Vet students visit Goa

 Hello friends, 

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...

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

There was a gas anaesthesia machine available, which was used for prolonged and special surgeries. Use of gas anaesthesia was impractical for the high volume of spaying and neutering being done routinely.

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!

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.  

For more information about IAR and the fantastic work they do, visit their website.

From International Animal Rescue: Cane’s Sugar Sweet Solution

WARNING: Contains graphic images of injury!

As many of you may know, most of the dogs that pass through the International Animal Rescue centre here in Goa are issued with an IAR collar (or belt as they are called here). They are made of fabric with the words “International Animal Rescue” 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.

My pal Peggy modelling her IAR collar

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.

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.

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.

Thankfully ace shot 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.

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.

Cane was safely sedated and secured

Thanks to generous public donations, 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.

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.

Poor Cane would have been in great pain before his rescue

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.

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. So never ever disregard an open sore and always seek medical advice if your animal appears to have even a small open wound.

The filthy rope was cut away

Our amazing team have strong stomachs, that's for sure!

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 one maggot remains.

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.

The wound was packed with sugar

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.

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!

 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. My musings are usually bitter sweet by nature but this one’s an actual sugar Cane sweet success story.

In recovery!

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.

The wound is healing beautifully now

International Animal Rescue: Olive's Blog

It need never be too late for a new beginning

Hello dear friends,

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 Animal Tracks. 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 Facebook 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.

Recently the plight of an old dog called Skubi was posted on some Facebook timelines by supporters of International Animal Rescue Goa with a wonderfully positive outcome.

Skubi at Animal Tracks

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.

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.

Skubi's Facebook appeal

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.

A smiling Skubi with his new mum!

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.

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.

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.

The rewards, even short term can far outweigh the pain of inevitable loss at losing a true friend.

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.

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.  

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.

Skubi has been truly blessed to meet Dagmar and her family and find his final forever home.

 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 generous donations, however large or small, which enable International Animal Rescue to focus on helping more animals in the future.

Skubi meets his new family

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.

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.

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.

That’s all from me for now!

Love from Olive x

Theo's Story - from International Animal Rescue in Goa

Many years ago I was a stray down on my luck and in desperate need of help. But then I was taken to Animal Tracks 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.

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.

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.

Theo is no lightweight!

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. 

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Bhagat and Theo - together forever!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

 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?

Out for a jog on the beach!

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.

Theo has already made friends with other dogs he has met at the "gym"

And finally please never buy a cute pedigree puppy or kitten 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.

That’s enough of my preaching for today. I’ll keep you posted on Theo’s progress as time goes on.

Bye for now!

Love Olive x

What a handsome pair!

A Christmas message from Olive at International Animal Rescue in Goa

The Improbable Love Birds 

Hello dear friends!

Today I bring you a heart-warming tale for the festive season.

The shy pigeon

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.

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.   

The handsome crow

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.

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.

Love birds

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.

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.    

Firm friends

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.

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!

Love from Olive x

Olive's Diary comes to us from International Animal Rescue in Goa

From porcupine quills to pickle jars

Hello, hello!

The variety of work here at the IAR Animal Tracks centre 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.

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.

The dog prior to release

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.

What a relief for the poor animal!

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.

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.

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.

Happy, but no doubt a bit shaken by his ordeal

The second incident involved another dog that had been horrifically impaled in the throat by a porcupine quill.

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.

The quill was firmly stuck in the poor dog's throat

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!

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.

This dog is lucky to be alive

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!

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.

That’s all from me for now!

Love Olive x

What A Difference A Month Makes

Hello my friends

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.

World Animal Day is an affirmation of our appreciation of how all animals enhance the lives of us humans.

Ironically a young male German Shepherd was found by the Animal Tracks team after he had been abandoned close to the rescue centre on 4^th 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.

Poor Bruno was in a sorry state when he was taken in by IAR Goa

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.

Bruno is now recovering well with treatment from
IAR Goa and a new loving home with Gopi

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.

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.

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.

That’s all from me for now!

Love Olive x