Two’s company, three’s even better when it comes to cats at Christmas!

Hello, hello!

Here’s a sweet story for the festive season …

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

Bye for now :)

Olive x

Brownie, the Brigadier and things that go bang in the night!

Hello dear friends,

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

Brigadier da Costa has vowed that from now on Brownie will spend all future festival nights safely indoors.

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.

Happy festive fireworks!

Love from Olive x

Shep beats the odds

Dear friends,

Everyone at Animal Tracks is proud of the amount of successful adoptions that regularly take place but generally those chosen animals fall into the cute and cuddly category. It's never easy taking on a disabled or sick animal that will need long term intensive care but for those who do these prove to be rewarding partnerships. Sometimes a human and an animal just mesh together and looks and condition have no bearing on the relationship and bond that forms.

An Indian lady who has lived and worked in Finland had come to Goa to sort out the final details of her new home here where she is soon to retire. Whilst she was organising her imminent move she stayed in a hotel in one of the nearby coastal resorts. Beneath her balcony each day she noticed a dog in such a sorry state who looked up at her and touched her heart. She began to feed him and realised the extent of his poor condition.

She was already aware of IAR and the amazing work carried out at Animal Tracks so Shep, as she named the dog, was brought to the centre where the vets could assess him and decide what could be done to help. Poor Shep, although not an old dog, had obviously fallen on hard times and most of his once long coat was matted or missing and his entire body was covered in sores and mange.

An old injury to a front leg would sadly permanently render him disabled but Shep had the brightest face and loveliest soft trusting eyes and despite whatever he'd been through, he still had faith in humans. It was decided that he should be admitted to Animal Tracks and receive intensive care and regular good food and affection. He had the best medication and enjoyed regular baths to sooth his skin and help relieve the irritation.

The lady returned to Finland in order to finalise her affairs there, but not before pledging to return for Shep and take him to live with her in her new home for the rest of his life which will no doubt be a very happy one. For the time being Shep is being pampered while he recuperates at a temporary foster home with one of IAR's long term supporters, but he will soon be reunited with this special individual who mercifully could not turn away and see him alone and suffering.

Olive x

Introducing the Civet Sisters

Hello everyone!

Meet two cute baby orphans that were recently brought in to us here at Animal Tracks after being rescued by the Forestry Department of Goa. IAR has long had a close working relationship with the Forestry Department and because the vets here have great success in raising small wild orphans, they knew we'd welcome the civet kittens for short term care. Then, when they are able to forage for food and fend for themselves, we will bid them a fond goodbye and they will be released back into the jungle.

The civets – aka “toddy cats” - are undeniably cute. But they need to remain as wild as possible so that their successful transition back to the wild is not jeopardised by domestication. So the staff are not handling them unless they absolutely have to. At least these two kittens have each other for company and are not lost single babies.

Civets will eat almost anything, including insects and small rodents, but have a voracious appetite for berries and soft fruit. They are agile and great tree climbers equipped with powerful claws, sharp teeth and a feline appearance. But civets are actually far closer relatives to mongoose than any species of wild cat. They love to drink the palm flower sap which is locally fermented to produce a potent alcohol called toddy, hence their more common local name as toddy cats.

When back in the wild the civet sisters will need to be vigilant and quick as civets are prey to many other wild animals including snakes and crocodiles, but the main threat to the survival of the species could eventually come from man as increasing deforestation is resulting in less natural habitat for civets and many other creatures.

This would be a sad irony as, by way of seed dispersal and propagation of new vegetation, these lovely little animals are efficient maintainers of the precious ecosystem.

So for now the sisters will remain with us as an exotic addition to the stream of temporary guests that find sanctuary here at Animal Tracks but pretty soon they'll be released to live and breed and play their roles in the natural beautiful balance of life in the Goan jungle.

That’s all from me!

Bye for now!

Pigs in clover

Hello dear friends

From time to time over the past couple of years there's been an update on our resident brother and sister pigs. They came to the centre in May 2009 as gorgeous, tiny piglets who had lost their mother.

They were adopted, but sadly circumstances led them to come back to us and since then they have been happy and contented in their own special enclosure, close to all the daily activity near reception where they have become very popular members of our extended family and provided much interest and amusement to centre visitors - and everyone else too come to that!

But now for the latest! Recently an IAR supporter expressed an interest in the pigs. She lives in the Indian state of Pune and has eight acres of protected land where she allows a variety of rescued animals to live in peace and freedom. It seemed like a dream come true for the lovely pair, although they have been very happy as centre residents. Nevertheless, the opportunity to roam free and safe whilst still being cared for and loved was simply too good to miss.

So it is a bittersweet story that leads us all at Animal Tracks to be saying a very fond farewell to the porky pair and wishing them all the very best in their wonderful new life. We're going to miss having them around, that’s for sure!

Bye for now!

Olive x

A fond farewell to two dear friends

A somber 'hello' from me today. It's a sad fact that as time goes by we are all likely to lose a dear friend.

Most permanent centre animals come to stay with us because they are old or sick and have no other place to go, so it's understandable that from time to time someone passes away. But recent days have been touched with a double sadness as we not only had to withstand the sad loss of young Subway, our newest pack member, who passed away too soon after a battle with a disease that caused his organs to shut down, but this was also quickly followed by the death of dear old Plucky who was probably the oldest amongst the live-in dogs, and had spent her latter years in comfort.

Subway had only been at the centre for less than a year but was a very special and well loved member of the family and also the official boyfriend of the infamous Peggy.

Plucky came to Animal Tracks many years ago. She had lost an eye and was already old and quite lame then, so she was taken in as a centre dog to be looked after for the rest of her days.

Both of these dear friends will be greatly missed by us all, but it's a comforting fact that, however short or long an animal's life is, if they are a member of the Animal Tracks gang there is no better place they could be.

Proud mother Mary gets a helping hand

Hello dear friends. Just when you thought I'd deserted you forever, I’m back and bursting with news!

There's always something different happening at Animal Tracks and we never know what wonderful creature in need of help will arrive next. This week I was privileged to witness an event that was sad then happy in quick succession, right here in the reception area where I spend my time meeting and greeting everyone.

When the natural delivery of her kid hit serious complications and became a life-threatening situation, the owner of Mary the pregnant goat had the quick thinking and care to rush her into the centre.

When she arrived, the distressed goat was immediately seen by the duty vets. Their expertise in such cases without doubt saved Mary's life, as her kid was in the wrong birth position and it was quite likely that one or both animals would not survive. So right there on the spot the team sprang into action in order to save Mary as she lay on the reception floor.

Sadly though the kid was stillborn. But then sadness turned to joy as very soon there were signs that the drama was not yet over: there was another kid arriving and this one thankfully was very healthy and delivered smoothly. She was the perfect, tiny image of her mother.

Without the prompt, professional intervention of the IAR team all three animals would have undoubtedly died, so it was just amazing to be there to witness the birth of Mini and her first meeting with her proud mother Mary.