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.

Peggy falls for a tall handsome stranger

Hello my friends,

It's been a while I know since I was last in touch - and all it's done since then is rain, rain, rain!

It's mid monsoon now and of course the day to day routines and emergencies at Animal Tracks continue despite the weather. But with so much mud and torrential rain, my friend Peggy has had to curtail her usual manic racing around and concentrate on more sedate indoor activities to keep her occupied and amused.

So whilst spending the wet season mainly lounging around in the office, reception and staff room, a slower-paced Peggy has had time to get to know the latest recruit to the centre dogs: a tall handsome young male dog who'd arrived in a sorry state with a broken leg. Some kind tourists brought him to the centre after spotting him in trouble outside Subway restaurant in Baga. With expert care from the vets and plenty of rest the break soon healed, but then came the problem of not knowing where he'd come from and where to drop him back. The team went back to the busy resort and showed photos of Subway to all the shop keepers and restaurant workers but no one recognised him despite his distinctive looks and stature.

So, as Subway had no place to go back to, it was decided he could stay and become one of the very fortunate animals that gets to have a permanent home at Animal Tracks.

This gentle giant of a dog was soon to make an impression on Peggy who is always on the look out for some fun. And as Peggy's special friend, Subway was quickly accepted by the others into the resident pack. Now the pair are never far from each other's sides and spend the long monsoon days with romantic mutual grooming sessions or wrestling around and generally getting in everyone's way as they roll around in play. Subway easily outweighs Peggy but he has the good sense to let her win most of their play fights: she may be in love but she still likes to be the boss!

As for me, I’m just happy watching them playing together: after all they’ve been through, they deserve some fun!

Love + woofs,

Olive x

Henri the Kingfisher

Hello hello!

Here at Animal tracks we seem to have had quite a few feathered friends visiting us lately. Our most recent temporary guest was young Henri the kingfisher.

He came into the care of Animal Tracks as yet another tiny, lost and vulnerable baby who would surely have perished left on his own. But thanks to the loving care of the team here he not only survived against all the odds but positively thrived. Everyone helped to look after him but his main carers were Abby and vet Warren. Together they ensured Henri received constant nurturing and was gradually transformed from the awkward looking chick with a huge head into the beautiful bird he has now become.

I'm told kingfishers are quite shy and seldom seen in most of the western world but here in Goa we are blessed to have several varieties living alongside human habitation. Henri is a White Throated variety and they can often be seen around here as a blue flash of colour or patiently sitting on the power lines waiting for prey that can range from insects and fish to small mammals.

I'm very happy to report that Henri has just flown off into his first sunset. There could not have been a better time for him to go as now the dry landscape has been transformed by the nourishing monsoon rains into a lush tropical wetland with an abundance of food to sustain him through his transition back into the wild.

I'm so pleased to share this happy story with you and Henri's flight back to freedom.

So until next time...

Love Olive x