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Journalism of Courage
The only animal welfare directory of the city is in its third edition now; the 76-page directory will help ailing animals head to the right places for their treatment
Often ignored by the onlookers is the braying of a helpless donkey with its legs tied with a rope and so is ignored the plight of any ailing animal treading the streets, striving to cope with its pain in a mute way with helpless eyes pleading for mercy from the people passing by. Even though the pain of these voiceless creatures evoke sympathy, the fact remains that the one sympathising with them does not really know whom to contact to help them.
Updating the directory and getting in loop seven other organisations and also three more individuals dedicated to animal welfare, the third edition of the directory was released this Saturday. The one- of- its -kind animal directory of the city can now boast of having almost every animal welfare organisation in in the city listed down on its pages. 8220;That is what we aimed at when we came up with the first edition of the directory. If you will see we are trying to bring the animal lovers under one roof so that it prompts them to come together to take any action. We are signalling them to come together by making the information about them accessible to all,8221; shares S V Krishnan, founder, BDB foundation.
Proving to be the perfect vantage point, providing the view of the current scenario of animal welfare in the city the directory also has helped many animal lovers get rid of the guilt of not helping a stray in need. 8220;As a mother I can say my kids are my first priority and when I see an ailing animal I can8217;t just neglect my one duty to perform another but with the numbers in the directory I can at least be sure of the fact that I have called for help and the animal will get its proper treatment now,8221; shares Divya Seth who launched the third edition of the directory in the city.
The 76 page directory is the storehouse of numbers of veterinary doctors to animal shelters. 8220;People often want to help the animals but they really don8217;t know what to do as they too have their own priorities and can8217;t go out of the way to help animals but the sympathy is certainly there. So we wanted to guide these people to the right places so that they can help the animals in need. Coming up with the directory was one option,8221; elaborates Krishnan,
Apart from the numbers of the vetenary doctors and animal shelters, the directory under the section activists stores the addresses and numbers of more than 20 activists to which the people can refer to if they come across any animal being ill-treated by its owner. 8220;Donkeys are the worst sufferers. Especially in Pune one can often come across donkeys being ill-treated. Go to dhobi ghat and the sight in itself is repulsive. You can8217;t stand it,8221; shares Krishnan.
With its treasure trove of more than a hundred numbers and addresses of animal welfare organisations and also individuals working for animal welfare, the directory will continue leading Puneites in to helping the voiceless creatures of the city. for the years to come.
Voicing the voiceless the evening of the launch of the third edition of the only animal welfare directory of the city voiced the problems of the voiceless loud and clear. The seminar Diwali Dhamaka Without A Phataka organised by the BDB foundation saw a healthy discussion amongst animal lovers and city8217;s veterinary doctors Pradnya Dhokrikar and Milind Hatekar. The seminar raised issues of the stray animal being traumatised by the sound and the smoke filling the atmosphere during Diwali. Also the fact that unlike pet animals the stray animals have to fight their problems on their own was brought to notice. Thus concluding that the plight of the stray is much more that the pet animals. In the seminar that also had Divya Shah, a Peta activist as one of the speakers the animal lovers pledged to have Diwali sans firecrackers every year. On the occasion also animal welfare NGO8217;s in Pune were felicitated.
