Sterilization, Animals and Human Responsibility
Animal protection and rescue groups have existed for a long time in human history. One such organization ‘Friendicoes’ is located in New Delhi. It was founded in the 1970s by Geeta Seshamani and Gautam Barat. It is a shelter as well as a hospital for animals. Sick stray animals, as well as pets abandoned and lost by owners, are found here. Sometimes birds and monkeys in distress also go to the refuge of Friendicoes. Around 150-200 animals reside in this place at any given time. Only a few permanent resident animals call this centre home. Stray dogs are also sterilized here on a small scale.
Castration and sterilization / ‘spay’ and ‘neutering’
Rapid population growth within animals is a controversial issue. But these issues can be dealt with sensitively and by ensuring respect for animals. The ‘spy’ is used by removing the reproductive part of the female animal. Neutering is used to castrate the male. The Friendicoes organization sterilizes over 36,000 animals per year. That is the only humane way to control this figure and ensure a healthy dog population.
Common misconceptions about sterilization
- Sterilization is a painful and dangerous surgery – your pet will not feel any pain as painkillers will be given by the vet if needed. Most pets recover quickly and are back to normal after 24 to 48 hours.
- Sterilization is expensive – sterilization can also be considered an investment, as sterilized pets are less prone to certain diseases. Many NGOs do this for free.
Humane methods of sterilizing animals
Sterilization not only controls the population of stray dogs and cats but also helps reduce the risk of aggression and diseases in these animals. Try to take them to the NGO yourself. Enlist the help of everyone who works with animals in an area. Dogs and cats can be sterilized after 6-8 months of age. Be careful with their stitches, especially in monsoons, just to make sure they don’t catch any infection.
Saving Pitbull
Pitbull is a sub-species in dogs, which is apparently ‘trending’ amongst pet enthusiasts in various cities. Friendicoes’ record indicates that the ‘trending’ sub-species are often abandoned within three years of their adoption. To tackle this, Friendicoes started an initiative that aims to raise awareness around adoption for those who like to adopt pets but later do not take appropriate care of their pets. Friendicoes also cures injured and otherwise abandoned Pitbulls and prepare them for their new life. The NGO saved 11 Pitbulls in 2017 -2018 and most of them were able to lead new and healthy lives.
A new haven for the cool cats of Delhi/NCR
The ‘Cat Mahal’, a planned cattery designed for the ease and comfort of cats, at the Friendicoes lifetime care sanctuary in Gurgaon, Haryana was inaugurated a few weeks back. The place is home to over 100 cats & kittens.
For almost two decades the Friendicoes lifetime care sanctuary has been a haven to a lot of abandoned & rescued cats & kittens. The first one of its kind cat shelter in Delhi/NCR the number of resident cats here has steadily increased over the years to the present count of 112. With the addition of the active Gurgaon Helpline for distressed animals, more cats started pouring into the sanctuary in recent years apart from the ones coming in from the city shelter in Delhi. This led to a need for a bigger, better and medically equipped space for the feline residents.
The old building was falling apart and needed extensive renovation work. So the best suggestion was to pull down the whole structure and build a well-designed cat-friendly place. Thanks to the support & generosity of the Marchig Trust, Friendicoes was able to realize our dream for the cats. With well-ventilated rooms, playpens, enrichments, and an enclosed outdoor garden area with lots of light and a fully equipped clinic cum hospital with a separate quarantine area the new home for the cats is all that can be wished for and more.
The building is made up of two floors. Each floor has rooms for the cats which are furnished with small colourful wooden huts, scratch posts, swings, toys and every kind of enrichment to keep the residents happy and stimulated. The caregivers’ quarters are also located inside the new building ensuring the cats never lack company and are supervised round the clock.
And the best part? Volunteers are welcome to visit, cuddle the kitties, groom them & shower them with attention & affection and also help add to the present enrichments. In return, you are assured of a dose of the best “cat therapy” around.
Source – Friendicoes website
When the riding’s done
When a riding club closes down in Delhi where do the horses go? Of course… Friendicoes!
Friendicoes Lifetime Sanctuary care in Gurgaon which is home to 72 rescued & retired horses recently welcomed 14 new resident equines from a riding club. The equines are not only fragile, stressed and underweight but are also suffering from various degenerative bone and joint issues due to which they cannot be used for riding any longer. The youngest one, Tiny is 8 years old and the oldest, Rose is 20 years old. These magnificent animals have a lifespan of approximately 25 to 28 years but due to being neglected, overworked and poor standard of care, they develop health issues even before they touch middle age. Weak animal protection laws and insignificant punishment for animal cruelty acts mean these animals are abused and exploited by their owners most of who put them to work too early and follow training techniques that are harsher than required because they want to “break them in” fast and earn the bucks even faster. Result: stunted growth, bad joints, nervous animals and life span cut short.
What is unknown to most people is that riding clubs can be a very cruel place. The horses are often underfed & overworked; they are let out to ride beyond advisable hours. Many are ridden to the brink of collapse and the owners do not think twice before selling a lame or non-rideable horse to “tongawalas”, brick kilns or simply abandoning them on the side of the road.
So far in 2019 alone, Friendicoes has taken in 39 new rescued & retired horses from the Delhi Police, riding clubs as well as through helpline calls. Taking care of horses is an expensive affair as most horse owners and passionate equestrians would know and we could use some help with their daily dietary needs, refurbishing of stables, employing additional caregivers, and affording the latest medicine & veterinary care. So we are depending on horse and pony lovers to please spare a thought for these rescued animals, now retired to a life of dignity and care, but still needing plenty of support from generous big-hearted folks out there.
Horses are known to have high emotional intelligence, and while they might not be able to read minds but they can certainly read human faces according to a study conducted by the University of Sussex. They are also known to be compassionate with a strong sense of loyalty. History is dotted with stories of horses sacrificing for their humans. All the more to think about and intervene when we see horses, ponies or mules being ill-treated!
Friendicoes finds it hard to say no to any animal in need and because of that our lifetime care sanctuary is overflowing with animals. Please come forward and do your bit to help these animals live the rest of their lives without the fear of going hungry or mistreated ever again. Your contribution can be either in kind or in money. You can also become an active volunteer by coming and spending time with our horses and showering them with some love and treats.
For Friendicoes it’s a lifelong commitment; one we take very seriously. But without the help of kind folks out there, it is a herculean job at the least.
Source – Friendicoes Website