“If I have created 10 more animal lovers on this earth, I will have done my duty” said Dr Anjali, a fierce animal welfare advocate based in India. “The most impactful changes are made through altering people’s attitudes.” This insightful learning I gained during my time working with stray animals in Kolkata, India, in the February half-term.
I spent an intense ten days in the dusty and hot streets of the city scouring fervently for any creature in need of rescuing. In Kolkata, stray animals are an intrinsic part of the urban environment; weaving through the crowds of people with a fluidity and ease unthinkable for Londoners. You regularly see dogs lolling carelessly on the side of the road or skulking between food vendors attempting to steal a tasty morsel. During my trip I witnessed many instances of peaceful coexistence between humans and dogs. However, unfortunately in tending to the brutalised bodies of the animals I apprehended? immense cruelty and disregard. In a society where resources are scarce, street dogs are perceived as threatening mongrels who encroach on the already dwindling supply of food and shelter. I encountered tragic cases in which these beautiful creatures were victims of the most sadistic abuse imaginable or carelessly bludgeoned in a road accident. Street dogs are wrongly demonised in mainstream society, the adjective “stray” itself has negative connotations of unruliness and filthiness. Dr Anjali, an animal welfare advocate and philanthropist who I worked alongside, had the fantastic notion to rename dogs without a permanent residence as “community dogs” rather than “stray dogs”. This has the brilliant double effect of placing responsibility for their welfare with the surrounding community and removes harmful associations with which I was utterly disillusioned on my visit.
During the first day there, I worked with an animal shelter. As soon as I stepped through the gate, I was engulfed by a throng of dogs clamouring for my attention. With the help of some other volunteers I distributed over 1000 biscuits between the dogs. Their grateful yips and answering playfulness was enough to instantly shatter the narrative that stray dogs are dangerous. However, many of the dogs at the shelter were acutely traumatised, meaning they then associate humans with danger and aggression. Therefore, it is best not to impose the personal desire for cuddles and let the animal outline the parameters of closeness. The resourcefulness of the shelter volunteers was incredible. They managed to stretch meagre finances to adequately maintain wings for newcomers, cancer patients, road accident victims, recently sterilised and abandoned puppies. What I admired most about the structure of the shelter is the complete absence of cages barring the animals in; the dogs are free to roam the grounds of the campus. This liberty demonstrates their inherent value as living beings or as Dr Anjali would deem “four-legged angels”. My responsibilities varied daily from feeding to providing emotional support to some of the shelter’s most vulnerable patients.
The temptation to descend into a nihilistic despair when faced with such agonizing suffering was a daily presence during my time in India. It is hopeless to consider the extent of the problem in its entirety. Instead, I focused on the task or dog at hand, accepting that my actions no matter how innocuous work in tandem with those of the community to bring about social change. I aspire to continue contributing to the better treatment of stray dogs in London through a small fundraising initiative from which money will get sent monthly to provide for some essentials – even as little as £25 to sterilise (a medical procedure to prevent reproduction) can prevent 500 pups from being born into an agonizing existence. Please contact me at my school email if you have any further questions or want to get involved.
[NH1]Is this a quote from Dr Anjali? If so should be in speech marks
