Blackshe learns that there’s no place like home!

Hello my friends

My story today is something of a cautionary tale for any bold young pup tempted by the call of the wild!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

Love Olive x

I’m forced to "toe the line"!

Hello dear friends,

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.)

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.

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.

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.

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!

Olive x

Nano the calf hitches a lift to safety

Hello, hello

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

That’s it for now – until next time ...!

Love Olive x

Sally's fall from grace

Hello my friends

Here’s a cautionary tale if ever there was one!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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!

Love Olive x

Madame Muriel

Hello dear friends,

Life for an abandoned pet is always hard but here in the tropical climate ‘breed’ dogs have a particularly difficult time.

Muriel is a Pomeranian Spitz

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.

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.

Muriel was suffering from a skin condition

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.

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.

Muriel looking so much happier!

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.

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.

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.

Muriel and Meera

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!

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!

That’s all for now!

Olive x

Louie’s gluey mishap

Hello my dear friends, here’s a tale that will ruffle a few feathers!

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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!

That’s all for now.

Love Olive x

Pingu’s release is permanently postponed!

Hello again!

Just time for one more story before the festive season begins …

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:

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.

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.

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 …

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.

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.

Karin decided she could assist with aftercare and offered to take her home until the dog had recovered sufficiently to be released.

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!

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.

Happy Christmas from all of us here in Goa – particularly Pingu!

Love Olive x