita Electricwalla give the
dogs food, water and vaccination. Pic/Jignesh Mistry

The place in question is 15 Staveley Road, located at Gurudwara Road in Camp and popularly called Patel bungalow. Its owner was Dr Zareen Patel (60), an animal lover who passed away in Mumbai on March 26.

Her death orphaned 130 dogs, and as the news of her passing away spread, messages and appeals began appearing on the social networking site Facebook. That is when volunteers and NGO workers from all over the city started pouring in at the shelter to help run the facility and take care of the dogs.

Adoption effort
Anita Electricwalla, who was with Patel for the past two years, said now the primary aim was to get as many dogs adopted as possible. "We do not want them to breed further or stay and die here," she said. A non-governmental organisation (NGO) called the Rescue Foundation has now risen to the occasion and is managing the entire facility, which includes feeding and bathing the dogs.

NGO representative Ayesha Gandhi said they were desperately looking for people who would take good care of the dogs after adopting them. "Ninety-nine per cent of the dogs here are strays, but some are also abandoned pets which people could not afford to raise. All have been vaccinated as per requirements and we will also get every dog sterilised as well so that they don't breed and add further to the dog population," Gandhi said.

Six dogs have already been adopted after Rescue Foundation came into the picture. Gandhi said she was trying to avoid giving dogs to breeders, who have been approaching her in large numbers. There are currently four full-time volunteers from Rescue Foundation working at the shelter and there are 10 to 15 volunteers who come from various parts of the city to come to help.

Special biryani
What has genuinely surprised the volunteers is that neighbours have been sending in tonnes of food for the dogs, with some even bringing specially made biryani and dog food. MiD DAY spoke to one such neighbour, Shehnaz Bharucha (44), who sent two full bags of food. She said she had done it out of sheer love for dogs since she herself owned three canines.

Bharucha also pointed out several problems regarding the upkeep of the place. "The place is extremely filthy and the dog kennels are unsafe. Their dogs also haven't been sterilised and they are just mating with one another," she said. "I've done my bit as a sensitive animal lover."

Another unresolved issue is the ownership of Patel bungalow. Gandhi said that the legal heir to the property is Patel's cousin from Mumbai, who is yet to arrive in the city and make a decision regarding the ownership.

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