Mumbai, India’s Welfare of Stray Dogs Organization Raises Rs 25,000 for Spay/Neuter Efforts
Here’s some good news from India.
Thanks to Mumbai Newsline for this article.
Garage sale raises Rs 25,000 for stray dogs
Welfare of Stray Dogs puts up a sale of household items, aims to sterilise 40 canines
Nitya Kaushik
Mumbai, May 28: A one-year-old washing machine. An electronic oven. A massive old-style candle stand. Cassettes and LP disks. It is difficult to figure out a connection between these household items and stray dogs. But a garage sale of these disparate items, organised by the NGO Welfare of Stray Dogs (WSD), has managed to raise nearly Rs 25,000.
The sale was held over the weekend in the porch of a residential bungalow at Bandra Reclamation, and WSD plans to use the money to sterilise as many as 40 stray dogs. At a time when the state is contemplating culling of stray dogs in the city, and the BMC is yet to initiate a successful sterilisation programme, a garage sale could indeed be a simple and cheap solution. Recent surveys suggest that Mumbai has about six lakh stray dogs.“Though the funds collected are not much, a garage sale is a zero-investment plan. An animal lover lent us her front yard to set up the sale, and the items were all donated. Our only criterion was that the items should be in working condition,” said Abodh Aras, director of WSD.
The sale attracted myriad visitors — some came out of curiosity, some to help out a genuine cause and some looking to pick a few knick knacks at a cheap price. Even as a little, sick pup (fondly named Babli by WSD members) struggled to find a peaceful corner to rest, enthusiastic housewives and their young children scampered around, restless to grab the best clothes for just Rs 20. Napkins, cassettes, table mats, candles, crockery and shoes were the other items that seemed to be in great demand.
“There was even a washing machine in perfect working condition, but it was picked up on the very first day,” said Aras. “Clothes at Rs 20 are the fastest selling items at the sale,” added WSD member Rohan Mukherjee, “other popular items include handbags and tapes.” While some items were available for a mere Rs 5, a three-piece suit fetched a considerably higher price of Rs 500.
“A few of the items on sale are antique and interesting. Among them is an old wooden wall-clock, which has been turned into a battery-operated one now,” said Aras, adding that WSD received a lot of donations from animal lovers.
“I don’t mind picking things from the sale and donating them back to WSD next year. I am happy as long as the proceeds are used for the wellbeing of a dog,” concluded one canine lover.
i don’t mean to be a jerk, but i think that india has bigger humanity issues than spaying 40 dogs. i’m all for taking care of the dogs, but when people are picking thru garbage dumps looking for food to eat, spaying a few dogs seems like a really insigificant effort.
Karen & Jersey,
You’re right that India has bigger problems but this is a beginning and shows that there are people trying to solve the problems. That gives hope.
India used to have other problems but with people like these working towards solutions. India has come a long way.
It may only be forty dogs now but those forty dogs would have been the ancestors for thousands more. Those thousands will never have to suffer.
The article seems to suggest that we spay only 40 dogs… it should have been that money raised would be enough to spay 40 dogs. WSD has spayed more than 31,000 stray dogs till date and we spay/neuter 200 dogs per month. For more on WSD , look up http://www.wsdindia.org especially the FAQ’s and Stray dog issue section.
Karen and Jersey - Do read on our website ,why stray dogs exist in developing countries. One of the main reasons is that they are pets of the poor who live in streets and slums. Neutering of strays and masss immunization against rabies is benefical to humans to reduce their population on the streets and human rabies deaths.( which has gone down by 60% in Mumbai since killing of strays was replaced by sterilization)
Abodh,
Thanks for barking in!
Please keep us aware of your efforts. Many of us outside of India are pulling for you and the strays you’re helping.
Dear Sir,
I have seen a dog that has recently broken its leg. It is limping very badly. Since I am working and I do not have time I am writing you an email. The dog is found usually in this area. Near Vinayak Ashish Building, M. Malaviya Marg, Near Mulund Telephone Exchange, Mulund - West, Mumbai - 400 080, under the shops or near it. Try to see if you can help this dog. It is a stray dog so I don’t know if you will be able to help it. I saw your poster somewhere and decided to write in to you for whatever it is worth. Keep up the good work.
An alert person
Dear Alert Person,
Thanks for barking in but I would advise you to contact the rescue group directly. I don’t know if they review this blog post on a regular basis.
Karen & Jersey,
When was the last time you were in India, and how many people did you help? If you “don’t mean to be a jerk,” then why not put your energy into doing something better than pointless criticism of the hard work and good deeds of caring and compassionate individuals? Your comment is neither INstructive nor CONstructive.
As an American citizen living in India, I have been appalled by the suffering of people AND dogs (much as I was as a social worker in the U.S.), and have seen the frustration and sadness of Indian locals who seem confused and powerless to understand and help the street dogs of this developing country. And I have seen the smiles on their faces when the dogs receive help, when the dogs are given comfort and safety, and when the animals are removed from the ability to harm themselves and others.
I congratulate this organization and the work it is doing for India’s dogs AND people. Recognition of the inter-dependency of all species (especially humans and their domesticated “best-friend,” the dog) is an important step towards freeing all sentient beings from suffering.
Karen/Jersy
Don’t you think it is better to have a garage sale and spay/neuter some dogs or have them feed the dogs stricnyne and poison them where there suffer tremendous pain in the process of dying, maybe they need help with the vet fees?????
People are so not caring for dogs and i cant guess evn a single reason why.
I like to quote an instance here ,today in the morning when i was about to go to my office i saw this dog being hit by a bus .The poor dog was in much pain and almost fainted off in the middle of the road .For the first few minutes the ongoers did take care of not over running him but then came an autowala and ran over his feet and the dog was already in so much pain that he wasnt even able to shout ..
I tried to pull the dog off the road and asked for help from a passerby and the gentleman completely ignore me ,
Somehow the picked him up from the road and as it was raining so i covered the dog with my umbrella and went inside {was feeling too helpless}
After another 30 mins i came outside to see if the dog was still there and i was amazed to see that this guy took my umbrella off the dog and the poor dog was lyin there in the rain……..
I dont want to waste evryones time here,just wanted to know if there is a helpline no or some dogwelfare society that can be reached out to in such situation.