tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12881681410481509982024-03-05T10:46:06.253-08:00Olive's diaryMy name is Olive and I'm a member of the family at International Animal Rescue's centre in Goa, India.Olivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04055213646211828081noreply@blogger.comBlogger113125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1288168141048150998.post-26383530702394144472013-10-24T07:37:00.000-07:002013-10-24T08:14:12.983-07:00And then there was Jim...<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Hello dear friends, Olive here!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Sorry it’s been some time since I’ve been in touch, but it’s been a frantically busy monsoon here at Animal Tracks, especially because of our involvement in the huge success of Mission Rabies throughout September. <b>Over 60,000 dogs were vaccinated </b>throughout selected rabies hot spots in India, including here in Goa an incredible 6000 plus - myself included - and of course all the other Animal Tracks permanent residents.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">During the monsoon from my duty position on the bench near the reception I witnessed an old dog arrive as an outpatient and by the sorry look of him we all thought his time was up. But how wrong we were... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAcamEODMFvwVgoyPPbSN9H8Kj00JCpEwQf3k-oHulet8PR40LoLg7vkHPTF5BDb8clsQnXEgTmPCKbubDH-oMPjAFKVlaRyGzzqDNwIjjTUisUKK5W0jrLvT5tlSzfW4s9inq0W265sON/s1600/Jim+10th+August.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAcamEODMFvwVgoyPPbSN9H8Kj00JCpEwQf3k-oHulet8PR40LoLg7vkHPTF5BDb8clsQnXEgTmPCKbubDH-oMPjAFKVlaRyGzzqDNwIjjTUisUKK5W0jrLvT5tlSzfW4s9inq0W265sON/s320/Jim+10th+August.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">One day in early August while the monsoon raged and the rain barely stopped all day and night, a mangy old dog close to death’s door came staggering from the cliff top in hope that the people he saw in the distance might be the ones to save him. His coat was drenched and filthy and sticking to his sides, showing every rib on his emaciated body. His skin had erupted into painful infected sores and evidence of an old sickness, probably distemper had left him with a head twitch, lolling tongue and unstable gait.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">His rescuers were IAR volunteers out surveying the terrain and stray dog population for the forthcoming rabies vaccination campaign. Maybe the dog instinctively knew that out of all the people he might have dared to approach they could be the ones who would help. Around his skinny neck he wore a faded old flea collar which would have once cost a considerable amount of money: someone at some stage in his life must have cared enough for him to give him this. What sad misfortune had led him now to be so lost, alone and hungry?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Trusting these people, he followed them to a nearby cafe where they had a friend Mira who they knew would provide shelter for them all and where the dog could rest a while and get dry. Mira covered him in an old sack and offered bread and milk. But he was too exhausted to eat and just lay beneath the covers unable to stop shivering. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As night fell and the storm still raged the animal rescue volunteers knew that to take him to Animal Tracks centre so late in the day and admit him to a kennel would be even more trauma for the poor old guy, so they made a call to another friend. Savio runs a popular beach road bar and restaurant, Tin Tin’s, and feeds and cares for many local strays, some of whom have become semi-permanent residents on the premises. Without hesitation or even seeing him Savio agreed to let the old boy stay a while providing he did not upset the balance with the other dogs. The old dog spent his first night for a long, long while in a warm, dry and safe place with plenty of food.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5cfhk64QtJTymjjBMEibd_emnm_OmcioyfZcelpFUgfsJ39JtM-iQKmxgZXP7vjrZgzsiB5FGnJNuYHMi5BsmZqQw5giqRDhA36oYVAu-NEO9YXq6MBoVnjbkZzxiI-8fIaKjyxj0Evbb/s1600/Jim+2nd+August.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5cfhk64QtJTymjjBMEibd_emnm_OmcioyfZcelpFUgfsJ39JtM-iQKmxgZXP7vjrZgzsiB5FGnJNuYHMi5BsmZqQw5giqRDhA36oYVAu-NEO9YXq6MBoVnjbkZzxiI-8fIaKjyxj0Evbb/s320/Jim+2nd+August.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">He had been probably been as close to death as an ancient old boy could have been, but a twist of fate had decided this was not to be his time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The following morning is when Savio decided the dog should have a name, Jim Beam or JB for short. Jim had rested and eaten and looked a little better but sadly the other dogs were not so happy to have him there - probably because Jim was quite defensive, had a lot to say for himself and his loud vocalizing was causing some disturbance!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The rescuers came to visit with a friend, also a long term supporter of IAR Goa and she was instantly was touched by the plight of old Jim. She saw beyond the surface that Jim was indeed a beautiful soul with whom she made a deep and instant connection. Carol decided that although her house was full of many other IAR rescue cats and dogs she had the space and could offer Jim a temporary sanctuary whilst his future was decided and his condition improved. So Carol became Jim's official IAR foster carer. With help from her friend Savita and of course from IAR, the team set about the task of bringing Jim back from the brink.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd3nhLLM4A4y0PbAlRgli39_t8goOtslEv42cGVd_kFdmgoxFaNGWQEPhnR9KkHHZxwY0qLH9qXRInBe5HAGAozOmYK8bq2mc3f_rmnHThIQII_JjmjVmG0eVZ8ypAvj8f1wohAIhPnneo/s1600/030+(521x640).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd3nhLLM4A4y0PbAlRgli39_t8goOtslEv42cGVd_kFdmgoxFaNGWQEPhnR9KkHHZxwY0qLH9qXRInBe5HAGAozOmYK8bq2mc3f_rmnHThIQII_JjmjVmG0eVZ8ypAvj8f1wohAIhPnneo/s320/030+(521x640).jpg" width="260" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">His condition was assessed by the IAR medical team and his sores and wounds treated, then a heavy schedule of medication and supplements was prescribed. But old Jim Beam proved an easy and grateful patient and happily succumbed to regular baths with medicated skin healing shampoo and obligingly ate his tablets concealed in the regular small nutritious meals of the finest foods a dog could ever dream of. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It wasn’t long at all before Jim was looking heaps better and had established himself in the home and more poignantly the heart of Carol....it was decided by the two of them that for the remainder of his days, however long or short that may be, Jim would become a welcome part of Carol's permanent animal family. Carol is not a passing tourist but has a permanent secure home here in Goa and can therefore offer long term stability and commitment which most other foreigners cannot. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">To add icing to Jim's already unbelievable cake a tiny orphaned rescue pup that Carol has successfully reared from just a few weeks old has also now been permanently adopted as Jim's official canine companion. Poppy and Jim at opposite ends of life’s journey have struck up a lovely friendship, each learning from the other and together basking in the glow of a wonderful home where they need never worry or be hungry and frightened again.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhITCHuG_qbo5GP2Pjsd2iQ5SO5vKE_K0ZgUZoluTSosBhUgGNgrOxqVt8mq9YUs5-WYT-95oQQivUzsYevpKrmWAyj3wtUq3JEgERe2wWcGzjbQoqqvco0NKosdoLw307NTiiDk1Gopudc/s1600/039+(640x480).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhITCHuG_qbo5GP2Pjsd2iQ5SO5vKE_K0ZgUZoluTSosBhUgGNgrOxqVt8mq9YUs5-WYT-95oQQivUzsYevpKrmWAyj3wtUq3JEgERe2wWcGzjbQoqqvco0NKosdoLw307NTiiDk1Gopudc/s320/039+(640x480).jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Good, genuine short term foster carers are a vital part of IAR Goa's volunteer programme. <b>Offering one on one care to a young or recovering animal alleviates the pressure from the busy centre and IAR staff and prepares an animal for its eventual release or rehoming</b>. If anyone visiting Goa long or short time can offer this help, the rewards will be immeasurable. This would be a much better option for an animal or a person than the disturbing practice often adopted by some temporary visitors who consider themselves animal lovers, of taking in a pet and then abandoning it or thoughtlessly dumping it at IAR when the time comes to leave. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Animal Tracks is not a sanctuary for abandoned companion animals, the centre's purpose is to rescue, sterilise, vaccinate, rehabilitate and release as many animals as possible. With the help of genuine foster carers and volunteers there could be so many more needy souls who get a second chance at life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>But rarely are a couple of dogs as fortunate or as lucky as Jim Beam and his little friend Poppy, who gently carved out a forever future for themselves with a wonderful lady in the best home imaginable.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Now isn’t that the best of happy endings!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Bye for now,</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Olive x</span>Olivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04055213646211828081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1288168141048150998.post-82104856210804342252013-09-19T04:55:00.000-07:002013-09-19T04:56:51.367-07:00International Animal Rescue: Puppy adoption in Tamil Nadu<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Hello dear friends!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I’ve just got hold of this recent report from our sister centre in Trichy, Tamil Nadu where the team’s efforts to teach people about the joys of dog ownership are reaping real rewards. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Enjoy!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Love Olive x</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>PUP ADOPTION SCHEME</b></span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">by Jothiraj Ratnam</span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">International Animal Rescue, Trichy, plays a key role in the Animal Birth Control and Anti Rabies Vaccination projects run by the local authorities. IAR also operates a free puppy adoption scheme to find loving homes for unwanted puppies.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The huge increase in the street dog population during the past ten years has been mainly attributed to poor waste management by the local authorities. Simultaneously, the increase in the number of meat and fish stalls provides plenty of protein for scavenging street dogs which prolongs their lives, increases their fertility and reduces the number of puppies that die.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Whenever the IAR team goes out catching dogs for sterilisation, they collect any orphaned or abandoned puppies and bring them back to the shelter. We do not sterilise bitches with puppies or pregnant animals.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If we get a call to notify us of any stray puppies in need of help, we go and collect them and bring them back to the centre. Sometimes too the public brings puppies in and leaves them with us.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVvfoYXQ4UuPOztm9tuLtyVOS_slxUnJDhNeQxmNKgyhq8rDow6h73OskR0wgU0fQgqaWgcGfICdIlX1YLDKka4GEXM6lRDSNTLxhTqZ5RdLgzB1qxSUDgSIHOUMMiQ1tIiAMZHPbM-pAI/s1600/puppies2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVvfoYXQ4UuPOztm9tuLtyVOS_slxUnJDhNeQxmNKgyhq8rDow6h73OskR0wgU0fQgqaWgcGfICdIlX1YLDKka4GEXM6lRDSNTLxhTqZ5RdLgzB1qxSUDgSIHOUMMiQ1tIiAMZHPbM-pAI/s1600/puppies2.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two pups wait patiently for their forever home</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We clean and feed the pups, keep them in a cosy place and show them to any visitors, particularly children, who are interested in adopting one as a pet.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The concept of “catching them young” is our approach to pup adoption, in terms of both humans and animals. Whenever there is a school holiday the children throng to the clinic to see the puppies and adopt one. They enjoy taking a puppy home and this contagious enthusiasm attracts more and more boys and girls. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It may be that the cost of a pedigree puppy is too high for an average family, but the children are desperate to own and care for a pet and so happily take up our puppy adoption offer.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDxN88UYo27kyD0iIXuK7cc-azOK1KQSPIJz3EtqNkUox6NhHK2XhHPEP1HcdwSdsNrzCyY7OJd8VBTmGC9NOcvpAG7I7u0YjA9TwnKPGQbD6Ktn_yoyahi7UoOQtlxQqiNNisJYzusktq/s1600/puppies3.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDxN88UYo27kyD0iIXuK7cc-azOK1KQSPIJz3EtqNkUox6NhHK2XhHPEP1HcdwSdsNrzCyY7OJd8VBTmGC9NOcvpAG7I7u0YjA9TwnKPGQbD6Ktn_yoyahi7UoOQtlxQqiNNisJYzusktq/s1600/puppies3.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready to leave the clinic with their<br />
new family!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">When handing the puppy over, we get a commitment from the adopter that under no circumstances will they abandon the puppy but will take care of it for the rest of its life. We provide free anti-rabies vaccinations and a declaration form stating that in future we will treat the pup and sterilise it free of charge. We even offer a suggestion on what to call the puppy, based on our knowledge of its personality.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQsyDdDe8Q7Uz2nyv99-K-2b8XoyMdtOBRLdUevzGfmpLTH2hQqxFIVewx6rTTZmfTFX_YtcoHA48IQee4It1VZvU3z0-wMPGTrYcC2AW95C5P3pkYaLQBaEf7mlbOctlyTaEzxzGNuaef/s1600/puppies11.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQsyDdDe8Q7Uz2nyv99-K-2b8XoyMdtOBRLdUevzGfmpLTH2hQqxFIVewx6rTTZmfTFX_YtcoHA48IQee4It1VZvU3z0-wMPGTrYcC2AW95C5P3pkYaLQBaEf7mlbOctlyTaEzxzGNuaef/s1600/puppies11.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The official handover</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The scheme has become more and more popular. So far this year we have found homes for 15 puppies and re-homed some 112 pups since the scheme was started. By and large we are happy with the people who adopt the puppies and show love and affection for a fellow creature. And this really motivates us in our efforts to educate the public about animal welfare.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Even though it is a small step, it is definitely in the right direction!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.internationalanimalrescue.org/projects/18/Trichy+vet+clinic+and+shelter.html" target="_blank">Find out more about the work we do in Tamil Nadu to rescue dogs.</a></span>Olivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04055213646211828081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1288168141048150998.post-10552276519488289742013-05-31T08:13:00.001-07:002013-05-31T08:13:36.156-07:00Vet students visit Goa<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> Hello friends, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">This blog post is brought to you by two vet students from New Zealand, who recently spent some time working at the Animal Tracks clinic in Goa...</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">International
Animal Rescue Goa (IAR Goa) is located in the village of Assagao in the Indian
state of Goa, and aims to reduce the suffering of stray cats and dogs through
sterilisation, vaccination, re-release and finding responsible owners.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The rescue organisation has
its own veterinary hospital, which has six full time veterinarians, three nurse,
kennel staff, and volunteers. The vets have a bi weekly rotating role. Every
week there is one vet in the kennels, one in out patient department (OPD), and
three in surgery. The 3 nurses would mainly assist in surgery.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">There
are 97dog kennels (which were all occupied at any given time, with stray
animals), 40 cat kennels, two operating theatres, an examination room, and a
radiography and ultrasound area. We worked with and saw a range of animals
whilst at IAR, including cats, dogs, cows, goats, monkeys, snakes and birds.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">In
the first week we were tasked with kennel treatments, which included dressing
wounds, assessing recently caught stray animals, and administering medications.
By the end of the first week we had already moved into the OPD (out patient
department) and surgery.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Our
favourite location was working in OPD. Everything happens all at once in OPD;
there is no isolation room, no treatment room and no consult room. People
arrive at the clinic and collect a number and then the vet visits the patients
in order. The vet assesses the animal, collects history, and treats the animal
in front of everyone. We felt useful in the OPD as we both have prior nursing experience
and had just completed our third year of vet school. The vets would often ask
our opinions and valued our input. We could discuss cases with the vets we
worked with and felt like we made a difference while we were there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">One particularly memorable
moment for us came on one of the first days: we put a nasogastric tube in a cat
which then needed an Elizabethan collar. The vet asked us, “How good are you at
making e-collars out of x-rays?” We laughed at first because we were confused,
but then managed to do exactly that!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Many animals with skin lesions were often covered in
turmeric powder. At first we were confused why so many animals looked yellow but
then soon came to realise that first-aid adopted by owners of using turmeric as
an antiseptic, are quite common and sought out by the culture.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 13.5pt;">There
was a gas anaesthesia machine available, which was used for prolonged and
special surgeries</span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1288168141048150998" name="_GoBack" style="background-color: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 13.5pt;"></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 13.5pt;">. Use of gas anaesthesia was impractical
for the high volume of spaying and neutering being done routinely.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">It
was interesting to us how clients were often involved in treatments and
restraint of the patients, mainly due to the lack of nursing assistance. People
transported their pets to the clinic on motorbikes mostly - that’s just how
people get around in Goa so it wasn’t anything out of the ordinary to them!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">When
we weren’t busy working, we would spend our days soaking up the sun on the
beaches or trolling along the street markets. We really formed some lasting
friends and we actually really miss all of them! Who knows, maybe one day when
we’re vets, we’ll find ourselves back there again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">For more information about IAR and the fantastic work they
do, visit their <a href="http://www.internationalanimalrescue.org/index.php" target="_blank">website</a>.</span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
Olivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04055213646211828081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1288168141048150998.post-19508503322662216172013-04-19T07:42:00.000-07:002013-04-19T07:42:18.806-07:00From International Animal Rescue: Cane’s Sugar Sweet Solution<br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>WARNING: Contains graphic images of injury!</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As many of you may
know, most of the dogs that pass through the International Animal Rescue <a href="http://www.internationalanimalrescue.org/where_we_work/3/projects/17/Goa+Animal+Tracks+centre.html" target="_blank">centre here in Goa</a> are issued with an IAR collar (or belt as they are called here).
They are made of fabric with the words “<b>International Animal Rescue</b>” woven
through and have an elastic join for our comfort and to allow them to easily
come off in an emergency. These identification collars serve as a visual
indicator that a dog has been vaccinated and operated at Animal Tracks, along with
the “V” shape nick in our ears and a tattoo that is imprinted whilst we are anesthetised during the neutering operation. The collars especially can be
easily seen when the Animal Tracks human team are patrolling in the IAR
vehicles, ever on the lookout for un-neutered strays and other animals in need
of help. But of course, adopted pups are never issued with an IAR collar -
those of you who have experience in rearing a pup know too well how soon they
outgrow their collars, so only the full grown adults are presented with one.</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4sdbOLK1pyY98NpHc7LTdE2kjr6yaJbxOCSNjWKzewut0IYeisxwlhnrKJ0UmSVtEJ64F6nQyDA7sPqyc_mWw0mMWLTKRyN1oMS0Deqfsy5ApTmW91RvFp2x14hAm6GkUy9-mc1USNmg2/s1600/peggy+in+collar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4sdbOLK1pyY98NpHc7LTdE2kjr6yaJbxOCSNjWKzewut0IYeisxwlhnrKJ0UmSVtEJ64F6nQyDA7sPqyc_mWw0mMWLTKRyN1oMS0Deqfsy5ApTmW91RvFp2x14hAm6GkUy9-mc1USNmg2/s320/peggy+in+collar.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My pal <a href="http://www.internationalanimalrescue.org/sponsor_an_animal.php?item=1&desc=Peggy" target="_blank">Peggy </a>modelling her IAR collar</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But many animals,
including pets and livestock, are fitted with collars or halters soon after
birth. They fit them for a short while, but not very long at all. Sadly some people then seem to disregard the
ever tightening noose that is slowly strangling the animal and cutting into the
growing neck. Many cases requiring emergency release from tight collars and
neck ropes that have resulted in horrific wounds are seen here at the centre.
We fortunate centre dogs proudly display our IAR collars but how sad it is to
witness our fellow creatures coming in with an entirely different story.
Recently there was a case so severe that we were all shocked and saddened by
the obvious agony that a young bull calf had endured as a result of this type
of negligence.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">At several months
old, young Cane was still snared by his new born baby rope. No one had released
or loosened it and it was strangling him slowly. The rescue team were alerted
to his plight and set out in force to help - it takes many skilled hands to
perform a successful cattle mission.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Cane is part of a
fifty strong herd of free range spirited cattle and capturing him was no mean
feat. Typically the herd will group together and protect a young or injured
family member so the only way for the IAR team to apprehend him was to use a
tranquilised dart fired into his rear. This is a dangerous occupational hazard
for the team of vets; a herd can become very agitated, dangerous and unpredictable
when alarmed. The marksperson’s aim of course has to be steady and accurate and
requires nerves of steel and absolute precision timing. There’s a one chance
shot. Inaccuracy would result in the dispersal of the herd and the lost chance
to restrain the animal in need, or may even result in hitting the wrong animal.
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />
Thankfully<b> ace shot</b> Doctor Nikhil was right on target as usual. But even then
the tranquiliser takes some time to have effect and often the sedated but still
mobile animal can career around wildly covering great distance and has to be
tracked by the veterinary team on foot, wherever the animal chooses to run.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Cane was eventually overcome by the anaesthetic and gently settled into a drug
induced sleep. The anaesthetic dose was determined by the estimated weight of
the calf. Once Cane was peacefully on the ground, his two rear and two front
legs were tied together for his own safety. </span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8-b1YRqNpgD1kaHi5DlnBcgQFG4wGbhDgl2HQ6zhC7hfEFQdjlpYlSrpBTex1kijYjiaeIOyrAHsbxjIjU93aGOVSkIn3FxfEikWnURLrZ8Q5tFFT4fvDXyBtfJ5CaB-hUPb7unAkmprs/s1600/Cane+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8-b1YRqNpgD1kaHi5DlnBcgQFG4wGbhDgl2HQ6zhC7hfEFQdjlpYlSrpBTex1kijYjiaeIOyrAHsbxjIjU93aGOVSkIn3FxfEikWnURLrZ8Q5tFFT4fvDXyBtfJ5CaB-hUPb7unAkmprs/s320/Cane+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cane was safely sedated and secured</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Thanks to generous
public donations</b>, Animal Tracks is equipped with a special truck with the
specific purpose of use as a cattle ambulance. With the aid of a large animal
stretcher carried by many helping hands, the young bull was loaded aboard and
soon on his way to hospital.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Once back at the
centre Nikhil and the team were able to evaluate how severe Cane’s wound
actually was. This poor calf had obviously endured prolonged and increasing
torture. Cane was slowly being strangled by the tightening rope which had cut
into his throat and neck, and become deeply embedded. As the skin had opened,
the wound would have become infected at an alarming rate and become immediately
susceptible to infestation by blow flies who like to lay their eggs in dead or
decaying flesh. In just a few hours the eggs develop into the larval phase
which we know as maggots. Maggots thrive in such conditions, feeding on
decaying tissue, infected pus and bacteria.</span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuxDDu5ok_1h1ZiY8KjmB50Yi_Ldcpc0my0MOo-SRnK_2tNbH6_9k1MoZpRv0UWTg0IA8kpCdwURAjG_-7VjKKbe6BSod8_Fq0_ivUABPIW__v4Z07Un8PNO9RdW2tAs-1wmrCicsgf5Vr/s1600/Cane+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuxDDu5ok_1h1ZiY8KjmB50Yi_Ldcpc0my0MOo-SRnK_2tNbH6_9k1MoZpRv0UWTg0IA8kpCdwURAjG_-7VjKKbe6BSod8_Fq0_ivUABPIW__v4Z07Un8PNO9RdW2tAs-1wmrCicsgf5Vr/s320/Cane+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poor Cane would have been in great pain before his rescue</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Technically maggots
only eat dead (necrotic) flesh, and this is probably what most people associate
them with, feasting on dead carcasses. But any debilitated or injured animal is
always a target for the opportunistic blow fly. As dead tissue is eaten from a
wound, live flesh is exposed beneath it. This quickly dies and festers,
providing a continuing food source for the maggot and bringing unimaginable
pain and suffering to the animal. From the moment a maggot develops it starts
its relentlessly voracious flesh devouring campaign.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">These are pretty
gruesome facts but sadly it’s the harsh reality that has to be dealt with on
a daily basis. Not all maggot wound cases that come to Animal Tracks are treated
successfully. Sometimes the infestation is so out of control and the maggots
have been able to burrow so deep into the animal that they invade the brain and
other internal organs, and these cases nearly always prove to be fatal to the
animal. The poor host creature is literally eaten alive, having first endured a
prolonged period of immeasurable pain and suffering. <b>So never ever disregard an
open sore and always seek medical advice if your animal appears to have even a
small open wound.</b></span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDzxO1jQVa9P8RP48tbyjPbFWsnBYdFNWLOiEHehNhW8EyIK1a0V6d3zvvH8F__JwzCGXTYlrO6wxzfjW_SRLijAsGeyo3evMVOY7VnfrTj-rdDgOd1uU0X27TsCk5bqLFQNc_FHHE6-Ua/s1600/Cane+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDzxO1jQVa9P8RP48tbyjPbFWsnBYdFNWLOiEHehNhW8EyIK1a0V6d3zvvH8F__JwzCGXTYlrO6wxzfjW_SRLijAsGeyo3evMVOY7VnfrTj-rdDgOd1uU0X27TsCk5bqLFQNc_FHHE6-Ua/s320/Cane+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The filthy rope was cut away</td></tr>
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<br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ODM27qBLwoLQcRcMQarolN4Z_EiwBkhHYPpqxTeleHdcD0gnVtOQ7M79zFPGDAXq3v1TZNMZbsdtEZXdMQaLB45Q3MxImkyKBniL7DptBz5E1AdvIXRzQXL_Rsvfljcrv1g9q5WtrOuA/s1600/Cane+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ODM27qBLwoLQcRcMQarolN4Z_EiwBkhHYPpqxTeleHdcD0gnVtOQ7M79zFPGDAXq3v1TZNMZbsdtEZXdMQaLB45Q3MxImkyKBniL7DptBz5E1AdvIXRzQXL_Rsvfljcrv1g9q5WtrOuA/s320/Cane+5.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our amazing team have strong stomachs, that's for sure!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But back to Cane and
his story... The team immediately set to work while he was still sedated and
secured. The embedded rope was slowly and carefully cut free, exposing even
more of the infected and infested wound. Next the wound was cleaned with an
antiseptic wash and each individual maggot removed by forceps in a long,
laborious process. This is a painstaking job that requires a keen eye, a strong
stomach(!) and a lot of patience to ensure that not</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> one maggot remains.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This was then
followed by another thorough wash with saline and an application of antibiotic
powder. But in such deep and infected wounds, the raging bacteria can soon
become resistant to antibiotics. The prognosis did not appear to be very
optimistic for Cane’s recovery, so the vets decided that this seemingly almost
hopeless case was an opportunity to use a tried and trusted age-old natural
remedy: sugar. It may sound unconventional but sugar therapy has successfully
been used to heal wounds and treat pain for 5,000 years.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5RwA8Pm95aGzF0YBaLiY8IxWK4T_5Hf3u2ukcx0AEoyFdhcyBp8lTFrOtk-6sJOORzxQRvrr4oz4C4RBt9-e-hdHYc0LDJSI2S8aJa2n4JNAaKlE21it4yCsauFFPb1cMRIhFIEBu1IKL/s1600/Cane+9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5RwA8Pm95aGzF0YBaLiY8IxWK4T_5Hf3u2ukcx0AEoyFdhcyBp8lTFrOtk-6sJOORzxQRvrr4oz4C4RBt9-e-hdHYc0LDJSI2S8aJa2n4JNAaKlE21it4yCsauFFPb1cMRIhFIEBu1IKL/s320/Cane+9.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The wound was packed with sugar</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Sugar, the normal, household type, was used to pack the wound before it was loosely dressed.
This allowed the sugar to dissolve in the septic fluid and naturally draw out more of the
infection. Bacteria is unable to survive in these conditions so the swelling
and inflammation is reduced. This natural treatment also promotes granulation
(formation of new connective tissue and blood vessels) to the wound surface,
and encourages healthy skin to grow.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Thankfully this
sweet solution (in conjunction with regular antibiotics and frequent antiseptic
dressings) has proven to be very successful with this young bull. Cane
continues to heal and will soon be back with his herd, and will no doubt be
keen recount his experience!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> IAR Goa who saved his life for sure, but the
vital role of a humble bag of sugar in his miraculous healing process should
not be forgotten. <b>My musings are usually bitter sweet by nature but this one’s
an actual sugar Cane sweet success story.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6UUUOHTOM79_gtR520-LFroBfuuTuEWQFcwuUZ0AexPwE3t_rVkRVq2eoXPxVeCBnqlZ97Ab4NR2pp3WbKuezy5zMDROp-jQINFB5qS_t7p2uCwkcvlRbGXYWW9WLUkReBjG95LNIdhB6/s1600/Cane+11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6UUUOHTOM79_gtR520-LFroBfuuTuEWQFcwuUZ0AexPwE3t_rVkRVq2eoXPxVeCBnqlZ97Ab4NR2pp3WbKuezy5zMDROp-jQINFB5qS_t7p2uCwkcvlRbGXYWW9WLUkReBjG95LNIdhB6/s320/Cane+11.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In recovery!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">
This amazing recovery is all part of everyday life at Animal Tracks where
modern, innovative drugs and veterinary methods work side by side with
homeopathic medicine and ancient natural healing remedies.</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEginbrsiW7n6mBKI8x8aif2EJYo19-wVDCcbrqlBfaCk9anr3VrM3R83r3h0600PzPMvAyP-M_yCCDLKs1NA8PsP6QE1nDdhyAJUJLJcoOHPNnXrmCrCQnp1ZGbZF50V8i1ZDNTClDP4vuT/s1600/Cane+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEginbrsiW7n6mBKI8x8aif2EJYo19-wVDCcbrqlBfaCk9anr3VrM3R83r3h0600PzPMvAyP-M_yCCDLKs1NA8PsP6QE1nDdhyAJUJLJcoOHPNnXrmCrCQnp1ZGbZF50V8i1ZDNTClDP4vuT/s320/Cane+10.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The wound is healing beautifully now</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Olivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04055213646211828081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1288168141048150998.post-11420429192084806072013-03-15T04:38:00.000-07:002013-03-15T04:39:40.427-07:00International Animal Rescue: Olive's Blog<b style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">It need never be too late for a new beginning</b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Hello dear friends,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">I’m a dog, so I have to enlist the assistance
of a human to help me write my musings and experiences on day to day events at
<a href="http://www.internationalanimalrescue.org/projects/17/Goa+Animal+Tracks+centre.html" target="_blank">Animal Tracks</a>. Of course I’m not computer savvy and my knowledge of the
internet is all but nonexistent. But I understand you humans are connected by
social and media networks and use sites such as <a href="https://www.facebook.com/internationalanimalrescue" target="_blank">Facebook</a> to spread the word and
raise awareness of creatures in need and other such worthy causes. Love it or
hate it, some feel that it’s a trivial platform to bleat on about your humdrum
daily lives or a sinister invasion of privacy, others that it’s a great way to
spread awareness of important issues and enlist help and support for a
charitable venture. But then you are all at liberty to block, delete or simply
refrain from viewing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Recently the plight of an old dog called Skubi was posted on some Facebook
timelines by supporters of <a href="http://www.internationalanimalrescue.org/projects/10/Dog+welfare.html" target="_blank">International Animal Rescue Goa</a> with a wonderfully positive outcome.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7dA19vHYziB7Ob29YOW8N5kC5MABurSuzVldL3G-ooF0QMzNC0W_4K2yBN9RPFlz3rz8E6tsqTv-Z-kbHsQ8yiLpUSezoh1ctZxTjuw6MBjNOC-kN8WRzJsy2CzpdgwlWe1gxqma87zaC/s1600/Skubi+and+Nigel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7dA19vHYziB7Ob29YOW8N5kC5MABurSuzVldL3G-ooF0QMzNC0W_4K2yBN9RPFlz3rz8E6tsqTv-Z-kbHsQ8yiLpUSezoh1ctZxTjuw6MBjNOC-kN8WRzJsy2CzpdgwlWe1gxqma87zaC/s320/Skubi+and+Nigel.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Skubi at Animal Tracks</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Old dog Skubi had really
fallen on hard times and his future seemed bleak and inevitable. Sadly his
primary human carers had both died in quick succession leaving Skubi bereft and
alone after over a decade of living as the family’s pet and companion. A
relative who came to the house to sort out the affairs of the deceased, finding
poor Skubi, old, sad and alone, brought him to Animal Tracks and suggested that
euthanasia may be the kindest option.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">But of course this is not
the policy at our rescue centre and we offered the alternative which was to
seek a new home for Skubi. But as the days passed there was no interest from
the people who came to adopt a rescue pet, most were looking out for a new pup
or kitten or a mature animal with a lot of life left to live. Skubi, with his
sad old face, droopy inner eyelids and far from perfect physique ravaged by
time, held no appeal for many. But the rescue centre staff, volunteers and all
of us centre resident animals knew that Skubi was a sweet and special still
viable soul and worked hard to find a new home for him to spend the remainder
of his days.</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcd0i4xbaZLw-VKC9Q-7jFqZaCgxd3U8UAr_OOWsVTA_mZIfBT29xfdBGBNn0Lsfqc1DR8CYO6OzIhPQzjlgkiQGOTy3IjdztVr-Dw7FpAr_PgPhgou9tA8oB-M0clo38SY18ZwdtRkLau/s1600/Skubi+FB+appeal.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcd0i4xbaZLw-VKC9Q-7jFqZaCgxd3U8UAr_OOWsVTA_mZIfBT29xfdBGBNn0Lsfqc1DR8CYO6OzIhPQzjlgkiQGOTy3IjdztVr-Dw7FpAr_PgPhgou9tA8oB-M0clo38SY18ZwdtRkLau/s320/Skubi+FB+appeal.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Skubi's Facebook appeal</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">A plea on behalf of Skubi
was posted on some Facebook timelines in the hope that all it needed was one
connection with the human he needed. And very shortly Skubi’s plea touched the
particular hearts of not one but three kind humans. Animal lover and IAR fund-raiser Jenny far away in Scotland had worked previously as a volunteer at
Animal Tracks and was so touched by Skubi she offered to sponsor his food and
medication for the rest of his days. But even closer to home were Dagmar and
Ric who are staunch animal welfare advocates within their local Goan community.
Dagmar too was moved by the Facebook plea and Skubi’s sad face and desperate
situation. The couple who have a beautiful home full of other rescued animals
in a tranquil, safe rural location opened up their hearts to Skubi. They
decided that if he was accepted by the other animals in the house then he could
stay. A visit was swiftly arranged and dear old Skubi gave an almost audible
sigh of relief the moment he arrived. It was as if he somehow knew this could
be a second chance at life and happiness. Usually we insist that an adoptive
animal is kept secure and controlled for the first few days in a new home, but
Skubi’s integration was virtually instant and within a few short hours he was
confidently strolling through the nearby countryside with his new family as if
he’d always been a part of it.</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnswgzaGwxcaEOAyRF5TJwaR4qfCxad41IpNKLHYQZooRJ3VOmScrK0oHFAe1oXfwQLCCSclktaqzhiLnJNOUNsRfGkLIoV_m8yyrTErQmtYYSKqvWpB7ZuA1GPjcQfq7fgxvD_DifaX3d/s1600/Skubi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnswgzaGwxcaEOAyRF5TJwaR4qfCxad41IpNKLHYQZooRJ3VOmScrK0oHFAe1oXfwQLCCSclktaqzhiLnJNOUNsRfGkLIoV_m8yyrTErQmtYYSKqvWpB7ZuA1GPjcQfq7fgxvD_DifaX3d/s1600/Skubi.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A smiling Skubi with his new mum!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Of course we always
stress to adopt a rescue animal and never buy a new pet. But please consider
taking in a senior, we have so much to offer the right human guardians. The
constant demands of a pup can be time-consuming and bothersome, especially at
the house training, shoe chewing mischievous phases.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">
Older dogs have usually passed through these problematic stages and have little
desire to roam or get into trouble, unlike a youngster full of boundless
energy, zest and enthusiasm. An older animal often merely requires some comfort
and stability in his later years and will seek out a calm situation with quiet
companionship and love. Also our exercise, although still crucial, is not too time-consuming
for our humans to cope with, we grey muzzled seniors are happy with a quiet
stroll and seldom embark on the demanding throwing and retrieving of a ball or
other stimulating activities associated with a young pup’s nurturing. That’s
not to say us oldies aren’t always still up for a walk: even if we can no longer
instantly jump to attention, our old ears prick up at the command “walkies” or
the sound of the leash being removed from its hook in readiness for an outing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Often potential adoptees
are put off taking a senior companion thinking the animal will fail to bond or
be too set in his ways. Also the fear of losing a pet relatively soon after
becoming emotionally attached and the worry of age-associated medical problems
can be a negative factor when considering adopting an older animal. There is
basis in fact for all these concerns and misunderstanding, but with responsible
care and diet and huge amounts of love, caring for an older animal in his
twilight years or months can bring unimagined joy and unconditional affection
to a person’s life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The rewards, even short
term can far outweigh the pain of inevitable loss at losing a true friend.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Wherever you are in the
world I ask you to always adopt from your local shelter and please consider the
benefits of an older animal that may well fit more appropriately with your life
than a young feisty demanding pup or kitten.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">In much of society older
dogs, cats, other pets and often people are considered expendable and given up
on because no one can be bothered with them. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Old dogs make great
companions. Please don’t give up on us at the end of our time - we would never
ever do that to you whatever the circumstances. Not all of us get the chance at
a new start, but each and every one of us deserves to live out a natural life
with love and shelter, a warm bed and enough food. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Skubi has been truly
blessed to meet Dagmar and her family and find his final forever home.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> Of course IAR Goa’s
Animal Tracks centre will provide continued support and free medical care for
the next year of Skubi’s life. All funding for the rescue centre is provided by
<a href="http://www.internationalanimalrescue.org/donate.php" target="_blank">generous donations</a>, however large or small, which enable International Animal Rescue to focus on
helping more animals in the future.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNVTcqy2VBJ0SHqZDzcTczNkLxXoYVWrTMednaUwnRnuK-w4OO1xh5krHxCk3i6v2R6SmWTqLFw1oe4os-Gi6-prz9HmqGTf3YOA8d7R5wnL1lW78N0tYg7fMYjlJC_jU3ofJVYGUgff_6/s1600/Skubi+with+new+family.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNVTcqy2VBJ0SHqZDzcTczNkLxXoYVWrTMednaUwnRnuK-w4OO1xh5krHxCk3i6v2R6SmWTqLFw1oe4os-Gi6-prz9HmqGTf3YOA8d7R5wnL1lW78N0tYg7fMYjlJC_jU3ofJVYGUgff_6/s320/Skubi+with+new+family.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Skubi meets his new family</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Skubi has swapped his
loneliness after losing his old family for a wonderful fresh start, a safe
place to rest his old bones and snooze away his days on a luxury padded bed
instead of a cold hard floor . With ongoing improvements in veterinary care,
diagnosis and treatment there is no reason why he won’t live happy and healthy
for a long time to come. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">As with humans, age
should be no barrier to learning and yes, it is possible to teach an old dog a
few new tricks in order to secure his path to happiness. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The moral of Skubi’s story is that it really
is never too late for any of us to have a chance at a new beginning.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">That’s all from me for now!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Love from Olive x<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Olivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04055213646211828081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1288168141048150998.post-74862758444888252412013-01-21T04:56:00.000-08:002013-01-22T06:32:24.563-08:00Theo's Story - from International Animal Rescue in Goa<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Many years ago I
was a stray down on my luck and in desperate need of help. But then I was taken
to <a href="http://www.internationalanimalrescue.org/projects/17/Goa+Animal+Tracks+centre.html" target="_blank">Animal Tracks</a> and somehow became one of the lucky few who never had to
leave. Through the years I’ve seen all manner of dogs arrive here, some pure
breeds but mainly lovely mongrels much like myself.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMn4zB7gnbvEcCzGtDI7vdPAHW_AgWHbwS6lHDi9CaJ7v8wDzElnmI1Cq2YtP-YvAuOh6shm8tLdZ-is7QHaCHYRws7kXjAM6yVLjznrfRF5wdi_QnozOqmWi0Ihozq_ry_6lp0yCo4OMX/s1600/DSC_0061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMn4zB7gnbvEcCzGtDI7vdPAHW_AgWHbwS6lHDi9CaJ7v8wDzElnmI1Cq2YtP-YvAuOh6shm8tLdZ-is7QHaCHYRws7kXjAM6yVLjznrfRF5wdi_QnozOqmWi0Ihozq_ry_6lp0yCo4OMX/s320/DSC_0061.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The work carried out by IAR Goa’s human team involves upwards of 200
dogs and numerous cats each and every month throughout the year, some with
ailments and injuries, or simply lost or unwanted, but mainly just passing
through for routine sterilisation and vaccinations.</span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Recently, from my vantage point as reception greeting supervisor, I
witnessed a visit from a young lady named Monica who was desperately seeking
advice on how to rehome her family dog. Two and a half years earlier cute pup
Theo had been purchased by Monica’s brother as a wedding gift for his new wife.
Although Monica and her brother were both animal lovers, Monica felt uneasy
about his gift of a Labrador pup right from the start.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFzCZcEREDNMngk7MvtQPE2Yp9ab5eL56E2-Hp5jMp4-bLuuW6quLDRisLAh-_0WQoyU-yHvCT57UuVT3EtZAyQukK4b1xAlw6KPhSJ_riQTyNiIjGAIVsqDUELldyHo2b6fxqywof8uv3/s1600/DSCN4760+Fuse+(557x800).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFzCZcEREDNMngk7MvtQPE2Yp9ab5eL56E2-Hp5jMp4-bLuuW6quLDRisLAh-_0WQoyU-yHvCT57UuVT3EtZAyQukK4b1xAlw6KPhSJ_riQTyNiIjGAIVsqDUELldyHo2b6fxqywof8uv3/s320/DSCN4760+Fuse+(557x800).jpg" width="222" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Theo is no lightweight!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Monica was already actively interested and involved with Mumbai’s
animal rescue organisations. She was fully aware of the horrendous statistics
concerning the huge number of animals in need of care and shelter and also the
unsuitability of certain breed dogs for people’s lifestyles when they develop
beyond the puppy stage. But there was nothing she could do or say, even amongst
a loving family sometimes a young girl’s opinion is often of little or no
consequence. Nevertheless the dog was loved and welcomed by the family, at
least while he was a cute and manageable sized pup. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">
But right from the onset the hard work involved in keeping him and training,
grooming, and cleaning up after him was left in the main to Monica. But then,
soon after, the sister-in-law became pregnant and unbelievably her doctor
advised her that it was unhealthy for a foetus to have animals around it….how
weird is that? (I often wonder how you humans arrive at such ridiculous
irrational conclusions).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Despite Monica’s protestations, Theo was banished to the family farm
far away in Goa. His care was undertaken by the farm staff and overnight his
life became very different. Separated from Monica Theo pined and could not
understand why he had been sent away. Of course he was fed but, without stimulation
and nurture, Theo grew depressed: every pet's needs go far beyond basic
nutrition.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Each visit from his best friend Monica left them both in distress when
the time came for her to return to the city. Poor Theo suffered from separation
anxiety and became a very unhappy confused dog.</span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">A further two years passed and Theo grew to be a hefty animal with
boundless energy. The situation became even more problematic when his carers
left the job on the farm. Monica realised then that the only option was to find
Theo a new home. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Often there is much interest in adopting a breed dog that’s up for
rehoming, particularly a free and unsterilised one who, if put to stud, who
could be an easy source of income.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Theo was adopted briefly but proved too much of a handful and was soon
rejected by his new owners, which prompted Monica to contact Animal Tracks in
desperation. Through her association with animal welfare Monica was already
aware of the diversity of work done here in Goa by our team.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTb3dCmFSGZmETRLfV_6XKsOmRXP5zbUkegLgGQvSv8imv8L_Kb7WaupVJdRf1GQabengnHrukUVNiuclA7Qttb2DmOl_ynDh2r6_N_42q_xQGSfFpfjHr9l8_iws2n24esB9HW1a1YoCH/s1600/DSCN4667+(2)+(576x800).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTb3dCmFSGZmETRLfV_6XKsOmRXP5zbUkegLgGQvSv8imv8L_Kb7WaupVJdRf1GQabengnHrukUVNiuclA7Qttb2DmOl_ynDh2r6_N_42q_xQGSfFpfjHr9l8_iws2n24esB9HW1a1YoCH/s320/DSCN4667+(2)+(576x800).jpg" width="230" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bhagat and Theo - together forever!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Of course Animal Tracks cannot morally advocate or condone the
deliberate controlled breeding of pedigree animals, particularly when there are
thousands of gorgeous mutts like myself already born and out there. But of
course all animals are special and precious and young Theo was certainly in
desperate need of some help. This is not the kind of situation we usually get
involved with but we did know of a kind young man who’d adopted a young rescue
puppy recently and given her a lovely home together with another full grown
Labrador that had been abandoned the previous year. Bhagat had experience with
the specific requirements and high maintenance of the breed and was happy to
take Theo to join his family.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Theo had an up to date full vaccination history so no time was lost in
booking him in for the compulsory sterilisation of all dogs and cats that pass
through the rescue centre. The bond between Bhagat and Theo was instant and it
seems we have a happy ending at last for this poor dog that through no fault of
his own had had so much upheaval and sadness.</span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Visitors to the IAR Goa’s rescue centre and volunteers who come to help
out often ask how it is that the dogs here, who are in the majority street and
feral animals, are so friendly and will walk calmly on a leash and allow their
wounds to be tended with no animosity when their own pet dogs back home are
often much more difficult. </span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">From my informed and experienced mongrel point of view I feel it’s
because the genetics that contribute to the character of us street dogs is
strong and healthy and our high intelligence factor instinctively tells us that
these kind hearted humans are here to help us so it’s good to be cooperative.</span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">A breed dog usually comes into existence through the parents being
introduced deliberately in order to create an aesthetically pleasing litter
that perpetuates the pedigree breed, and of course is also a very lucrative
economic commodity. In the wild, left to nature’s devices, only the brightest,
strongest, fittest dogs succeed in mating with a bitch in season. The dominant
males usually have to compete with others vying for her. This naturally ensures
the strongest genes come to the fore and the weaker traits tend to be bred out
of the line.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Consequently a mongrel or mixed breed is generally healthier and less
susceptible to the hereditary negative characteristics and physiological
problems that are exaggerated by over breeding from a pedigree animal’s limited
gene pool. Pure bred dogs are destined to be prone to breed-related issues,
whether they are good or bad. The intervention and breeding of dogs to
deliberately create the extreme characteristics and physical appearance to
satisfy the lust of man for aesthetic perfection in their eyes has in many
breeds resulted in malformations and hereditary problems.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Naturally selected random cross breeding can inhibit the negative
effects of breed traits because of the return to a larger diversified stronger
and healthier gene pool. All of this just enforces my belief that so called
“high class” in both humans and animals has absolutely nothing to do with
deliberate breeding from a selected parentage.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Indeed studies show that the more a dog resembles a wolf, the longer
the life expectancy and the more healthily viable they are. Whether you humans
refer to my type as mongrels, mutts, strays or pariahs…..it’s a fact that greater
choice in a gene pool results in the recessive negative characteristics and
weaknesses being suppressed by the stronger traits that combine to make us
superior genetically, emotionally, intellectually and physically to most
pedigrees. Humans often use the term mongrel in a derogatory way, but
realistically the name ought to be a canine compliment.</span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> Obviously I’m biased as I myself am a proud mongrel of unknown
parentage but the evidence is out there, we have evolved to the best in the
canine world. So all of you humans who are thinking of buying a dog or cat at
huge cost from a breeder, think on and visit your local shelter and adopt a
rescue animal, it will love you forever, cost you less in vet bills, understand
and be easier to train and be more compatible with your so called higher human
intellect. And as for looks, who wants a perfect specimen that is identical to
the next when each of us is adorable and absolutely unique?</span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_fLyhNhc7MT2Mgw5OhiL1tlc1TvKEGjNFU5xirNHapAFNCqk1f1WDfma2ZCB6dYbZXctL2P9-rscjf3f_RL-RTq68EY-F7NjoINu9hyDnWQmK-o-L_oDuzHIkW6m1_L6YaomfDzuuyfyp/s1600/DSCN4700+(800x522).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_fLyhNhc7MT2Mgw5OhiL1tlc1TvKEGjNFU5xirNHapAFNCqk1f1WDfma2ZCB6dYbZXctL2P9-rscjf3f_RL-RTq68EY-F7NjoINu9hyDnWQmK-o-L_oDuzHIkW6m1_L6YaomfDzuuyfyp/s320/DSCN4700+(800x522).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Out for a jog on the beach!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Theo is a soft natured, gentle lumbering boy, but had gained too much
weight with his sedentary lifestyle and was unaccustomed to regular exercise
but is now eagerly undergoing Baghat’s weight loss and fitness regime that
involves a healthy diet and jogging on the beach in the coolness of the early
morning and limitless love and friendship. Theo is undeniably a fine looking
boy, but he’s not without the negative problems associated with his breed. Bhagat knows that Theo will always be high maintenance compared to his mongrel
sister Sally but he loves him unconditionally and for life and that’s all that
any of us can ever hope for.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_I3hdeqcoifeYvT5iBvTzNeRUBnSLc2xiWWA9x2ZSkxoo4a8HM7K7hlB62fvJkuKspiY7Au_ws3IrUiExTcfEGnCqOOOFt_R98NnvuHlrTUFDVlkSk3OTj2tfXe5I7c6J8-h8KBtvvAzY/s1600/DSCN4697+(800x714).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_I3hdeqcoifeYvT5iBvTzNeRUBnSLc2xiWWA9x2ZSkxoo4a8HM7K7hlB62fvJkuKspiY7Au_ws3IrUiExTcfEGnCqOOOFt_R98NnvuHlrTUFDVlkSk3OTj2tfXe5I7c6J8-h8KBtvvAzY/s320/DSCN4697+(800x714).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Theo has already made friends with other dogs he has met at the "gym"</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">
And finally <b>please never buy a cute pedigree puppy or kitten </b>as a spontaneous
gift for your new wife - opt for designer jewellery, not a living creature.
Later if you feel you can offer a secure loving home to an animal for the
duration of its life, adopt from a rescue shelter and give an unwanted or
abandoned dog a second chance in life.</span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">That’s
enough of my preaching for today. I’ll keep you posted on Theo’s progress as
time goes on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Bye for now!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Love Olive x<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5bW15sHTqGR0O7w_ovUDNB9Tltmtc9YA7M3OBAwxnoElQSpr8Rs0g3jnGfMszJsajWSZz8T8NpIEfLqoUDJ3TYms6KxUZXpIQOoMOXtugUY8NPT7h58iVfB0_5ceG5cdVGHG43n6b6o4C/s1600/DSCN4694+(672x800).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5bW15sHTqGR0O7w_ovUDNB9Tltmtc9YA7M3OBAwxnoElQSpr8Rs0g3jnGfMszJsajWSZz8T8NpIEfLqoUDJ3TYms6KxUZXpIQOoMOXtugUY8NPT7h58iVfB0_5ceG5cdVGHG43n6b6o4C/s320/DSCN4694+(672x800).jpg" width="268" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What a handsome pair!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Olivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04055213646211828081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1288168141048150998.post-10799299436579838392012-12-21T05:37:00.000-08:002012-12-21T05:37:10.841-08:00A Christmas message from Olive at International Animal Rescue in Goa<br />
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<u><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The Improbable Love Birds </span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Hello dear friends!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Today I bring you a heart-warming tale for the festive season.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij74FdhgHDUluH60hg0gmUmLMbaEZtmrcGJfOtAf6XTE1FUY3wk0c85qeiuxAcTgxKjfn0CdV8piQ57QbSKgk0INc19l2Vz7Wp9Qzpf_ssjbtEQD-sw4CURPKQha2sfVhlu6m-l5qudCDQ/s1600/013+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij74FdhgHDUluH60hg0gmUmLMbaEZtmrcGJfOtAf6XTE1FUY3wk0c85qeiuxAcTgxKjfn0CdV8piQ57QbSKgk0INc19l2Vz7Wp9Qzpf_ssjbtEQD-sw4CURPKQha2sfVhlu6m-l5qudCDQ/s200/013+(2).JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The shy pigeon</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Recently at Animal Tracks we observed the development of an unlikely
but enchanting friendship between a fledgling crow and a young pigeon.
Unfortunate circumstances had led to both wild birds being separately admitted
to the centre: the immature crow was still unable to fly and the pigeon weak
and exhausted, both had been rescued and handed to IAR as they would not have
survived in their natural habitat.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The two birds were placed
in recovery cages side by side within a larger enclosure used at the rescue
centre to house cats, kittens and pups and other creatures at various stages of
recovery and convalescence. Both settled well and soon began to flourish in the
protected shelter. The pigeon quietly feasted on a diet of seeds and grain
whilst the crow greedily devoured anything and everything offered to him.
Possibly realising that, now they were safe and were fed regularly, no harm
would come to them, they both relaxed and became comfortable in their temporary
confinement. They began to unmistakeably converse with each other,
nattering away together from their adjacent separate cages, cheerful raucous
calls from the crow and soft warbled cooing from the pigeon communicating in
their own private language. </span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJjhUqkjEK78tDWvfguDZmPqvbSlxaY7BeyWRe1maBSC9R2zWXJZ1w9utP_cz0IKaTq-jTfYePgDQzWUlOUIdgKf7swK50ZzpgVdw67G4nsH0q6irTiUtvNUhTUbCLfFmW55Pg2Xhi2MLU/s1600/014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJjhUqkjEK78tDWvfguDZmPqvbSlxaY7BeyWRe1maBSC9R2zWXJZ1w9utP_cz0IKaTq-jTfYePgDQzWUlOUIdgKf7swK50ZzpgVdw67G4nsH0q6irTiUtvNUhTUbCLfFmW55Pg2Xhi2MLU/s200/014.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The handsome crow</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">As
time passed and the feathered friends improved and grew stronger, the doors of
the cages were left open so that they could freely move around the high
spacious animal house during the day and to encourage them to stretch their
wings and attempt flight.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The pigeon was the more advanced and soon fluttered to the high rafters
of the enclosure where it surveyed the crow cheekily hopping around and
inspecting the other temporary inmates while constantly keeping a watchful eye
on its friend. When one bird moved to another area of the enclosure the other
would instantly follow, both gaining confidence and strength and a sense of
well-being from their unlikely allegiance. The crow would tilt its head back
with open beak and gesture the pigeon to feed it just as it would have done
with its mother in the wild. Encouraged by his friend’s flying the crow soon
began to flap his wings and take his first tentative flight into the air,
joining the pigeon on the rafters where they curiously observed all the rescue
centre goings-on beneath and around them. Then a few days ago the veterinary
team decided they were ready to be released and the external door to the
outside world was left open for the duo to venture out in their own time.
Before long off they flew into the surrounding wooded countryside together.</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQamLEwIobcfRTkcJxwIUtL-SS_YS-II2m97Z3W71zwEDGnzNiLMlWm_Yk4ZQfg7ai9ntapnrw1oiAitiQy0oHOZV5Z4PnCW0yb61ltSBogqSEU5iH_vWqTNTXJxeTzB7THPfL-imAQxFZ/s1600/Olive+love+birds+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQamLEwIobcfRTkcJxwIUtL-SS_YS-II2m97Z3W71zwEDGnzNiLMlWm_Yk4ZQfg7ai9ntapnrw1oiAitiQy0oHOZV5Z4PnCW0yb61ltSBogqSEU5iH_vWqTNTXJxeTzB7THPfL-imAQxFZ/s200/Olive+love+birds+(2).jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love birds</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">We shall never know if the two friends will continue to remember each
other or remain in contact, but both of their young lives have surely been
enhanced by the special bond forged during their stay at Animal Tracks. The shy
and peaceful pigeon is maybe still around yet unobserved but the crow is
spotted regularly and visits the centre each day to check on his old friends
and hopefully grab a free meal.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">If asked to name an
appealing or endearing creature, crows and pigeons would probably not be the
choice for many, both birds are considered by many to be universal troublesome
pests to society. But having recently witnessed the joyous
unreserved acceptance of each other’s existence demonstrated by these two
very different birds, free from any acquired malice or prejudice, maybe we
could learn a lesson from them in dignified behaviour and
coexistence. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjObPyGkilho9WNUdM_S1KqLeP2rIoBXR77R_y5aBN8oC5Bfm1dgRPXmgZ6FW_07Xl8U_iYjKzBh8VR-7XiTT2fphqj3TBuyUcoR3iq9nxIoFhSH5hkKypzNnqk9TiPDpj75zz6Bn-svSPy/s1600/Olive+love+birds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjObPyGkilho9WNUdM_S1KqLeP2rIoBXR77R_y5aBN8oC5Bfm1dgRPXmgZ6FW_07Xl8U_iYjKzBh8VR-7XiTT2fphqj3TBuyUcoR3iq9nxIoFhSH5hkKypzNnqk9TiPDpj75zz6Bn-svSPy/s200/Olive+love+birds.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Firm friends</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">These two innocent young
birds, free from the predisposed suspicion and discrimination customarily
learnt from family and flock, have shown that nurture is indeed as
important as nature, they intuitively disregarded the differences between them
and simply accepted and absorbed the best from each other. At Christmas, the
festive season of goodwill when thoughts of compassion, peace and joy are
particularly evoked, it is not necessary to be a Christian or even
religious to hope that we may all extend that benevolent
attitude to all the creatures of the world and learn from, protect and cherish
all the birds and animals around us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">So that’s
all from me for 2012. Have a very merry, cruelty-free Christmas and I look
forward to bringing you more news from Goa in 2013!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Love from
Olive x<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Olivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04055213646211828081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1288168141048150998.post-5783782470551601682012-12-05T03:25:00.000-08:002013-03-15T04:15:37.104-07:00Olive's Diary comes to us from International Animal Rescue in Goa<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><b>From porcupine quills to pickle jars</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Hello, hello!</span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The variety of work here at the<a href="http://www.internationalanimalrescue.org/projects/17/Goa+Animal+Tracks+centre.html" target="_blank"> IAR Animal Tracks centre</a> in Goa
is vast and the team never know what they are going to encounter next. Along
with the hundreds of relatively routine vaccinations and sterilisations each
month there are regular calls to assist animals in unusual and potentially life
threatening situations.</span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Countless hazards can beset Goa’s animals, particularly feral dogs that
live by their wits and learn from experience if they are to survive in an often
harsh environment. Amongst the numerous dogs that arrive daily at Animal Tracks,
this week there were two emergency admissions that had both come to grief but
through very different mishaps.</span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6H39YLyDW4uD_9-gy6A2j5b9JEiGtdgvOWtXhgUbwMVfof6o59eEWLd4VK6YfkkRS8cmHFy_D0wlHfcX2yN4BLEg4ZoZvBuy8gcqL-aj39LBy_7TTBhUj_1755NBkdVd7rIy1GtRg7VMu/s1600/pickle+dog+in+cage+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6H39YLyDW4uD_9-gy6A2j5b9JEiGtdgvOWtXhgUbwMVfof6o59eEWLd4VK6YfkkRS8cmHFy_D0wlHfcX2yN4BLEg4ZoZvBuy8gcqL-aj39LBy_7TTBhUj_1755NBkdVd7rIy1GtRg7VMu/s200/pickle+dog+in+cage+2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The dog prior to release</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">One poor dog had got his head well and truly stuck in a pickle jar but,
thanks to a caring young boy who spotted him and made a telephone call to IAR,
help was dispatched immediately. When Sarvesh arrived on the scene the dog was
so frightened by his own unsuccessful and prolonged attempts to remove the jar
he ran away and managed to avoid capture. The consequences would have
been horrendous for him with the jar tightly jammed around his neck, unable to
drink, eat, see or even breathe properly. Another IAR team consisting of Manoj
Gokul and Abhinand made a return mission to the area and this time soon found
the dog sitting exhausted in the shade of a banana tree, head still firmly
trapped in the jar. This time he was more than willing to be gently apprehended
and taken back to the rescue centre where he was swiftly released from his
suffocating plastic prison. </span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ATVIF2hyQi6Q6wQyulAOqfDmk-1ycVHEJNbIbC7ebbRpTXm9nCVpVBddsZapOyL0S8ePec_OgFEzWvYehn80xuxItI2RJTp0WkQyTlYym6ReTwF7X0N6qtQUBI1sC4XcjcVHYzstUcoZ/s1600/pickle+dog+in+cage+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ATVIF2hyQi6Q6wQyulAOqfDmk-1ycVHEJNbIbC7ebbRpTXm9nCVpVBddsZapOyL0S8ePec_OgFEzWvYehn80xuxItI2RJTp0WkQyTlYym6ReTwF7X0N6qtQUBI1sC4XcjcVHYzstUcoZ/s320/pickle+dog+in+cage+4.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What a relief for the poor animal!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">So please, wherever you
are in the world, take heed of this incident and dispose of your waste empty
containers safely and mindfully. Any thrown out empty vessel can be a potential
trap for some creature. Food fragments will attract birds and animals that can
easily become trapped in plastic or wedged tight in cans and containers only to
die a slow, wretched death.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">
Marine animals and sea birds as well as land creatures are often found dead or
with horrific injuries after becoming ensnared in the
discarded polythene that holds together packs of canned drinks. The
inconsiderate disposal of so many of our everyday items is potentially lethal
for any domestic or wild creature.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">But fortunately for this
dog he was successfully rescued and freed from his torment. He’ll have a few
recuperative days in the Animal Tracks shelter to get over his trauma, then
he’ll be sterilised and vaccinated and returned home before too long.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGIzQj_RVEHeuQaiiz88gmowJCgQTHlYA5feGq5wzLP1bJE8ao_CPLXVe4SH37xjs6P5Bx4oozRUQm8TMjTY1rYnCuzqv_oTe0CJev5N5NEAaHNy8vJxXYvYatoz7nV_SQV7msKz0iTJQE/s1600/pickle+dog+in+cage+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGIzQj_RVEHeuQaiiz88gmowJCgQTHlYA5feGq5wzLP1bJE8ao_CPLXVe4SH37xjs6P5Bx4oozRUQm8TMjTY1rYnCuzqv_oTe0CJev5N5NEAaHNy8vJxXYvYatoz7nV_SQV7msKz0iTJQE/s320/pickle+dog+in+cage+5.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy, but no doubt a bit shaken by his ordeal</td></tr>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><b>The second incident involved another dog that had been horrifically
impaled in the throat by a porcupine quill.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Porcupines are relatively slow moving creatures that dispense with
predators by backing into them using the quills as weapons which are painfully
embedded into their pursuers. The expelled quills then regrow to maintain the
porcupine’s highly effective armour.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuVmmoHsy65jnxvXOSvC7wNkkLUAHhQsvXx3prdxk9HvagCsOyMn5CZY8fFEy22c4NhltbEo3P_fI1oADlOSqcaVHUm8zEmHwLsMeMoCZAjfi0EiKtvZw1RbBIzsgF5m5TBWMt_nFASSwU/s1600/porcupine+quill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuVmmoHsy65jnxvXOSvC7wNkkLUAHhQsvXx3prdxk9HvagCsOyMn5CZY8fFEy22c4NhltbEo3P_fI1oADlOSqcaVHUm8zEmHwLsMeMoCZAjfi0EiKtvZw1RbBIzsgF5m5TBWMt_nFASSwU/s320/porcupine+quill.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The quill was firmly stuck in the poor dog's throat</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Having survived the injury, but still with the sharp quill implanted
deep into his neck and painful infection setting in to the wound, the poor
creature had sought sanctuary on the balcony of a local school. The concerned
children alerted the office staff who called for IAR assistance and Krishna and
Sanda were sent to the scene. The highly efficient defence mechanism of the
porcupine would so surely have proved fatal for this poor dog had it not been
for the prompt and expert veterinary treatment he received on his admission to
Animal Tracks from Dr Manik and vet nurse Maruti. Together they carefully
removed the 9 inch quill that was embedded 4 inches into the throat of the dog!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">This dog will of course need to stay at the centre for a time while his
deep infected wound heals with the administration of regular medication in the
clean kennel environment, but then he too will be sterilised, vaccinated and
taken home. </span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw8EkMiAodqwIoWj2R4RJ2gAOGsrb2Z-o7wfG0wINEwHjaQqhE0jXHk69YIf3br-3Gbk_0Z28fstvQtEwPyZYluxMkfvq4RXCenlzkYQpShAdrKpvtjbPgfeXkjwgO8Ir-Wp8qbXkW5Lb6/s1600/porcupine+quill+out2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw8EkMiAodqwIoWj2R4RJ2gAOGsrb2Z-o7wfG0wINEwHjaQqhE0jXHk69YIf3br-3Gbk_0Z28fstvQtEwPyZYluxMkfvq4RXCenlzkYQpShAdrKpvtjbPgfeXkjwgO8Ir-Wp8qbXkW5Lb6/s400/porcupine+quill+out2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This dog is lucky to be alive</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">We’d like to hope that both dogs have learnt from these near death
experiences and will consider carefully the consequences of messing with a
porcupine or jamming your head in a pickle jar!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">But if not help will always be at hand from everyone at Animal Tracks
and the caring people who alert the centre to animals in need.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">That’s all from me for now!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Love Olive x</span></div>
Olivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04055213646211828081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1288168141048150998.post-88193951343663933362012-11-12T04:10:00.000-08:002012-11-12T04:10:03.591-08:00What A Difference A Month Makes<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Hello my friends</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">World Animal Day on 4th October every year is a global celebration
for human beings to acknowledge their fellow creatures. It was established in 1931 by ecologists in
Italy to heighten the awareness of endangered species. Since then animal lovers
around the world identify 4th October as a day to display their compassion and
united support for the plight of all animals, whether they be companions,
support, or simply wild creatures in need of our protection.</span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">World Animal Day is an affirmation of our appreciation of how all
animals enhance the lives of us humans.</span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Ironically a young male German Shepherd was found by the<a href="http://www.internationalanimalrescue.org/where_we_work/3/projects/17/Goa+Animal+Tracks+centre.html" target="_blank"> Animal Tracks</a>
team after he had been abandoned close to the rescue centre on 4<sup>th</sup>
October. He was hardly recognisable as a German Shepherd, he was in such
appalling condition. He had a chronic skin infection, sparse patchy fur and was
malnourished to the point of starvation. Of course as always IAR sprang to his
aid and took him into the kennels where he received intensive care and kindness
and the nutritional food he had so obviously been without. </span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxhW3Fv6dLwDXts5ycHEnKeWtw3hp-zVQkEDTtqfcwhdciKTHZumiYtGTVfp8MZBYH7iiyQgqIo2k8ndYnS0IvruTy4jsxvjpu8caCWMbuwAcOVPPNc7CnqTAoPY08Un9DoPnNvfwR1Blz/s1600/BrunoBefore.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxhW3Fv6dLwDXts5ycHEnKeWtw3hp-zVQkEDTtqfcwhdciKTHZumiYtGTVfp8MZBYH7iiyQgqIo2k8ndYnS0IvruTy4jsxvjpu8caCWMbuwAcOVPPNc7CnqTAoPY08Un9DoPnNvfwR1Blz/s320/BrunoBefore.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poor Bruno was in a sorry state when he was taken in by IAR Goa</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">We can never know the torment and neglect that the poor creature
suffered before he was rescued but what we do know is that he has found his
human. A lovely local man called Gopi agreed to adopt him and named him Bruno.
Needless to say IAR Goa will provide the obligatory back up and support and the
first year’s free veterinary care should Bruno need it.<br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSDhGeL99aQqZNkpM5fd8X2U3PL3-sv9LWY8WVlZhJopydqo8dCO74rI_cuW3bh9BmEPh0ODWzbdyv9VHsHcsu8KJpNOcizuuS3tXtNqQmoe7OldpB1XRZppLEKqv5RVr9KzaHs0Oesm3T/s1600/BrunoAfter.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSDhGeL99aQqZNkpM5fd8X2U3PL3-sv9LWY8WVlZhJopydqo8dCO74rI_cuW3bh9BmEPh0ODWzbdyv9VHsHcsu8KJpNOcizuuS3tXtNqQmoe7OldpB1XRZppLEKqv5RVr9KzaHs0Oesm3T/s320/BrunoAfter.JPG" width="242" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bruno is now recovering well with treatment from <br />IAR Goa and a new loving home with Gopi</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: start;">Tragically there seems to be an ever increasing amount of pedigree dogs that come to be abandoned and in similar condition: these dogs are bred purely to be sold as a commodity and satisfy the greed of man. Why breed dogs and cats when there are countless wonderful animals already born? Pedigrees are not nearly as hardy, economical or easy to feed and maintain as the indigenous Goan dogs who thrive on affection and would be your friend for life given half a chance.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Of course Bruno has been saved and his future welfare will be observed
but there are countless others out there who are not so fortunate.<br />
<br />
Animal Tracks has a constant flow of cats and dogs for re homing, all seeking
the salvation of a good caring local home. The photographs of Bruno were taken
just five weeks apart and are undeniable evidence of how rapidly healing
can occur when we open our hearts to embrace a rescue animal like
Bruno.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">That’s all from me for now!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Love Olive x</span></div>
Olivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04055213646211828081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1288168141048150998.post-13682662036482001812012-10-31T09:04:00.000-07:002012-10-31T09:04:38.385-07:00Alfie gets a glowing progress report<br />
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Hello hello</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">After suffering a horrible setback when he was only three months
old, young dog Alfie and his brother Race are reported to be healthy happy
hounds enjoying the best that life in Goa can offer, including the love and care
of the local community. Some people can’t tell the twins apart, but we dogs
have no such trouble with our canine friends – it’s not about the look, it’s
all about the smell! Alfie now lives
with his former foster carers Jan and Nigel, but spends hours on the beach with
his brother and the rest of the pack.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Not everyone has heard the story of Alfie’s
earlier misfortunes, so let me fill you in. And even if you are reading it for
a second time, you may need to have some tissues at the ready ...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU7XJ27l_JhyphenhyphenfdRS1A4OeAvyOW7b1yX3PGOYjXTQLPrpqPLK0W0R4H4ZsM6x1sBrLgBw9lX6rd1KYhWoLY7InpyDdbgus0ZfmIafqxmY9doelwSteZBUpG73Q1dKUryZMTOTb84OCN1P9l/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU7XJ27l_JhyphenhyphenfdRS1A4OeAvyOW7b1yX3PGOYjXTQLPrpqPLK0W0R4H4ZsM6x1sBrLgBw9lX6rd1KYhWoLY7InpyDdbgus0ZfmIafqxmY9doelwSteZBUpG73Q1dKUryZMTOTb84OCN1P9l/s200/1.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Like two peas in a pod!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Alfie and his twin brother Race enjoyed a
seemingly safe and almost idyllic existence within the small semi-feral
pack of dogs that live in the vicinity of a cluster of quiet guest houses
nestled between palm groves behind the dunes of a large expanse of unspoilt
beach. All the dogs were happy and healthy. Alfie's mum Lemon had recently been
sterilised and vaccinated and the entire pack's welfare was being monitored by
IAR Goa. When the time came the twins were also scheduled to be vaccinated and
sterilised.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">But
one day when they were only about three months old a proprietor of one of the
guest houses, who had recently happily adopted an IAR rescue cat, called to
alert IAR that one of the pups had been involved in an incident and had a
severe facial injury. IAR volunteers immediately went to investigate and found
the poor terrified pup in a horrible state. They took him to Animal Tracks
where he was seen immediately and given shock reducing and painkilling
injections, he was then examined and X-rayed which revealed his jaw had been
broken in three places, through both sections of his chin and again at one hinge
joint.</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEideqkp4rvw95JV3LvwWJXMwMvG6DIXg8jtCNScsJm7HTtyHQdTdO8e4EBEckEtt-2EH3vZVeoA7mRrIM5iDnBFpAtkDqaGnCEDmQdJ-Kogyv9y0yqT5zW1toVPSXcmvHThagjVRzem-1_T/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEideqkp4rvw95JV3LvwWJXMwMvG6DIXg8jtCNScsJm7HTtyHQdTdO8e4EBEckEtt-2EH3vZVeoA7mRrIM5iDnBFpAtkDqaGnCEDmQdJ-Kogyv9y0yqT5zW1toVPSXcmvHThagjVRzem-1_T/s200/2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poor Alfie's broken face</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">No
external wounds were visible but his teeth were smashed. The conclusion was
that the damage to Alfie's bones must have occurred through a heavy impact
aimed directly to his jaw. The awful fact dawned on his rescuers that this was
not an injury sustained by attack from another dog or even a road traffic
accident, but that Alfie had actually been hit in the face by a person most
probably wielding a heavy stick or some other implement.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">But
at such a young age the vets knew it was still possible for the growing pup's
soft bones to heal, despite the extent of the damage, but to immobilise his jaw
in order for this to take place would involve prolonged and intensive
aftercare. With a massive amount of animals in need of care constantly arriving
at Animal Tracks each and every day this degree of round the clock nursing
would be very difficult and time-consuming for the busy staff to undertake, so
two long-term volunteers very kindly agreed to take on the case and care for
Alfie at their home.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHKtBwaB7LhqxM-wkvIMhgrs00F6mIgMTkbCjO6yQGwm6qFilCUPpYRlDD_uhchdgaroTLKzjWmsIkkSHklw_tqEkEoYHcJLPdCp90F4XAXvIRZhRyefVTSGybv3W11oO9xMyJuEJxz7WD/s1600/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHKtBwaB7LhqxM-wkvIMhgrs00F6mIgMTkbCjO6yQGwm6qFilCUPpYRlDD_uhchdgaroTLKzjWmsIkkSHklw_tqEkEoYHcJLPdCp90F4XAXvIRZhRyefVTSGybv3W11oO9xMyJuEJxz7WD/s320/6.jpg" width="311" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Skilful work by our fantastic team</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br />
Alfie was anaesthetised whilst his face was put back into position, stitched
through the jaw bones and firmly bandaged and taped up. In order to medicate
and feed him without the use of his mouth, an incision was made and an
oesophagus tube inserted through Alfie's neck and the arduous healing process
began. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">The
most difficult part of the task would be to ensure he received enough
liquidised food to sustain him through a long period of crucial growth and
healing. Alfie was fed and medicated by slowly and frequently syringing the
processed mixture into the tube, ensuring he received small sustaining amounts
at regular intervals. For the first few days he was heavily sedated with pain
relieving drugs and antibiotics and put up little resistance to his new
situation and was a willing and cooperative patient.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Despite
having been attacked in such a cruel and brutal way, Alfie strangely did not
appear to fear his human carers, it was as if somehow he understood why this
was all happening and that it was necessary in order for them to help him live.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Voiceless,
Alfie’s only means of communication was through the expression in his sad eyes,
the rest of his face was swathed in bandages and surrounded by a plastic
Elizabethan collar all stitched to a body harness to ensure his jaw was kept
clean, protected and immobile. Gradually the bones began to mend and Alfie's
regular check-ups at the Animal Tracks outpatients department showed he was
healing well and gaining weight despite his very restricted and unusual feeding
programme that bypassed his mouth and went straight to the stomach. </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidFerNJ1hkjtVQ_z3OrCQ3Q3b9vWyERvkWbblfEVNUL0rx0Gbs8L8-gflaOXyPl8R7NEvNLMusPMMi61wkIqiagDjx-LOmJlXkzHfSXVBgoWBjOLvPaah4zbiwXtTM7KVH16uO3IfVLPvU/s1600/7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidFerNJ1hkjtVQ_z3OrCQ3Q3b9vWyERvkWbblfEVNUL0rx0Gbs8L8-gflaOXyPl8R7NEvNLMusPMMi61wkIqiagDjx-LOmJlXkzHfSXVBgoWBjOLvPaah4zbiwXtTM7KVH16uO3IfVLPvU/s320/7.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heavily sedated after his operation</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Poor
Alfie could not understand why he could not chew and taste and poke his nose
into everything and all the other things an active young pup would normally do.
But he became quite a celebrity amongst the local community, receiving many
well-wishing visitors at his foster home who were all eager for the pup to
recover and interested in the healing process.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Finally,
after 28 long days and nights, the long-awaited appointment came for the
bandages and tube to be removed and for the first time Alfie's sweet face was
fully visible. Most of Alfie's human friends had only ever seen him shrouded in
bandages and the ever present restrictive but essential protective Elizabethan
collar. Despite losing a few teeth, Alfie's profile was amazingly perfect,
entirely thanks to the care of the entire Animal Tracks veterinary team, particularly
expert renowned orthopaedic surgeon Nikhil.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeqZFD1zWTF_siFxmqiITb1QSA-kKBYLLo9TbOcTyzwl4AjveYQxgCDdQvucBGf_mOuGU1CONAaJkPpOxD0BireO8vyohskfZyadPmTsxIzlE_WVFUa0Y6_MR0uUe9cC9DerHzeKDbLFG_/s1600/11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeqZFD1zWTF_siFxmqiITb1QSA-kKBYLLo9TbOcTyzwl4AjveYQxgCDdQvucBGf_mOuGU1CONAaJkPpOxD0BireO8vyohskfZyadPmTsxIzlE_WVFUa0Y6_MR0uUe9cC9DerHzeKDbLFG_/s320/11.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alfie after his bandages and cone were removed</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br />
And so the young pup that had spent a great portion of his short life
restricted from using his nose and mouth was able to enjoy solid food, drinking
and freedom for the first time in weeks. Soon he began to gain weight and play
and interact with the other neighbourhood dogs and animals at his foster home
almost as if the awful trauma had never happened.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">But
sadly the weeks away from Lemon and Race had been too long for him to be reintegrated
back to the semi-wild pack, Alfie's dependency on human care had become such
that he has been taken as a permanent member of the foster household where he
healed. But as it's close to his old canine family he still gets to visit and
run with his old pack on the beach and now bears few mental or physical scares
from his ordeal, apart from having an understandable terror of anyone holding a
stick. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs9wORFjsrh_aJ7hEOf0Hx50nH_MVXF5Hc5nAF74oxuDOS2AVO2R3t8vf_u5MJQddh_8cb_dEEiOPTEaZnCL9byFFTjB-aa7pq8WckAmOJ_X_eZRGHhVXXet7CZ617jLNmntCk-BJ5TrAX/s1600/14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs9wORFjsrh_aJ7hEOf0Hx50nH_MVXF5Hc5nAF74oxuDOS2AVO2R3t8vf_u5MJQddh_8cb_dEEiOPTEaZnCL9byFFTjB-aa7pq8WckAmOJ_X_eZRGHhVXXet7CZ617jLNmntCk-BJ5TrAX/s320/14.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alfie and Race enjoying some beach time with a friend!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Seeing
Alfie and Race tumbling in the surf, play biting and fighting and simply
revelling in each other's company is a joy to behold, especially as neither Alfie
nor countless other dogs would be alive at all if not for the intervention and
care of the wonderful IAR Goa team and volunteers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">That’s
enough from me for now!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Love
Olive x</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/oSkAq16rH1M?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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Olivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04055213646211828081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1288168141048150998.post-10588234971352828352012-10-24T03:27:00.003-07:002012-10-24T03:34:16.951-07:00Double Trouble for Chutki<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Hello
my friends<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Today
I bring you a sweet story which illustrates just how much we dogs in Goa depend
on humans like you to look out for us and step in when things go wrong.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">There
are literally thousands of stray dogs living in Goa: indeed I was one of them
until IAR saved my life and gave me a home.Thankfully, just like me, a massive
proportion has been treated by IAR at various stages of their lives and many
have been sterilised, vaccinated and returned to their area. These feral dogs
do not necessarily desire or need to be treated as pets and can lead a
contented, social existence amongst their small or extended packs and usually
keep within the laws of canine territorial boundaries that govern how things
work in the world of dogs. This is an alien concept to most of the western
world where the idea of stray animals is synonymous with human abandonment or
neglect. Of course if humans offer a helping hand by giving food or providing
some shelter from the elements, this is an extremely welcome bonus. But if the
animals are not sick or breeding out of control and fighting for territory,
life as a free dog really can be a good one. And to coexist within your pack
amongst a tolerant human community is not such a bad place for a dog to be. </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Some
prefer to avoid the close company of people whilst others enjoy the
relationship and choose to live alongside their human friends. These social
dogs are widely accepted as an enhancement in many communities and are happily
tolerated without actual encouragement. The dogs offer protection from
intruders and alert communities to snakes and other potential dangers in
exchange for a little food and shelter. </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">A
street dog named Chutki is one such animal. She has no owner or specific human
companion but is viewed as a friend by many local vendors and semi-permanent
seasonal workers who make a living selling food, trinkets and artefacts to the
tourists drawn to the scenic clifftop location where she roams. And these locals look out for Chutki and feed
her. So when she developed a large swelling on her side, the locals were quick
to alert the IAR volunteers living close by who they know to be associated with
Animal Tracks and would offer help to any creature in need.<br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">
Chutki was contained within one of the small shops, making it relatively easy
for the rescue team to catch and admit her for treatment at Animal Tracks.
Chutki was examined by a duty vet and diagnosed with a fast growing and
potentially dangerous haematoma. Often these blood- filled swellings will burst
and become infected with potentially lethal consequences. Lucky for Chutki, she
was given the necessary drugs and the swelling responded quickly and favourably
and began to recede without the need for surgical intervention. Within a couple
of weeks she had recovered enough to be returned to her patch and was welcomed
home by all.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdMrK3rBwGaaFHvAtV-0S799mfcS2QhOZdLub6XVovcig9q5YYmvusDB4oinAcex8FwcEzB2aqPbIDHtb08U6EwOO7BXD6HW-ul16vR-xRqNUixItOpIAWCPzxOMq-Ui8X0D_yFJoVO_r7/s1600/Chutki+wound+1st+day.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdMrK3rBwGaaFHvAtV-0S799mfcS2QhOZdLub6XVovcig9q5YYmvusDB4oinAcex8FwcEzB2aqPbIDHtb08U6EwOO7BXD6HW-ul16vR-xRqNUixItOpIAWCPzxOMq-Ui8X0D_yFJoVO_r7/s320/Chutki+wound+1st+day.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poor Chutki with her injury</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">
But then only a matter of days later she was in trouble once more. The same IAR
helpers were asked to take a look at Chutki after her friends reported that she
had sustained a gory injury whilst chasing a cat. During the pursuit through
the undergrowth she had managed to get herself virtually impaled on a jagged
tree stump. The impact had torn a deep hole in her side which would certainly have
led to a painful and lingering death if not for her human friends who alerted IAR
once again. An animal ambulance was called in order to transport the injured
and bleeding Chutki gently to Animal
Tracks. For her own safely she was contained within a travel cage as is the
norm for a wounded animal. </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">On
arrival at the centre she was examined by the duty vet and injected with
medication to help ease the pain and shock. The deep cut was fresh but
contaminated by splinters and debris. Immediate surgery was necessary to clean
and close the wound, as without prompt action infection would have set in and
threatened Chutki's life. In the tropical Goan environment untreated wounds can
fester and become poisoned in a few hours. </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVWuu5HepFe7izJLlj2Wy9Ieoy0qwERz3hO8Q6WxlkRjC17BtNQ0DuDSGmARazRRBuy8AJoklEIMLp7n0UmypKUFvzdDLF5Kmmtnk49Ng-FKtyLizpbUi8SnGVGbvG8iJNbOzUMf8lBb7r/s1600/Chutki+wound+wet+but+healing.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVWuu5HepFe7izJLlj2Wy9Ieoy0qwERz3hO8Q6WxlkRjC17BtNQ0DuDSGmARazRRBuy8AJoklEIMLp7n0UmypKUFvzdDLF5Kmmtnk49Ng-FKtyLizpbUi8SnGVGbvG8iJNbOzUMf8lBb7r/s200/Chutki+wound+wet+but+healing.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Luckily she recovered well</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">After
the emergency surgery the long healing process began, but this time Chutki knew
that she would be returned home eventually as she could recall positive
memories of her previous recent stay at Animal Tracks. Chutki knew she was in
good hands and was a cooperative patient resigned to another enforced captivity
whilst she recovered.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">And before too long she was returned home to
yet another warm welcome by canine and human friends alike. The warm
relationship that has developed between this street dog and the humans with
whom she coexists has saved her life twice within a very short space of time.
Let's hope that after these recent incidents Chutki manages to stay out
of harm's way from now on, but if not there will always be caring watchful eyes
looking out for this fortunate dog who is owned by no one but befriended by
all.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKysJ2rt_w5GQqKg_HzKTzyhzeXvEBBkwxzB3g2tTi2bzlOqPEABnDyfrbC-DM5hSkjKza1DvByypRoqGQrpDoMlABDjIa67OSJ0nXwHT1-mM2_Iw9XUIhEFN6JUBTQphsJ8_-zNK8xBFU/s1600/Chutki+2nd+release+day.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKysJ2rt_w5GQqKg_HzKTzyhzeXvEBBkwxzB3g2tTi2bzlOqPEABnDyfrbC-DM5hSkjKza1DvByypRoqGQrpDoMlABDjIa67OSJ0nXwHT1-mM2_Iw9XUIhEFN6JUBTQphsJ8_-zNK8xBFU/s320/Chutki+2nd+release+day.JPG" width="264" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look at that beautiful face!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">That’s all for now!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Love Olive x<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Olivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04055213646211828081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1288168141048150998.post-33997696383685710812012-09-24T08:56:00.000-07:002012-09-24T08:56:39.895-07:00Axle the Accidental Adventurer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hello my friends!<br />
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When Mr Shabudin Emeti started up the engine of his truck early one recent Sunday morning for the round trip from his home in the market town of Mapusa to Panjim city, he was oblivious to the secret stowaway he was taking along for the journey!<br />
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He parked the vehicle in the city and was away on some business matter for only a few minutes. On his return some bystanders who’d witnessed him arrive alerted Shabudin that they could see a dog beneath the truck cowering and balanced on the fuel tank between the body underside and the driveshaft (or rear axle), and that the dog had been there when he arrived.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiI4Hzpajn8FUbeJ6LH2uklROCr43lhg9RsAmJ8nXmZ8JxI7bBZinqT0hJ6pvk8YNvM5NcySohr97hSuZcOxn_Foh8agJSdot-yHCvMJp0yzZodsmQRqadG6GLBHgr0u7usWjVFgwYA7ID/s1600/Axle+on+tank.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiI4Hzpajn8FUbeJ6LH2uklROCr43lhg9RsAmJ8nXmZ8JxI7bBZinqT0hJ6pvk8YNvM5NcySohr97hSuZcOxn_Foh8agJSdot-yHCvMJp0yzZodsmQRqadG6GLBHgr0u7usWjVFgwYA7ID/s200/Axle+on+tank.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The dog cowering on the fuel tank</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Obviously the dog must have been there since his departure from Mapusa, he had probably climbed to a dry space to sit out the previous night’s monsoon rain.<br />
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Shabudin was concerned as to the condition of the dog: after the ordeal of the unexpected treacherous excursion, had it sustained some horrific injury? Was it likely to be in an aggressive state? Could it be sick and dangerous? The only solution for the safety of all would be to seek help and luckily for “Axle” Shabudin knew of International Animal Rescue and Animal Tracks and decided to take his vehicle and its uninvited passenger to the rescue centre and seek their help.<br />
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Using particular caution to avoid any potholes that might jolt the suspension that was so close to Axle and could have crushed him, he drove at slow speed, hoping not to inflict any further harm on the poor dog in his self-imposed precarious perch where he’d been positioned for at least 35km.<br />
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On arrival staff at the centre at once prepared to remove and help the dog, anticipating that he would most probably be badly injured. Gently Gokul, IAR’s kennel manager, tried to coax the terrified animal out of his hiding place huddled amongst the mechanical components beneath the vehicle.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieg-Tg0sTo5lYGOtBHcWz18HQjn3AIu-auxquEVhaSDj5uXT04RGVpJCvWOiFbkyA_NY_YYItHebsdsVXbvlxW_QWngvRxXpZi6UUcwBg82FwtJRiqLOC5un-zJ4kWzioGucZr2P-_Fs_g/s1600/Axle+caught+on+tank.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieg-Tg0sTo5lYGOtBHcWz18HQjn3AIu-auxquEVhaSDj5uXT04RGVpJCvWOiFbkyA_NY_YYItHebsdsVXbvlxW_QWngvRxXpZi6UUcwBg82FwtJRiqLOC5un-zJ4kWzioGucZr2P-_Fs_g/s200/Axle+caught+on+tank.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Axle being extricated with a catchpole</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
But Axle was not about to come out easily, he was so terrified and traumatised from the ordeal and had no idea that these people were trying to help him. So Gokul had no option but to slip a catch pole loop gently around Axle’s neck and slowly extricate him from his hidey-hole beneath the truck. Still fearful and in obvious shock, Axle was taken to a kennel and examined for injury.<br />
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Amazingly there was not a scratch on him: he was covered in oil and grime and wet from the monsoon puddles lying on the roads, but otherwise completely unscathed.<br />
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An amazed Shabudin returned home after giving IAR staff exact location details for Axle’s return. Axle is not sterilised, so after he recovers from his exploit in the safety of the Animal Tracks kennels for a few days, he’ll have the surgery, be vaccinated and then taken back to his home territory. <br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR2zHzO8HfH9jseUrG-2y1M3rB2cIomnHuUQLZRWtgiaYyMcVzpU2oXgsIk-D67gnETFj3f7qJUTEBI6_2OlaCbhy0oXEskqKO8lcMusk6FjC0YMIRvo7pWCYQL3-YbG-ldnrlIuGTePa5/s1600/Axle+rescued.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR2zHzO8HfH9jseUrG-2y1M3rB2cIomnHuUQLZRWtgiaYyMcVzpU2oXgsIk-D67gnETFj3f7qJUTEBI6_2OlaCbhy0oXEskqKO8lcMusk6FjC0YMIRvo7pWCYQL3-YbG-ldnrlIuGTePa5/s200/Axle+rescued.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Axle safe at Animal Tracks</td></tr>
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Next time he’s looking for somewhere to shelter from the rain for the night, he’ll no doubt choose a permanent spot that doesn’t move on in the morning!<br />
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That's all for now!<br />
Love Olive xOlivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04055213646211828081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1288168141048150998.post-36576404320576809892012-09-05T07:09:00.000-07:002012-09-05T07:10:23.518-07:00Orphaned squirrels come on in squeaks and bounds!Hello again!<br />
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Here’s a sweet story about some special squirrels: three tiny orphaned Three-Striped Palm Squirrel pups arrived recently at the Animal Tracks centre and, being too young to survive without their mother, their care was immediately undertaken by IAR's Abby who has a wealth of experience in successfully rearing a variety of rescued wild baby creatures.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoUqfRhO1ieqBhlMjypMvmeEirHfBjKLFIo4mLDf3NjWUxpP4G1V-1W5bk3wZkT3WPGgaaXG2DmO1u8_457GXzbHM45268oCbf_nrTy7llLvuWwUWCVlJB-uiIG0TlY_1YKpz1KLftXc84/s1600/squirrels+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoUqfRhO1ieqBhlMjypMvmeEirHfBjKLFIo4mLDf3NjWUxpP4G1V-1W5bk3wZkT3WPGgaaXG2DmO1u8_457GXzbHM45268oCbf_nrTy7llLvuWwUWCVlJB-uiIG0TlY_1YKpz1KLftXc84/s200/squirrels+3.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The pups are thriving</td></tr>
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The three little pups soon settled into their temporary home and eagerly thrived on Abby's regular feeding regime of chickoo, papaya, banana, custard apple and cerelec (a dietary supplement often given to orphans of many species that are cared for at the centre).
Time has passed and the pups have grown stronger and more inquisitive: one in particular seems to stand out as leader of the gang, being more active, naughty and adventurous than the other two. Now, as they've reached about seven weeks old, it has become necessary to build them a larger cage in which they can exercise and play. Their new enclosure will eventually be hung outside in a tree: it has a little flapping door which will be released allowing the pups to come and go as they please, easing their transition back into the wild when they feel ready.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqazgKDlyNpXU92REYXkc5eWkraisqLffM6fEkyToG_QysTS6FxrGEmU49hbuNQshi9mVJ9Tx1bk_NB7YQwNJ9vUwdkGZ7cjGOeOsz3OtCbHDA5-cmasKeNzjq8JZxzLiASIXFKqTXVnzU/s1600/squirrels+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqazgKDlyNpXU92REYXkc5eWkraisqLffM6fEkyToG_QysTS6FxrGEmU49hbuNQshi9mVJ9Tx1bk_NB7YQwNJ9vUwdkGZ7cjGOeOsz3OtCbHDA5-cmasKeNzjq8JZxzLiASIXFKqTXVnzU/s200/squirrels+2.jpg" width="190" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Three's a crowd at mealtimes!</td></tr>
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In the wild they would be weaned at about ten weeks old. But for now their new purpose-built house will provide them with a safe, dry shelter where they can return for food and sleep until the day eventually comes when the three little squirrels become confident enough to take their final leap into the big wide world away from Animal Tracks, bidding farewell to all at the centre, with particular thanks to nanny Abby!
According to ancient legend, Three-Striped Palm Squirrels are closely associated with the Hindu deity Lord Rama, giving these little rodents a sacred and protected status throughout India. So they really are very special indeed.
That’s all for now!<br />
<br />
Love Olive x
Olivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04055213646211828081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1288168141048150998.post-58889694695943985842012-08-31T04:01:00.000-07:002012-09-05T07:28:37.609-07:00Chain reactionHello hello!<br />
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It’s a fact that, over almost a decade and a half, International Animal Rescue in Goa has had phenomenal success helping tens of thousands of stray dogs and cats. And, even when these animals are returned to their home territories, their lives are still protected by the ongoing support of the charity.
Recently our rescue team was called out by a compassionate individual who had witnessed the plight of a dog in one of the nearby tourist resorts of Calangute and knew that IAR would help. The young male dog had a heavy chain tightly attached to his neck which was causing him much distress and discomfort. The caller reported that he'd been seen in the locality for some time. Although he was dragging a chain leash he didn’t seem to have an owner.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUD92T-plMT2HMNMUghE7ISKoBfUA72kpnNWEUtF7lpYDnVH15hypGXrmBqFLW5zRkHsz-AnOiupgPRspe_Pv2u69iBgEHO87fHeWmzISyHGHFZGvpHY_MoE0qyNKRuzknJ8eC2Lv9LYcv/s1600/Dog+with+neck+wound+from+chain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUD92T-plMT2HMNMUghE7ISKoBfUA72kpnNWEUtF7lpYDnVH15hypGXrmBqFLW5zRkHsz-AnOiupgPRspe_Pv2u69iBgEHO87fHeWmzISyHGHFZGvpHY_MoE0qyNKRuzknJ8eC2Lv9LYcv/s200/Dog+with+neck+wound+from+chain.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dog with neck wound</td></tr>
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Apart from the evident friction wound caused by the chain rubbing on his neck, the dog appeared to be in good health. Possibly the chain had been attached while he continued to grow, becoming tighter as time passed. The dog welfare team, led by Krishna who has years of experience and a natural talent for calming and rescuing strays in trouble, set off to rescue the dog who evaded them for some days. However eventually he was safely in their care and transported back to the rescue centre.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW53sGp6-GfktuQ8Ra3iywK4Qy3hRSixL3tLlVEhwxDTA0NNNMBZ_gaZnVsIPPm8wTql78lvCuIUC8D9tkMEjwtitttaRGVbM6UZ1AXf59S-ZWzEAmkPh0GyDNgXyiFOWVj0YQ3A5k11qY/s1600/Dog+after+treatment.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW53sGp6-GfktuQ8Ra3iywK4Qy3hRSixL3tLlVEhwxDTA0NNNMBZ_gaZnVsIPPm8wTql78lvCuIUC8D9tkMEjwtitttaRGVbM6UZ1AXf59S-ZWzEAmkPh0GyDNgXyiFOWVj0YQ3A5k11qY/s200/Dog+after+treatment.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dog after treatment</td></tr>
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On arrival at Animal Tracks he was sedated and examined by duty vet Nikhil. He already had the "V" shaped ear clip which is IAR’s easily visible indicator that strays have been sterilised and vaccinated, along with a unique ear tattoo which is an individual record of identity, enabling IAR to monitor an animal's previous history and also a means for lost and found animals to be reunited with their owners. The IAR system check revealed that the dog had not been officially adopted, only that he had temporarily passed through, like thousands of others. But for some reason someone had attached the heavy chain to this dog's neck and secured him, possibly as a guard dog. He had been well fed and was in good condition apart from where the chain had worn away the fur and cut into the skin around his neck, causing a superficial but calloused wound that would have gradually become infected and increasingly painful.<br />
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We will never know what had actually happened and how he came to be trailing the heavy chain, but thanks to prompt intervention by a member of the public and our own IAR team, this lucky dog was freed and his wound easily and effectively treated.<br />
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That’s all for now!<br />
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Love Olive x
Olivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04055213646211828081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1288168141048150998.post-85820238237721025832012-07-16T05:07:00.001-07:002012-07-16T05:09:22.017-07:00Buffalo jam!<span style="background-color: white;">Hello my friends!</span><br />
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Here’s a tale you won’t hear every day, luckily for my buffalo friends! I must say when I heard it I couldn’t help being amused – and relieved too of course at the happy ending ...<br />
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The indigenous Asiatic buffalo has evolved to become a vital source of livelihood for many rural farming communities throughout Goa and other regions of India. Buffalo milk is particularly nutritious and yields the highest fat content of any farm animal. They can thrive on even the poorest foodstuffs and are valued and cherished members of many farming families. They grow to huge proportions, particularly the males who can often weigh up to 880kg. The sight of these powerful creatures with their massive, majestic swept back horns and glistening wet bodies ploughing the flooded fields is a typical rural scene throughout the countryside.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfal8k6m34n_WbMD6ggI5HDNqlO44Wsy33WXUt3Sqh6-DvRynykczcKxlirSehcO53zINCvg3kSxE8q8bkKkvUGuUDUHv7oDt9wDE3JKrNQFssigt3eHaoz0BRlgOq31CQMkcDYPc57sPZ/s1600/Buffalo+trapped+Goa.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfal8k6m34n_WbMD6ggI5HDNqlO44Wsy33WXUt3Sqh6-DvRynykczcKxlirSehcO53zINCvg3kSxE8q8bkKkvUGuUDUHv7oDt9wDE3JKrNQFssigt3eHaoz0BRlgOq31CQMkcDYPc57sPZ/s320/Buffalo+trapped+Goa.JPG" width="240" /></a>Buffaloes adore being in water and are particularly suited to working the monsoon paddy fields. In the dry season entire family herds return each day to their favourite ponds and river places to cool down and totally immerse themselves and escape the fierce heat, a pair of wide, flared nostrils or the tips of their horns is often all that can be seen above the water.<br />
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Recently we received an emergency call at Animal Tracks from a local man about a buffalo bull who had got himself into big trouble. The adult male had been ambling about the neighbourhood of Saligao enjoying his "off duty" time when he happened to catch a tasty delight as he sniffed the breeze.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC2CCGPsqhKrKTisXDoEZwHdMHMdqYugLq4AHXWm2bi_9tKk2GSYyGl314NTbmPs63aTY_PjVeY8nUjbTJYjn3Q51fGipKcEzz9gSCzl-G2fSjD4BthMVPxH8da4jo4xTDFXfRjn4BPJPP/s1600/Buffalo+rescue+Goa.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC2CCGPsqhKrKTisXDoEZwHdMHMdqYugLq4AHXWm2bi_9tKk2GSYyGl314NTbmPs63aTY_PjVeY8nUjbTJYjn3Q51fGipKcEzz9gSCzl-G2fSjD4BthMVPxH8da4jo4xTDFXfRjn4BPJPP/s320/Buffalo+rescue+Goa.JPG" width="240" /></a>The typical ecological practice of disposing of vegetable and fruit garbage by leaving it out to be eaten by any passing creature results in many free range animals cruising around the lanes ever on the look-out for tasty dietary supplements. The bull had come across a pile of jackfruit waste, a particular seasonal favourite with both man and beast, and set about devouring his treat oblivious to anything else.<br />
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The feast took place outside a family compound between the garden wall and adjacent mango tree. In his enthusiasm to stretch and reach every morsel the bull managed to get himself completely stuck in the small gap. His alarmed cries alerted the householder who called Animal Tracks for assistance.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4M_r0I3icXNUB29dYJYY6eWnAauzTUrfBDQ3UbeF3SYzwlJJ9CS2cLB5Zi0lwaNey6VQmerk6M4IYItdvjVZzkf5RLYId2QMahiOKuPiVjOehp3f0oZiqZMj-nHkQ-_y1KQIVvHphxXo2/s1600/Buffalo+international+animal+rescue+goa.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4M_r0I3icXNUB29dYJYY6eWnAauzTUrfBDQ3UbeF3SYzwlJJ9CS2cLB5Zi0lwaNey6VQmerk6M4IYItdvjVZzkf5RLYId2QMahiOKuPiVjOehp3f0oZiqZMj-nHkQ-_y1KQIVvHphxXo2/s320/Buffalo+international+animal+rescue+goa.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
The IAR rescue team was soon at the scene and found the huge creature wedged tight in the too small space between wall and tree. Completely trapped, but panicked and distressed with his thrashing hooves and sharp horns, he was still capable of inflicting serious injury on his would-be rescuers. But the IAR team is highly experienced in working with large frightened animals in distress and they swiftly and calmly chipped away with hammer and chisel at the masonry, freeing the huge relieved buffalo.<br />
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Despite the ordeal and with protection from his thick leathery hide he had sustained no injuries at all and was none the worse for the experience.<br />
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So I’m pleased to report that on this occasion a damaged wall and a bit of dented buffalo pride and embarrassment were the only casualties of this successful International Animal Rescue mission!<br />
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Love Olive xOlivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04055213646211828081noreply@blogger.com0Goa, India15.2993265 74.12399614.809229499999999 73.492282 15.7894235 74.755710000000008tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1288168141048150998.post-25996017086043719922012-06-15T03:41:00.000-07:002012-06-15T03:41:53.683-07:00A little white bullHello dear friends<br />
<br />
I can only offer my opinion from a canine perspective, but I imagine that most cattle living in the western world of intensive farming might feel envious if they knew how cows and other domestic animals in India are mainly free to roam at will and live a relatively free existence.<br />
But freedom usually comes at a cost and some local cattle have quite a hard time living here in Goa.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAzrbRSV00z6iWk51xM7ZZcgJPEgZUiZacDrONcG_m3aJ99Bg7o990da1mAvXh9GSRAZiijhjYhrlGCzbDFe224D9BvU3ocZa8LukqdqlwAizpWtCbUxb0yEL-SVUsKN2NM_n50KCnPV-8/s1600/SAM_2133+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAzrbRSV00z6iWk51xM7ZZcgJPEgZUiZacDrONcG_m3aJ99Bg7o990da1mAvXh9GSRAZiijhjYhrlGCzbDFe224D9BvU3ocZa8LukqdqlwAizpWtCbUxb0yEL-SVUsKN2NM_n50KCnPV-8/s320/SAM_2133+-+Copy.JPG" width="237" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nandini's poorly leg</td></tr>
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With progress and the passing of time the once quiet roads and lanes where, not so long ago, the heaviest traffic was probably nothing more than an ox cart, conditions have changed dramatically. The roads are improved and coated with hard surfaces that enable modern, powerful vehicles to transport people in the constant rush of life nowadays where everyone wants to get somewhere fast.<br />
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Nandini the cow was already having a tough time - she was very undernourished and heavily pregnant when things became even worse for her. Night time is even more dangerous on the roads for dark-coloured animals that are not visible in poor light. One evening Nandini was hit by a car and sustained a broken leg.<br />
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But thanks to the rescue team at Animal Tracks help was swiftly on hand. Nandini was gently transported to the centre in the purpose-built cattle ambulance. The medical team splinted her broken leg and settled Nandini into the safe sanctuary of Animal Track's goshala where numerous cattle are taken care of whilst they recover from illness or injury.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVAGjFELmzI76LRLQXZJm_5uzpu7-nRo0aiy50tcmssPFIPQpLce1qNq7xX_eLtR4udecHoqbHCTTK0o0LYPiO0khi5KVjjtjr3glDBsZzceqyjMCvwVjc9dWiSk0VA4bKcpa6PNh5oHDz/s1600/SAM_2136+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVAGjFELmzI76LRLQXZJm_5uzpu7-nRo0aiy50tcmssPFIPQpLce1qNq7xX_eLtR4udecHoqbHCTTK0o0LYPiO0khi5KVjjtjr3glDBsZzceqyjMCvwVjc9dWiSk0VA4bKcpa6PNh5oHDz/s320/SAM_2136+-+Copy.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nanson</td></tr>
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Although she was comfortable, well fed and safe, the team were nevertheless concerned for the unborn calf and its mother. With Nandini's poor condition and the stress and trauma of the accident, there was concern that the calf would not survive.<br />
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But one morning soon afterwards the staff and all of us resident animals alike were overjoyed to discover that Nandini had effortlessly delivered a perfect bull calf during the previous night.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7qGCln2jBHtUZuTmQC4kqqz3pdNtCzQXEV0yIW0w2kjndMaMZjI5Hcw3fubZdTVNXRz4ip_OM4Hdiux8VlVNmufQgChA6_qo9q_5vsFt6STXbkMkFWyRBNsFclOW0rcFoutQqZrpefR-U/s1600/011+%285%29.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7qGCln2jBHtUZuTmQC4kqqz3pdNtCzQXEV0yIW0w2kjndMaMZjI5Hcw3fubZdTVNXRz4ip_OM4Hdiux8VlVNmufQgChA6_qo9q_5vsFt6STXbkMkFWyRBNsFclOW0rcFoutQqZrpefR-U/s320/011+%285%29.JPG" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stella keeps guard over the new arrival</td></tr>
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Much excitement ensued as we all wanted to greet the new arrival and welcome him into the world. Resident dog Stella was particularly attentive, somehow understanding that Nandini was in need of some extra help caring for the calf with her own restricted mobility while her leg healed. Stella took on the self appointed role of minder for young Nanson and vigilantly kept watch, staying protectively close to mother and calf and ensuring the other animals didn't become too enthusiastic with the new arrival.<br />
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And so, whilst Nandini recovers with plentiful food and shelter from harm, the young Nanson thrives within the safety of his extended family of human and animal friends at Animal Tracks where the only life he's known so far is secure from trouble and stress.<br />
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Of course the day will eventually come for mother and son to leave Animal Tracks and resume their place in the world. Let us hope they both keep safe and healthy - and at least with Nanson being a little white bull, he'll be visibly easier for speeding traffic to avoid in the dark.<br />
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I'm a dog with a charmed happy life which I truly appreciate, but may I ask you please to consider and keep an eye out for all the other creatures that are out and about and vulnerable in the darkness when you're travelling through the night.<br />
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Love Olive xOlivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04055213646211828081noreply@blogger.com0Goa, India15.2993265 74.12399614.809229499999999 73.492282 15.7894235 74.755710000000008tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1288168141048150998.post-2430919630658537722012-05-09T06:11:00.000-07:002012-05-09T06:12:16.066-07:00Blackshe learns that there’s no place like home!Hello my friends<br />
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My story today is something of a cautionary tale for any bold young pup tempted by the call of the wild!<br />
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The De Souza family had recently lost Blackie and Simba their teenage brother dogs: both died from old age and within a short time of each other. Both had been some of the very first family owned dogs to be sterilised at Animal Tracks, and throughout their long and happy lives the dogs had been occasional outpatients at the rescue centre with routine ailments and for vaccinations.
The three children of the family had all grown up with the brothers and, as many of you will have experienced, a home that's recently lost the presence of a beloved canine companion is a very sad place to be. So Willy, their father, asked his friends from Animal Tracks to look out for a suitable young pup to join his depleted family.<br />
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At the very same time a rescued young black pup that had been staying with an IAR foster carer was just at the right age and ready to move to a new forever home. So the lucky little pup was taken to meet the De Souza family, they all just fell in love with her and decided her name would be Blackshe.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKP9zFE4sukMFec3xHlm9PmqHzpf-87aRnzNw38xBAg3mpa-FUttrLNhbZqmLZ1wUjvsmIr71ZoyFqttMcgDMYSO7Dal49qc9iZXACfIHWYWBtsMYHRofgcFk6HSA0PkuBln5JY9NHfZ4U/s1600/Rescued+dog+with+family.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKP9zFE4sukMFec3xHlm9PmqHzpf-87aRnzNw38xBAg3mpa-FUttrLNhbZqmLZ1wUjvsmIr71ZoyFqttMcgDMYSO7Dal49qc9iZXACfIHWYWBtsMYHRofgcFk6HSA0PkuBln5JY9NHfZ4U/s320/Rescued+dog+with+family.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
When a pup or kitten is adopted from Animal Tracks we advise all adoptive owners to keep their new pets temporarily contained for the animal's safety while they become confident and familiar in their new surroundings. Blackshe, was given a new collar and leash, a nice soft bed, food and water and was secured on the sheltered veranda of the family home. She was left there in peace to settle in. But Blackshe's skinny little puppy neck was just a bit too small for her new collar and she slipped out and ran off, eager to explore.<br />
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The De Souza's home is surrounded by dense jungle which slopes down to the next village and then rises to high cliffs, then onwards to the ancient historical site of Chapora Fort. Very soon Blackshe realised she'd gone too far and had no idea in which direction to backtrack to her new home. Darkness fell and the frantic family searched and called out to the lost pup in vain.<br />
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After a worried, sleepless night the search resumed at first light including IAR volunteers, friends and neighbours from both villages and local school children, all enlisted to find the missing pup.<br />
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Luckily somehow she’d made it through the night and there were several sightings of a lone black pup in the distance high up near the fort and also on the low lying surrounding rocks and beaches. But Blackshe was just too frightened and spooked by her overnight ordeal to go close enough to a stranger and evaded her rescuers, not understanding they were all trying to help her. So she continued to roam, all the while dodging dangers and getting more and more lost.<br />
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Gradually reports of her being seen became fewer and far between and as the days went by all hope was lost for the vulnerable little pup out in the jungle with no food, water or safe shelter and wild animals like snakes and feral dogs to contend with.<br />
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Over three weeks passed and everyone was resigned to the fact that she was gone. But then a definite sighting of a solitary hungry black pup was reported very early one morning on the beach by Chapora jetty: she was looking for dead fish or anything vaguely edible washed up by the tide. <br />
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By the time rescuers arrived at the scene the sun had risen and Blackshe had disappeared again back into the jungle, chased away by packs of local territorial dogs who will not permit an intruder on their patch.<br />
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But with renewed hope and a plan, a couple of IAR volunteers who Blackshe knew from her days in the foster home went down to the jetty before first light the following morning, while all was silent and the sea mist was swirling around and most dogs and humans still slept soundly. They quietly sat and waited softly calling encouraging words into the jungle from their location on the beach near to the Hindu Dog Temple, where Blackshe had been seen the previous day.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuGjWTuPNay73vXSf1pOXp_I8ucww9gJfQ0lj9rVTnfD-0ZZtSvozwitWhqbbNCckRsjtv-URpBekBvEySiG1QhqUOPjPTPiLVLi5FhDK7jAx7KC-11E1Cut4uIosIUkDc437vTt_hyf1Y/s1600/Blakshi+rescued+dog+Goa.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuGjWTuPNay73vXSf1pOXp_I8ucww9gJfQ0lj9rVTnfD-0ZZtSvozwitWhqbbNCckRsjtv-URpBekBvEySiG1QhqUOPjPTPiLVLi5FhDK7jAx7KC-11E1Cut4uIosIUkDc437vTt_hyf1Y/s320/Blakshi+rescued+dog+Goa.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
Two fruitless hours passed and the would-be rescuers were reluctantly forced to give up, sadly making their way back towards their scooter parked by the jetty. Then within literally a few moments of riding away they heard a faint whimper alerting them to turn around. Following them, exactly a month to the day since she'd gone missing, was an exhausted, skinny, dirty, ravenous but otherwise unharmed Blackshe, more than ready by now to be scooped up, seriously hugged and taken home to safety. <br />
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Apart a skin infection and a stomach upset from scavenging on whatever she could find to survive, amazingly Blackshe was in relatively good condition, despite her month long ordeal alone in the wild. Proving just how clever, instinctive and resourceful even a young animal can be when faced with adversity. <br />
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Very soon she fully recovered and settled into life safe within the bounds of her overjoyed human family and these days she seldom strays much beyond the family compound.<br />
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She's more than happy just to be a cherished home-loving pet and has no further desire to be an intrepid adventurer. Blackshe is of course fully vaccinated and now at six months old has just been sterilised by IAR, ensuring there will be no litters of De'Souza pups who might get lost in the wilderness.<br />
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Little Blackshe has learnt two crucial lessons at an early age - that it is indeed a jungle out there, and that there really is no place like home!<br />
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Love Olive xOlivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04055213646211828081noreply@blogger.com0Goa, India15.2993265 74.12399614.809229499999999 73.492282 15.7894235 74.755710000000008tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1288168141048150998.post-5358824273395344632012-04-20T08:23:00.000-07:002012-04-20T08:24:29.264-07:00I’m forced to "toe the line"!Hello dear friends, <br />
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Readers of my diary entries will be familiar with me telling a tale of some creature whose life has been touched by the kindness of our rescue centre here in Goa. But this time my story is of an autobiographical nature.<br />
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As one of the senior members of the resident Goa pack I know that it's my duty to set a good example for the youngsters to follow.
But I still like to have fun and, although I'm now considered by some of the young pups to be a mature old lady, I can still never resist the opportunity to join in with a race around with the others.<br />
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But recently one such escapade made me realise I'm not such a pup anymore and I've sadly paid the price.
I'm usually the one to tell the others to keep their high spirits under control and I've learnt now that I should have listened to my own advice.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj64tN5MmCp4EShq6G-C8bWTq7skeYgUtZISJKTprJwB2k4lE5SDMpAwg7Rz3fKBS467i6736HFmYgyklL-f1u9DL9jKZtUysApkfEiU6vDcb276Lki5cJ8ISKhEOx-qr8ZQjtvF42F0qC-/s1600/Dog+Toe+Surgery+Goa.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj64tN5MmCp4EShq6G-C8bWTq7skeYgUtZISJKTprJwB2k4lE5SDMpAwg7Rz3fKBS467i6736HFmYgyklL-f1u9DL9jKZtUysApkfEiU6vDcb276Lki5cJ8ISKhEOx-qr8ZQjtvF42F0qC-/s320/Dog+Toe+Surgery+Goa.JPG" width="240" /></a>The incident occurred when a gang of us were joyously chasing through the jungle that surrounds the Animal Tracks centre. Then suddenly I got my paw snagged on a tree root and realised I'd really hurt myself. Luckily I was able to limp back to reception and receive prompt medical attention from the veterinary team. My paw was badly injured and an xray revealed the toe was broken.<br />
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So I had enforced kennel rest while the injuries healed and had to temporarily hand over my meeting and greeting duties to Peggy, but she's really not one to take anything too seriously and would sooner be out and about the centre looking for fun and mischief.<br />
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For what seemed like eternity I was confined to kennels to aid my recovery and keep me clean and relatively immobile. Despite the first rate medical attention and regular visits from everyone, I was bored and restless. I could not resist the temptation to chew at the dressing on my paw and it became infected and even more sore. So the vets put me in a ridiculous Elizabethan collar so that I couldn't reach to interfere with the injury. (I've banned any photos being published of me wearing such an unflattering outfit.)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaKE0YDn6_tux44_VGej7nExqDMp03n6lYagZ7Fr-0SiY03OKkj5VvCbNCIWgIfm0oQtiW7nu6SCRgAS3zF0qntW1EkPCCrgN16-MbtqlVnNFIiDf7Iszodf0u_XRSizYKNCFRdR2vvzje/s1600/Olive+Animal+Tracks+Rescue+Centre+Goa.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaKE0YDn6_tux44_VGej7nExqDMp03n6lYagZ7Fr-0SiY03OKkj5VvCbNCIWgIfm0oQtiW7nu6SCRgAS3zF0qntW1EkPCCrgN16-MbtqlVnNFIiDf7Iszodf0u_XRSizYKNCFRdR2vvzje/s320/Olive+Animal+Tracks+Rescue+Centre+Goa.JPG" width="240" /></a>But it did the trick and eventually the day came when the doctors decided I had healed enough to be discharged from hospital and resume my duties and my place amongst the Animal Tracks resident pack. I was warned that I must curtail my enthusiasm for the team games and sit on the side lines while the others played and I got back to peak fitness and allowed my still weakened toe to heal.<br />
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However I'm somewhat ashamed to say that I didn't heed the good advice and was soon tearing around again with the others. A painful lesson learnt as the toe quickly became fractured again and the prospects for its recovery were pessimistic, and the thought of further weeks confined to kennels too much for me to handle.<br />
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An emergency team consultation was called and we all decided that the best option for my recovery would be to lose the toe. So I had a relatively simple operation to amputate the offending digit and was back on my paws in no time at all.<br />
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As you can see it's hardly a disfigurement and it hasn't slowed me down at all. I could maybe use a little help with typing my diary but I won't be asking for Peggy's assistance - I've enlisted one of the IAR humans as my temporary secretary instead!<br />
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Olive xOlivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04055213646211828081noreply@blogger.com0Goa, India15.2993265 74.12399614.809229499999999 73.492282 15.7894235 74.755710000000008tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1288168141048150998.post-62762856722956543862012-03-22T04:40:00.000-07:002012-03-22T04:40:42.322-07:00Nano the calf hitches a lift to safetyHello, hello<br />
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Here’s a story of a tiny white calf just a few hours old that was spotted by two local youths in one of the outlying villages.<br />
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She was crying piteously and roaming around obviously calling for her mother. This continued for some time and the calf was in a state of panic and would have soon encountered danger, so the kind young men felt they must try to help her. Much of the culture here in India is of the belief that the cow is a creature to be revered and protected – luckily for the calf!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTf58cAkRkZLp20FXtO7euWBfgLurm3AIa8YjeZZl9XhLUatOaUwmpQy-eqBeC7Xc6xHt_Ol5NHwrSgbP-INRuGraEdTqr_COx8rvxd6pzXc07uBTFwOCHgHAS49scxEu017Urgkhf4W_m/s1600/Calf+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTf58cAkRkZLp20FXtO7euWBfgLurm3AIa8YjeZZl9XhLUatOaUwmpQy-eqBeC7Xc6xHt_Ol5NHwrSgbP-INRuGraEdTqr_COx8rvxd6pzXc07uBTFwOCHgHAS49scxEu017Urgkhf4W_m/s320/Calf+2.JPG" /></a></div>They toured around the locality with the crying baby sitting between them on their scooter and all the time she cried out for her mum. The boys offered her to every cow they encountered on their three hour quest but none was the mother. <br /><br />Worried as to what to do next, they went to the house of a lady in the neighbourhood who they knew always looked out for any animal in need of help. Luckily this lady is actively involved with animal welfare and has a long association with IAR.<br />
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Dusk was falling so for the calf's overnight safety she was settled into the confined security of a bathroom where a bed was made for her and she was fed milk from a syringe.
Early next morning it was evident that if she was to survive much longer the calf must get to Animal Tracks where the staff have had experience with small orphaned cattle.
But the long journey would have been arduous on a scooter so the baby was gently cradled in the back of a tiny Tata Nano car borrowed for the journey.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVY3uuxpdEy92NZ_Q4DWSxbU-dVmQzCQBO2nO05eT-nJsNaXfi51GLGx6QiYwpqo9c2lZeAk1j3xlZGD_R5jewvvU_0IF8t9fYRwRAglHFivOWjSZSr-KSUslmc3sHib2Cw82UfrF6gBef/s1600/Calf.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="195" width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVY3uuxpdEy92NZ_Q4DWSxbU-dVmQzCQBO2nO05eT-nJsNaXfi51GLGx6QiYwpqo9c2lZeAk1j3xlZGD_R5jewvvU_0IF8t9fYRwRAglHFivOWjSZSr-KSUslmc3sHib2Cw82UfrF6gBef/s320/Calf.JPG" /></a></div>On arrival there the tiny calf was warmly greeted by all of us animals and humans alike and every possible measure was taken to ensure she was kept warm and bottle fed enough milk to sustain her.<br />
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But, whilst she relished all the attention and affection, the little calf missed her mother so much that we all feared the worst: despite staff and volunteers cuddling and feeding her, she was still not doing too well.<br />
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Within animal welfare groups there is a great camaraderie and through friends Animal Tracks knew of a goshala, a sanctuary where cattle can live and grow in a peaceful, natural environment, and where orphaned calves are successfully raised. And maybe there would be a resident cow that would prove a suitable surrogate mum for the youngster.
The goshala agreed to take Nano, Animal Tracks staff escorted her on the journey, but this time not on the rear seat of a tiny car but in one of the IAR animal ambulances.<br />
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We are all exceptionally pleased and very relieved to report that Nano is thriving and is clearly happy and healthy in her new home. She will remain there permanently in the safety of the sanctuary and maybe one day will help nurture casualties and orphans such as herself who may come to need a bit of love, kindness and a helping hoof!<br />
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That’s it for now – until next time ...!<br />
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Love Olive xOlivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04055213646211828081noreply@blogger.com0Goa, India15.2993265 74.12399614.809229499999999 73.492282 15.7894235 74.755710000000008tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1288168141048150998.post-680066530959354112012-03-07T08:07:00.000-08:002012-03-07T08:07:28.161-08:00Sally's fall from graceHello my friends<br />
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Here’s a cautionary tale if ever there was one!<br />
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It's not just stray and wild animals that come to Animal Tracks, we also have a busy outpatients department where the public can bring their pets and domestic animals for the full spectrum of treatments, vaccinations and of course sterilisation.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0NAfFQPG5zMuSWagZEIxyaHadsuTCrE4HLSVeMvgxg-sNLp2CWiHPzwjtzNyt3lhzSPIkdqZMB093m9Oy4mWXUjxxr3m9wjjXiZs9gVfmjAVoWzGv0KHNcKNLmdE0xldYbCA0z9g8EC-E/s1600/P1010571.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0NAfFQPG5zMuSWagZEIxyaHadsuTCrE4HLSVeMvgxg-sNLp2CWiHPzwjtzNyt3lhzSPIkdqZMB093m9Oy4mWXUjxxr3m9wjjXiZs9gVfmjAVoWzGv0KHNcKNLmdE0xldYbCA0z9g8EC-E/s320/P1010571.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
Sally a beloved pet came in to the centre after sustaining an injury to a front leg in mystery freak accident. Renowned as an adventurer, Sally has even been known to climb trees and scale high walls so her owners are quite used to her getting into trouble. But this time she'd hurt herself badly.<br />
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After examination and X ray it was found that Sally had a really severe fracture to her leg and there would be no option but for her to undergo major reconstructive surgery.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_99SN1KdmPkCMxJ_pmccpM8PR84MiPr1ddGdj2FCFdfPk5uOYxa1lnrsOzqLNOFr7jqAsr77wGYImqnni4XGf0iE67NytQCrj_zYx8MWE3Pz0xNQV7GtCbT9ner7iX0DAgF9fmlbqVmHL/s1600/040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_99SN1KdmPkCMxJ_pmccpM8PR84MiPr1ddGdj2FCFdfPk5uOYxa1lnrsOzqLNOFr7jqAsr77wGYImqnni4XGf0iE67NytQCrj_zYx8MWE3Pz0xNQV7GtCbT9ner7iX0DAgF9fmlbqVmHL/s320/040.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
Led by IAR's expert orthopaedic surgeon Nikhil, the operation took more than three hours as he painstakingly repositioned the broken bones using external pinning. Sally and numerous other animals are really fortunate to be treated at Animal Tracks as this advanced and complex surgery is not widely available.<br />
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Then came the long recovery process whereby Sally had to be contained despite her natural desire and instinct to be out and about exploring. Not an easy task for her owners knowing she would still try to get into mischief despite her leg being shrouded in metal pins!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMD0nA4_HVfnRHYZ1BPxzdQu7FxVuoqq1k0Xq872Mc1JppOirrcaOXAFWSElud_Wnu_53LfWw90zaa0bHi09NY2PDSEP4u9A5i9y34vhRTNcDNk-jAvyPlTnH69815WHalV3wc02_bFsu8/s1600/034+%25284%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMD0nA4_HVfnRHYZ1BPxzdQu7FxVuoqq1k0Xq872Mc1JppOirrcaOXAFWSElud_Wnu_53LfWw90zaa0bHi09NY2PDSEP4u9A5i9y34vhRTNcDNk-jAvyPlTnH69815WHalV3wc02_bFsu8/s320/034+%25284%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a>But Sally seemed to understand that custody was necessary in order for her to heal and she got used to sitting around in the safety of the house and not going on her daily walks and joining in the fun with the other household dogs.<br />
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After a few weeks she returned to the centre and further X rays showed that the bone was mending well and a couple of the six pins were able to be removed in a second slow and intricate operation. Then more weeks of rest and healing before the final surgery to remove the remaining steel frame and pins.<br />
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Many weeks later and still under special care and observation Sally continues to recover but is probably already planning her next adventure. Let's hope she's learnt from this experience that, although she's agile, unlike cats, dogs do tend to come down to earth with a bit of a bump!<br />
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Love Olive xOlivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04055213646211828081noreply@blogger.com0Goa, India15.2993265 74.12399614.809229499999999 73.492282 15.7894235 74.755710000000008tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1288168141048150998.post-71210336859325431542012-03-01T06:41:00.001-08:002012-03-01T06:43:03.332-08:00Madame MurielHello dear friends,<br />
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Life for an abandoned pet is always hard but here in the tropical climate ‘breed’ dogs have a particularly difficult time.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Muriel is a Pomeranian Spitz </td></tr>
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We local dogs have developed and adapted to be of a more robust constitution, enabling us to survive and thrive even with minimum assistance from mankind - although here in Goa IAR's vaccination and spaying programme has helped thousands of strays to have a viable existence.<br />
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Sadly discarded breed dogs do not usually fare so well physically or mentally. Muriel, of Pomeranian/Spitz ancestry, was one such dog and she found herself cast out and alone just before Christmas last year. Luckily Muriel arrived at Animal Tracks in the nick of time: she was very sad and desolate and obviously could not comprehend how her life had changed from being someone's companion to becoming another unwanted statistic. Muriel was probably cast aside because she had developed a chronic skin condition that could easily have been controlled with the minimum of care and expense, but it was not to be.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Muriel was suffering from a skin condition</td></tr>
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By the time poor Muriel found her way to IAR her condition was very poor and her spirits low. But with the veterinary expertise on hand and loving care from all the staff and a handful of volunteers – not to mention the concerned attention of her new canine friends - help was at hand.<br />
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But Muriel was still desperately unhappy and, as a lady who'd always been able to rely on her looks, she now looked so bedraggled that the chances of her being adopted seemed slim. So once again IAR supporter and dog lover Fionna stepped in and took Muriel to her home to recover with her large happy pack of mainly temporary foster dogs. “Half way" houses such as Fionna's are invaluable to IAR and the animals. Without them scores of abandoned dogs and cats would not have been able to be successfully re-established into permanent loving homes.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Muriel looking so much happier!</td></tr>
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As the weeks progressed Muriel settled and her glamorous coat was restored to its former glory thanks to a safe environment, much loving care, good nutrition and medication.<br />
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Although in good health once more, there was always a sadness about Muriel and she was always a little apart and aloof from her housemates and walked around with a tragic air that resembled a French Madame who had once been pampered and used to all the finer things in life but whose tragic circumstances had led to her decline in status.<br />
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But a solution was on hand and Fionna heard of a lovely local lady who had experience with the Pomeranian Spitz breed that Muriel belongs to. When Meera heard of Muriel's situation she decided to meet her with a view to adoption if the two of them hit it off.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Muriel and Meera</td></tr>
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The moment that Muriel first saw Meera there was a complete transformation in her demeanour and if there was ever any doubt that a dog can smile, check out Muriel's grin in the "after" photographs... it's proof that they can!<br />
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The two ladies bonded instantly and finally that brilliant lustrous fan of Pom/Spitz tail began to wag with uncontrollable joie de vivre and has not stopped since. We were all so happy at the centre to be able to bid Muriel “Au revoir” and “Bonne chance”- she deserves it!<br />
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That’s all for now!<br />
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Olive xOlivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04055213646211828081noreply@blogger.com0Goa, India15.2993265 74.12399614.809229499999999 73.492282 15.7894235 74.755710000000008tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1288168141048150998.post-9646760294572630832012-01-19T01:33:00.000-08:002012-01-19T01:42:24.068-08:00Louie’s gluey mishapHello my dear friends, here’s a tale that will ruffle a few feathers!<br /><br />We all know that throughout history owls have been renowned as creatures of wisdom, but Louie's flight into a fly glue trap was not such a wise move …The unfortunate owl became firmly stuck on the hanging trap designed for flies and mosquitoes and, had it not been for a kind human who brought him along to Animal Tracks, he certainly would have perished there.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMt1pVssY5GdEeiba67AHeb-kcigppGxFNfKBWs0Xfsl6mX1vcq2Y8DM8IPDQIzxqn8xRKQYlSRLpup0kuGDClcazlm3YWNdEJ9JFvd9zJRi9V1hlgKMoNcxPdZS4i2HwYlUG1-sQcNbmm/s1600/Owl+Rescue+Glue+Trap.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMt1pVssY5GdEeiba67AHeb-kcigppGxFNfKBWs0Xfsl6mX1vcq2Y8DM8IPDQIzxqn8xRKQYlSRLpup0kuGDClcazlm3YWNdEJ9JFvd9zJRi9V1hlgKMoNcxPdZS4i2HwYlUG1-sQcNbmm/s320/Owl+Rescue+Glue+Trap.JPG" border="0" alt="owl rescue goa"id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699275444021788994" /></a>Parts of Goa are still steeped in folklore and tradition and the haunting call of a male owl, or, as they are locally known, “ghughum”, is believed to be a premonition of the birth of a boy child or herald misfortune or even death to someone close by. When hearing the owl cry certain local people say the silent prayer "I believe" in order to avert the bad omen. Or others will throw salt into a fire in the hope that the owl will get a sore tongue and hoot no more. So because of fear and superstition sadly the presence of these beautiful birds is often unwelcome despite them being a natural form of vermin control.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYM5lRpzrB-iA7XpMYesEPA0k3ZQ759CqDfbsbK9f0QdiRgUG3eaP1svrOhQFLcg3Ga1s3QcK8Y5asmnGdmh1vZv3tnDqx_zHMXhlfGEvEmm4OFBwyIRtSKdvDI6XYDFAKjDWvHBfupgew/s1600/Owl+Rescue+Goa.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYM5lRpzrB-iA7XpMYesEPA0k3ZQ759CqDfbsbK9f0QdiRgUG3eaP1svrOhQFLcg3Ga1s3QcK8Y5asmnGdmh1vZv3tnDqx_zHMXhlfGEvEmm4OFBwyIRtSKdvDI6XYDFAKjDWvHBfupgew/s320/Owl+Rescue+Goa.JPG" border="0" alt="goa owl rescue from glue trap"id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699275708178324978" /></a>Even more bizarre human behaviour and another Goan remedy believed to avoid impending trouble after hearing an owl is to remove all your clothes, turn them inside out then get dressed again.... perhaps not to be advised in public! And people think we dogs have strange habits!<br /><br />Thankfully it's just humans that have such odd ideas and most of us animals just live in the present and are grateful to have a helping human hand from time to time when the unexpected occurs.<br /><br />It's always a worry that wild birds will simply go into shock and die after a trauma so no time was wasted. The glue was gently removed with extreme care so as to not damage Louie's feathers or cause him more stress. Gradually he was cleaned and his plumage restored to its former glory. <br /><br />So fortunately this particular ghughum's gummed encounter turned out well in the end thanks to help from the IAR team. Aren’t they just the best!<br /><br />That’s all for now.<br /><br />Love Olive xOlivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04055213646211828081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1288168141048150998.post-85600338497566901992011-12-23T01:37:00.000-08:002011-12-23T01:41:13.895-08:00Pingu’s release is permanently postponed!Hello again!<br /><br />Just time for one more story before the festive season begins …<br /><br />As one of the more senior members of the dog family at the IAR centre, I feel I have some status and a certain claim to fame. But there is a grand old lady who is well and truly part of the history of International Animal Rescue Goa. To introduce her, first I have to go back in time: <br /><br />Way back in 1997 the seeds of the Goa branch were sown by two young travellers, Hayley and Nicola, who had a passion for animal welfare and were moved by the plight of the packs of sick and starving dogs breeding out of control on the streets and beaches. The situation was awful, many animals had rabies and packs of dogs were fighting for territory and bitches. The girls set up a humble site in Saligao with a few makeshift cages under a palm leaf roof.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiswwmvOIUQx0dt7QrQwEtBMr3GVtf5TX_UqqnqyK_C20LJLcAsSOrJ4xXE0SiGxtZJuQpmu8h7wKR2s-yJbOjsWp6y2qMoed0F7aXnsybwJ8MV87_Z4G6dz_zGkRIVrTyzr1Uezlnx-Icf/s1600/Pingu+Animal+Tracks+Goa.png"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiswwmvOIUQx0dt7QrQwEtBMr3GVtf5TX_UqqnqyK_C20LJLcAsSOrJ4xXE0SiGxtZJuQpmu8h7wKR2s-yJbOjsWp6y2qMoed0F7aXnsybwJ8MV87_Z4G6dz_zGkRIVrTyzr1Uezlnx-Icf/s320/Pingu+Animal+Tracks+Goa.png" border="0" alt="Dog Rescue Rehabilitation Goa"id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5689255933176527634" /></a>International Animal Rescue in the UK sent out Bet, the first veterinary surgeon to work for IAR in Goa and so began the sterilisation and rabies vaccination programme that has evolved to become IAR Goa as we know it today.<br /><br />The present Animal Tracks centre here in Assagao was set up by John and Jo Hicks in 1998 in order that the work could expand and grow to embrace all of Goa's animals in need, feral, wild or domestic, and the rest is history …<br /><br />But just before the new centre was opened and the work still took place at the first simple site, an ear tattoo identification system was introduced to keep track and record of the dogs that were sterilised.<br /><br />A young healthy female dog, but with a birth deformed front leg, was sterilised. Recovery cages were full to capacity with animals that would shortly be released back into the wild. But, much like me when I was rescued from the streets, this little dog would need extra aftercare if she was to have a viable life. The heart of an animal lover visiting the rescue centre was touched by meeting this young dog with her twisted and flipper-like leg which would always render her disabled to a degree. <br /><br />Karin decided she could assist with aftercare and offered to take her home until the dog had recovered sufficiently to be released.<br /><br />That was in 1998 and Pingu was number 46 on the tattoo records, today IAR Goa is proud to declare that its sterilisation numbers are now in excess of 58,000!<br /><br />Almost fourteen years on, Pingu's release is still being "postponed" and she is still happily "rehabilitating" at the same foster home with her carer. Karin is now a champion of animal welfare here in Goa and still works closely with the brilliant Animal Tracks team and the cat and dog sterilisation legend that the centre is today.<br /><br />Happy Christmas from all of us here in Goa – particularly Pingu!<br /><br />Love Olive xOlivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04055213646211828081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1288168141048150998.post-91937959342670392312011-12-20T06:36:00.000-08:002011-12-20T06:44:30.980-08:00Two’s company, three’s even better when it comes to cats at Christmas!Hello, hello!<br /><br />Here’s a sweet story for the festive season … <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1PNDeADYKrniAhXt4qotImaS7AOSVWekBSN0TvqAm4SMxRby9cVbwGV4ZHQBKgcvjzFEneuutGOSQ3g3F2fmegLocHM_KogrW5eRTmFWntrfhJv3PjcveI0JTNZd9-sEwTdjq9OYm4-TC/s1600/Animal+Tracks+Goa+Kittens.png"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1PNDeADYKrniAhXt4qotImaS7AOSVWekBSN0TvqAm4SMxRby9cVbwGV4ZHQBKgcvjzFEneuutGOSQ3g3F2fmegLocHM_KogrW5eRTmFWntrfhJv3PjcveI0JTNZd9-sEwTdjq9OYm4-TC/s320/Animal+Tracks+Goa+Kittens.png" border="0" alt="International Animal Rescue Goa Orphaned Kittens"id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5688219770322051586" /></a>A few weeks ago two tiny orphaned brother and sister kittens arrived at Animal Tracks. They were so small and vulnerable that their chances of survival were deemed slim. But long term IAR supporters and good Samaritans Karin and Habiba who work constantly to help the cats here in Goa, stepped in to offer intensive care and nurturing at the sanctuary run by Karin. Hundreds of felines have found permanent loving homes with local families thanks to Karin's tireless crusade to help the cat population and her close association with International Animal Rescue Goa.<br /><br />At roughly the same time when the kittens were taken in, in a nearby village Smokey lost his long-time brother and life in his house was not the same. As a solo cat he missed his companion and became depressed. Smokey's owner Melwyn decided he could offer a home to a small kitten as a friend for Smokey, so he contacted International Animal Rescue to ask if there were any suitable waifs needing a home. <br /><br />The two kittens were thriving, thanks to all the special care they were receiving, and soon became strong and healthy enough to move on. As it would be so distressing to split them up, it was thought kinder that they be adopted together and they were suggested for Melwyn and Smokey.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcF2VZ0gl-G_Bm0fP52377OEydqpZHmN9F5WuvIYIEETBKpulbo2RyLU8_XQ95WgRxfiDUXPNabwWnD5fgjmdn2PflKULoc0pbQ6uZHUDpRvkQW8z37-G4bCnWFylJ2IhshIUi2R-RuoN6/s1600/International+Animal+Rescue+Goa.png"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcF2VZ0gl-G_Bm0fP52377OEydqpZHmN9F5WuvIYIEETBKpulbo2RyLU8_XQ95WgRxfiDUXPNabwWnD5fgjmdn2PflKULoc0pbQ6uZHUDpRvkQW8z37-G4bCnWFylJ2IhshIUi2R-RuoN6/s320/International+Animal+Rescue+Goa.png" border="0" alt="Animal Rescue Goa"id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5688220184392240514" /></a>Soon the happy day came when the kittens were delivered to their new home by IAR volunteers. Smokey took to them with no problem and soon all three were scampering around the house together. Everyone decided on the kittens’ names and Mouse and Ripley Lobo have now taken up happy residence in the heart of a loving family and will undoubtedly have a blissful Christmas and long and happy lives. <br /><br />And of course, as IAR adoptees, Mouse and Ripley have been vaccinated, they will receive a year’s free veterinary care and have scheduled appointments for their sterilisation in a few months’ time: all part of the wonderful service International Animal Rescue provides!<br /><br />Bye for now :)<br /><br />Olive xOlivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04055213646211828081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1288168141048150998.post-46364108750843858682011-11-02T04:37:00.000-07:002011-11-02T04:58:19.585-07:00Brownie, the Brigadier and things that go bang in the night!Hello dear friends,<br /><br />We animals will never understand the pleasure you humans gain from fireworks and crackers, and unfortunately some people do not consider the absolute terror that these explosive celebrations bring to domestic animals and wildlife. Here in Goa we have year round fireworks but recently we've had to endure both Ganesh and Diwali Festivals in quick succession.<br /><br />At this time of the year, then again at Christmas and New Year, Animal Tracks has an extra influx of lost and traumatised animals and also owners searching the kennels for their terrified runaway pets.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBLL9XgD6rIyKOwlgPtyrYq29m_qNMEsDwdvEfoZkkczmEgVjqjuzPL5CKNWfRBCHCYpnjPqYAeB6BtPJqC0LpAXDoxxwVC0p-qu_t9_b5zgzaZu8CEt5JcpNKZ0EnaksuSUa7x26-RnCe/s1600/Brownie+Lost+Rescue+Dog+Goa.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBLL9XgD6rIyKOwlgPtyrYq29m_qNMEsDwdvEfoZkkczmEgVjqjuzPL5CKNWfRBCHCYpnjPqYAeB6BtPJqC0LpAXDoxxwVC0p-qu_t9_b5zgzaZu8CEt5JcpNKZ0EnaksuSUa7x26-RnCe/s320/Brownie+Lost+Rescue+Dog+Goa.jpg" border="0" alt="Brownie Lost Rescue Dog Goa"id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670362079072718226" /></a>After Ganesh, as the fireworks were still smouldering in the streets and countryside, a stray dog arrived at the house of an animal lover who has a long association with International Animal Rescue in Goa. Her own dogs had alerted her that there was an intruder at the gate where she found a beautiful green eyed dog that refused to leave despite the protests of her own pack. It was as if the dog somehow knew that this person cared and would help him, as indeed she did.<br /><br />Dogs that are adopted from Animal Tracks are tattooed with an identification number which is kept on file. And as this lost boy had one such tattoo, he was brought to Animal Tracks to be checked over and identified. Apart from being a little worried and thin he appeared to be in good condition and the tattoo number was checked against the records. The IAR stored documents supplied all the necessary information, including the date of adoption way back in 2005, sterilisation, vaccination and, more importantly in this case, the name and details of the owner.<br /><br />IAR's Abby eagerly made the phone call. A retired gentleman by the name of Brigadier Ian da Costa confirmed that yes he had once owned a large brown dog with soft green eyes but sadly we must be mistaken as his beloved Brownie had been missing for the best part of three years after he'd got frightened and run off during the 2008 Christmas fireworks. <br /><br />Brigadier da Costa had of course searched relentlessly for his dear friend but had been forced eventually to give up and presume that the dog had somehow died or in military terms was ‘missing in action.’ But even after all these years and months the Brigadier still grieved for Brownie and always wondered what had become of his best friend. He had only recently destroyed Brownie's adoption papers as he had found them too sad a reminder.<br /><br />He was still doubtful that his dog had actually been found after such a long time, but when the vehicle taking him home pulled up at the Brigadier's house Brownie instantly knew exactly where he was. The best friends were happily reunited with much joyous hugging and plenty of tail wagging from Brownie! <br /><br />I'm delighted to report this lovely happy ending thanks to IAR's tattooing policy and ironically also thanks to fireworks, as the recent Ganesh crackers had probably caused Brownie to panic and run again, but on this occasion the terror had eventually led him back home. <br /><br />Brigadier da Costa has vowed that from now on Brownie will spend all future festival nights safely indoors.<br /><br />So all you humans around the world, please be aware before the seasonal celebrations begin that we animals need to be kept safe and sound and spared all the big bangs and bright lights.<br /><br />Happy festive fireworks!<br /><br />Love from Olive xOlivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04055213646211828081noreply@blogger.com0