Sunday, January 14, 2007

Fish marketThis morning, we were met at the hotel by Pradeep Nath, founder of Visakha SPCA (VSPCA). After a visit to the fish market, we head to VSPCA’s shelter. There, the staff has made a special kolam (design of ground rice flour) at the entrance to welcome us.

Nani outside the welcome centerThe VSPCA shelter is a mini-paradise with facilities for dogs, cats, cows, turtles, monkeys, birds and more amid a jungle-like environment.

In the little “welcome center,” we sat and cooled off after the long drive. There we met some of the 78 dogs that live at the shelter. All came from living on the street. There was Johnny, with his stumpy front legs; pretty Jimbo; feisty Chinny; and many others whose names I can’t remember. We were a group of 7 dog-lovers and the dogs relished all the attention.

The dogs went everywhere we didOur tour of the shelter began with the dog kennels, where dogs that are brought in for medical care or spaying/neutering are kept temporarily before being put back in their neighborhoods. We also saw the examination and operating rooms and the quarantine areas. From there, we visited the “Poppy” area, as a misspelled sign marked the puppy adoption section.
This way for mangeThen to the cattery, full of toys, perches, and other enrichment tools to keep any cat happy.

After lunch, we toured the “goshalla,” which houses over 600 cows, bulls, and buffaloes. Their manure is used to create rich compost as well as biogas that supplies energy for electricity and cooking fuel. The compost, which is made on site, is used all over the sanctuary, which is why there is a Jurassic Park-like lushness to the grounds.

Laila on the wallThe other side of the sanctuary houses the wildlife: turtles, primates, birds, and one mongoose. Like the cattery, the aviary was chock-full of enrichment materials.

Cat playing hide 'n seek under a sariAfter the long tour, chairs were set up in a circle for everyone to sit and have tea and cookies. This included the dogs; some hopped into the chairs and stole cookies from the low table in the center as though it was their birthright to do so (which, of course, it was). Johnny made it clear to one of our hosts, Mallika Buddiraju, that he be picked up and soon he was fast asleep in her lap. 

Making dog and cat foodThe permanent resident dogs are allowed to stay out of the pens at night. Raised platform beds have been made for them, complete with cushions stuffed with hay. At dusk, as the humans were prepared to leave, the dogs, having just eaten their dinner and tuckered out from a full day of being petted and pampered, climbed into their beds and went to sleep.


Lunchtime greeters

Goshalla
Parrots in aviarySitting down for tea
Raj, Deputy Shelter Manager,  with "lapdog"  Anna


Mallika and Johnny
Blackie looking cute 
Sharon St. Joan inteviews Gudi
Bedtime