Axle the Accidental Adventurer

Hello my friends!

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!

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.

The dog cowering on the fuel tank

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.

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.

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.

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.

Axle being extricated with a catchpole

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.

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.

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.

Axle safe at Animal Tracks

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!

That's all for now!
Love Olive x

Orphaned squirrels come on in squeaks and bounds!

Hello again!

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.

The pups are thriving

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.

Three's a crowd at mealtimes!

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!

Love Olive x

Chain reaction

Hello hello!

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.

Dog with neck wound

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.

Dog after treatment

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.

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.

That’s all for now!

Love Olive x

Buffalo jam!

Hello my friends!

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 ...

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

Love Olive x

A little white bull

Hello dear friends

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.
But freedom usually comes at a cost and some local cattle have quite a hard time living here in Goa.

Nandini's poorly leg

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.

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.

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.

Nanson

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.

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.

Stella keeps guard over the new arrival

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.

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.

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.

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.

Love Olive x

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