Alfie gets a glowing progress report

Hello hello

After suffering a horrible setback when he was only three months old, young dog Alfie and his brother Race are reported to be healthy happy hounds enjoying the best that life in Goa can offer, including the love and care of the local community. Some people can’t tell the twins apart, but we dogs have no such trouble with our canine friends – it’s not about the look, it’s all about the smell!  Alfie now lives with his former foster carers Jan and Nigel, but spends hours on the beach with his brother and the rest of the pack.

Not everyone has heard the story of Alfie’s earlier misfortunes, so let me fill you in. And even if you are reading it for a second time, you may need to have some tissues at the ready ...

Like two peas in a pod!

Alfie and his twin brother Race enjoyed a seemingly safe and almost idyllic existence within the small semi-feral pack of dogs that live in the vicinity of a cluster of quiet guest houses nestled between palm groves behind the dunes of a large expanse of unspoilt beach. All the dogs were happy and healthy. Alfie's mum Lemon had recently been sterilised and vaccinated and the entire pack's welfare was being monitored by IAR Goa. When the time came the twins were also scheduled to be vaccinated and sterilised.

But one day when they were only about three months old a proprietor of one of the guest houses, who had recently happily adopted an IAR rescue cat, called to alert IAR that one of the pups had been involved in an incident and had a severe facial injury. IAR volunteers immediately went to investigate and found the poor terrified pup in a horrible state. They took him to Animal Tracks where he was seen immediately and given shock reducing and painkilling injections, he was then examined and X-rayed which revealed his jaw had been broken in three places, through both sections of his chin and again at one hinge joint.

Poor Alfie's broken face

No external wounds were visible but his teeth were smashed. The conclusion was that the damage to Alfie's bones must have occurred through a heavy impact aimed directly to his jaw. The awful fact dawned on his rescuers that this was not an injury sustained by attack from another dog or even a road traffic accident, but that Alfie had actually been hit in the face by a person most probably wielding a heavy stick or some other implement.

But at such a young age the vets knew it was still possible for the growing pup's soft bones to heal, despite the extent of the damage, but to immobilise his jaw in order for this to take place would involve prolonged and intensive aftercare. With a massive amount of animals in need of care constantly arriving at Animal Tracks each and every day this degree of round the clock nursing would be very difficult and time-consuming for the busy staff to undertake, so two long-term volunteers very kindly agreed to take on the case and care for Alfie at their home.

Skilful work by our fantastic team

Alfie was anaesthetised whilst his face was put back into position, stitched through the jaw bones and firmly bandaged and taped up. In order to medicate and feed him without the use of his mouth, an incision was made and an oesophagus tube inserted through Alfie's neck and the arduous healing process began.

The most difficult part of the task would be to ensure he received enough liquidised food to sustain him through a long period of crucial growth and healing. Alfie was fed and medicated by slowly and frequently syringing the processed mixture into the tube, ensuring he received small sustaining amounts at regular intervals. For the first few days he was heavily sedated with pain relieving drugs and antibiotics and put up little resistance to his new situation and was a willing and cooperative patient.

Despite having been attacked in such a cruel and brutal way, Alfie strangely did not appear to fear his human carers, it was as if somehow he understood why this was all happening and that it was necessary in order for them to help him live.

Voiceless, Alfie’s only means of communication was through the expression in his sad eyes, the rest of his face was swathed in bandages and surrounded by a plastic Elizabethan collar all stitched to a body harness to ensure his jaw was kept clean, protected and immobile. Gradually the bones began to mend and Alfie's regular check-ups at the Animal Tracks outpatients department showed he was healing well and gaining weight despite his very restricted and unusual feeding programme that bypassed his mouth and went straight to the stomach.

Heavily sedated after his operation

Poor Alfie could not understand why he could not chew and taste and poke his nose into everything and all the other things an active young pup would normally do. But he became quite a celebrity amongst the local community, receiving many well-wishing visitors at his foster home who were all eager for the pup to recover and interested in the healing process.

Finally, after 28 long days and nights, the long-awaited appointment came for the bandages and tube to be removed and for the first time Alfie's sweet face was fully visible. Most of Alfie's human friends had only ever seen him shrouded in bandages and the ever present restrictive but essential protective Elizabethan collar. Despite losing a few teeth, Alfie's profile was amazingly perfect, entirely thanks to the care of the entire Animal Tracks veterinary team, particularly expert renowned orthopaedic surgeon Nikhil.

Alfie after his bandages and cone were removed

And so the young pup that had spent a great portion of his short life restricted from using his nose and mouth was able to enjoy solid food, drinking and freedom for the first time in weeks. Soon he began to gain weight and play and interact with the other neighbourhood dogs and animals at his foster home almost as if the awful trauma had never happened.

But sadly the weeks away from Lemon and Race had been too long for him to be reintegrated back to the semi-wild pack, Alfie's dependency on human care had become such that he has been taken as a permanent member of the foster household where he healed. But as it's close to his old canine family he still gets to visit and run with his old pack on the beach and now bears few mental or physical scares from his ordeal, apart from having an understandable terror of anyone holding a stick.

Alfie and Race enjoying some beach time with a friend!

Seeing Alfie and Race tumbling in the surf, play biting and fighting and simply revelling in each other's company is a joy to behold, especially as neither Alfie nor countless other dogs would be alive at all if not for the intervention and care of the wonderful IAR Goa team and volunteers.

That’s enough from me for now!

Love Olive x

Double Trouble for Chutki

Hello my friends

Today I bring you a sweet story which illustrates just how much we dogs in Goa depend on humans like you to look out for us and step in when things go wrong.

There are literally thousands of stray dogs living in Goa: indeed I was one of them until IAR saved my life and gave me a home.Thankfully, just like me, a massive proportion has been treated by IAR at various stages of their lives and many have been sterilised, vaccinated and returned to their area. These feral dogs do not necessarily desire or need to be treated as pets and can lead a contented, social existence amongst their small or extended packs and usually keep within the laws of canine territorial boundaries that govern how things work in the world of dogs. This is an alien concept to most of the western world where the idea of stray animals is synonymous with human abandonment or neglect. Of course if humans offer a helping hand by giving food or providing some shelter from the elements, this is an extremely welcome bonus. But if the animals are not sick or breeding out of control and fighting for territory, life as a free dog really can be a good one. And to coexist within your pack amongst a tolerant human community is not such a bad place for a dog to be.

Some prefer to avoid the close company of people whilst others enjoy the relationship and choose to live alongside their human friends. These social dogs are widely accepted as an enhancement in many communities and are happily tolerated without actual encouragement. The dogs offer protection from intruders and alert communities to snakes and other potential dangers in exchange for a little food and shelter.

A street dog named Chutki is one such animal. She has no owner or specific human companion but is viewed as a friend by many local vendors and semi-permanent seasonal workers who make a living selling food, trinkets and artefacts to the tourists drawn to the scenic clifftop location where she roams.  And these locals look out for Chutki and feed her. So when she developed a large swelling on her side, the locals were quick to alert the IAR volunteers living close by who they know to be associated with Animal Tracks and would offer help to any creature in need.

Chutki was contained within one of the small shops, making it relatively easy for the rescue team to catch and admit her for treatment at Animal Tracks. Chutki was examined by a duty vet and diagnosed with a fast growing and potentially dangerous haematoma. Often these blood- filled swellings will burst and become infected with potentially lethal consequences. Lucky for Chutki, she was given the necessary drugs and the swelling responded quickly and favourably and began to recede without the need for surgical intervention. Within a couple of weeks she had recovered enough to be returned to her patch and was welcomed home by all.

Poor Chutki with her injury

But then only a matter of days later she was in trouble once more. The same IAR helpers were asked to take a look at Chutki after her friends reported that she had sustained a gory injury whilst chasing a cat. During the pursuit through the undergrowth she had managed to get herself virtually impaled on a jagged tree stump. The impact had torn a deep hole in her side which would certainly have led to a painful and lingering death if not for her human friends who alerted IAR once again. An animal ambulance was called in order to transport the injured and bleeding Chutki gently  to Animal Tracks. For her own safely she was contained within a travel cage as is the norm for a wounded animal.

On arrival at the centre she was examined by the duty vet and injected with medication to help ease the pain and shock. The deep cut was fresh but contaminated by splinters and debris. Immediate surgery was necessary to clean and close the wound, as without prompt action infection would have set in and threatened Chutki's life. In the tropical Goan environment untreated wounds can fester and become poisoned in a few hours.

Luckily she recovered well

After the emergency surgery the long healing process began, but this time Chutki knew that she would be returned home eventually as she could recall positive memories of her previous recent stay at Animal Tracks. Chutki knew she was in good hands and was a cooperative patient resigned to another enforced captivity whilst she recovered.

And before too long she was returned home to yet another warm welcome by canine and human friends alike. The warm relationship that has developed between this street dog and the humans with whom she coexists has saved her life twice within a very short space of time. Let's hope that  after these recent incidents Chutki manages to stay out of harm's way from now on, but if not there will always be caring watchful eyes looking out for this fortunate dog who is owned by no one but befriended by all.

Look at that beautiful face!

That’s all for now!

Love Olive x

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