VegPlanet — October 2017

Animal Rahat strives to improve the lives of bullocks

and donkeys who are forced to haul backbreaking

loads of sugarcane and bricks for factories. In the past

year, 22 sugar factories replaced 13,376 bullocks with

5,088 mini-tractors and 400 large tractors. Officials

at one brick kiln agreed to use a tractor instead

of animals, which allowed Animal Rahat to secure

retirement for 22 donkeys. One donkey named Rhamba

was pregnant when we rescued her. Now that she and

her daughter, Bawari, are safe, Bawari will never have

to endure the pain of carrying enormous loads of bricks

in sweltering heat.

Thanks to the generosity of others, Animal Rahat had

the resources last year to rescue 103 animals of 25

different species and treat 12,170 animals for various

medical conditions, including skin infections, lameness,

wounds, and yoke gall. Other animals found permanent

refuge at Animal Rahat’s new Home for Retired

Bullocks Sanctuary, where rescued animals can retire

in peace after years of pain, abuse, malnutrition, and

neglect. This year, our sanctuary welcomed a buffalo,

six dogs, 18 bullocks, four camels, and six horses.

To prevent overpopulation and the spread of disease,

Animal Rahat sterilised and vaccinated 239 dogs

for rabies, as well as the entire canine population of

two villages in Solapur and Sangli last year. We also

arranged for buses to transport villagers to a religious

fair, sparing nearly 2,000 bullocks the gruelling trek,

and provided 500 animals with emergency medical

treatment at various festivals.

Rescue of a cow from a 70 foot deep well

Rambha and Bawari

Dr. Naresh holding

the donkey and Dr.

Satyajeet cleaning the

wound caused due

to hobbling

After retirement

of bullock at

Bohali village