Nagpur: It’s been over a month since Lali was found in Dharampeth, her eyes gouged out and bleeding profusely.
The brutal incident of September 8 shook animal activists and lovers not just in the city but across the country. On the same night, the female dog was picked up by volunteers of Rise for Trails, and underwent a surgery, which managed to save her eyes.
Today, Lali is in rehabilitation, learning to walk with the help of smell and sound again. She has found a new home at the NGO’s rescue centre at MIDC, Hingna Road.
Like her, the centre is home to several animals who have been victims of cases of animal abuse and cruelty. Some time back, a litter of six puppies was found thrown near Itwari in a polythene bag. Rescued by the NGO, three puppies were adopted and the remaining three are at the centre, waiting for someone to adopt them.
Recently, TOI had highlighted how cases of animal abuse are increasing in the city. Data available with the NGO underlines it. “Of the rescue calls that we get, nearly 40-50% are cases of cruelty on animals. The situation is saddening, to see an ever increasing number of abuse and cruelty cases,” says Gargi Vairagare, founder of NGO RISE (Rising Infinitely For Social Empowerment).
Rise for Trails is a new vertical of the NGO, which was one of the nominees for Times of India’s Nagpur Heroes. Sharing another heart-wrenching incident, Vairagare says, “A female dog Pearl was run over by three youngsters riding a three-seater vehicle in Jaripatka. They ran over her twice and fled when an onlooker, the informer, yelled at them. Pearl lost one of her eyes and had a broken spine. She was with us for over three months, until she passed away due to complications.”
The animal welfare activist believes that the only way to control growing animal abuse is sterilization and vaccination, which will help control the population of strays in the city. For this purpose, the NGO, which has done over 320 rescue operations till date, has launched a first-of-its-kind mobile clinic in the city which is all set to get operational. “Through the mobile clinic, we won’t just treat animals but also vaccinate and sterilize strays in different areas. We are focusing on a massive sterilization drive with post-operative care of the dogs. We are appealing to people to come forward and sponsor their dog’s operations,” says Vairagare.
The NGO has already started sterilization programme three weeks back. The mobile clinic is expected to be on the road by next week.
Infographics:
CARING FOR STRAYS
- Cases of brutal animal abuse on rise in city
- NGO Rise for Trails all set to launch first-of-its-kind mobile clinic in the city
- Apart from rescues, NGO to also perform vaccination and sterilization of strays
- Members says effective sterilization best way to control population of dogs and cruelty cases
- Those wanting to vaccinate or sterilize dogs in their area can contact NGO on 9307179148