Rescue,Love,Save-1000's of Suffering Animals.India

Dear People...Dear Animal Lovers...Dear Supporters.

Namaste'. I bow to your Innermost Selves.

From my Heart to your Heart, I would like to offer the following gems that are as true now as when I first shared them some years ago. Our Shelter really is special...

Sometimes when animal lovers are visiting for the first time, I tell them to close their eyes for a minute and just experience the quiet energy. I tell them that the softness, the quietness they're experiencing is Grace. And that it is within that field of Grace that everything is unfolding.

Often, early evening, I would just come and sit in the energy, experiencing the wonderful creatures around me. Not focusing on anything in particular. Just sitting. And it felt s-o-o-o GOOD...S-o-o-o PEACEFUL...S-o-o-o HEALING...The dogs and puppies are not kept in cages, but run free and are happy. They are not simply "in captivity". They have a life. They have choices. They can run, rest, play, go off alone...whatever. Such a blessing.

The Shakti sent two incredible Beings to do this Work--Dr. Raja and Vishwa. I've known many fine, fine people in my long years, but these guys are beyond the beyond.They're running our beloved Shelter beautifully, and it's stronger than it's ever been. They are no longer my students. They are on "their own legs", moving with their own strengths, and have taken things beyond where I could have possibly gotten them, even in my prime. I'm humbled by them and sometimes have to remind myself of my own role.

In the first years, I remember, often we moved thru darkness, traversing incredibly difficult terrain. "What", one might ask, "are the qualities that enable one to move thru these spaces?" I think the main ones, the ones that must run deep, deep, deep...are earnestness and perseverance.

We have three full-time veterinarian doctors. Each is a qualified surgeon. Each understands that the physician heals with the Heart. Each understands that caring and love are important.

Our Staff, too, are special, special people. Almost all have been with us ten to fifteen years. All of them, no exceptions, truly care for the animals. But some Special Ones (Supervisor Raja, Pandi, Prem, Dharma) I call "Pure Hearts". Often, their attention alone can heal where medicine fails. The animals know this and love them.

From the very beginning, the Staff have understood that deep healing will only take place if the animals feel safe, cared for, and loved. And it was the Staff who gave them that love and caring. And they understood that the expression of that love was different for everyone. Each Staff member had to find their own way of that expression. They understood that the Precious Ones could tell the difference between someone just being “nice" and someone who really cared. And they all found their own way.

It is so uplifting to experience the happiness of the animals in the Shelter, and as you move around the Municipality, it feels so good to see the transformed relationship between the animals and the people.

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This is a Report that gives an overview of the energy our Work has generated to lift suffering from the Animal Realm.  Keep in mind that once the community's Heart opens to the animals, it opens in every direction. So people are nicer to each other, too. It's simply the nature of the Heart.

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To remind you of the level at which we are operating, below are our STATISTICS SINCE OPENING JAN.2007 THRU DEC. 2024

• Clinic Visits........................111,162
• In-Patient Treatments........221,742
• Anti-Rabies Injections.........27,372
• Emergency Rescues..............8,843
• Dogs Sterilized ......................9,902
• Animal Adoptions..................1,694
• Non-dogsTreated..................14,034 (Included in"Non-dogs Treated" are 4,472 cows & calves, 3,859 goats & sheep, 3,261 cats, 1,448 birds, 449 rabbits...and 545 squirrels/ donkeys/pigs/peacocks/parrots/eagles/horses/deer/ bullocks/ snakes/turkeys/owls/ducks/mongooses/turtles.)

 MONTHLY (these figures are current), we:                 

• treat 800 to 1,500 out-patients in the Clinic, most of whom are "owner dogs";
• give 1,500 to 3,000 treatments to in-patients, almost all of whom are homeless dogs;
• go out on 100 to 120 emergency rescues;
• perform 100 to 125 sterilizations;
• give 130 to 250 anti-rabies injections;
• place 5 to 15 puppies in good homes;
• treat 100 to 200 animals other than dogs.(Mostly cows, calves, goats, sheep, and cats...but many others too.)

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While the stats are impressive, they are not the main thing. THE IMPORTANT THING IS HEART...for each creature to feel safe, cared for, and loved.

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 Here are some recent Rescue stories from Vishwa to warm your Heart.

• Got an 8am call at the Shelter from someone doing pradakshiina. A deer was being chased by several dogs, and jumped a fence. Pandi, Prem, and Hari went in the ambulance. He was a male, 2 1/2 years old, and had antlers. It took them 45 minutes to catch him. They threw a bedsheet over his head and carried him to the ambulance. The poor guy was terrified. Fortunately, no one got hurt. He had several bites on his back. Significant, but not serious. Dr. Raja treated him--cleaned the wounds and gave him three injections--painkiller, antibiotics, and anti-rabies. They kept him two hours and made him feel as safe as possible. Then they released him. He was very, very happy to be free...Om Namah Shivaya.
• Got an 8:30am call at the Shelter. Someone saw a wounded puppy on Pradakshina Road about 8 kms from the Shelter. Prem went. It was a 3 to 4 month old female. The little sweetie was limping badly, so Prem was able to just pick her up. She had a bad compound fracture on her left front leg, and a small wound on her neck. Dr. Mahesh treated her. We've had her 15 days. She stayed in the operation theatre the first 3 days, then was moved to the old clinic where she'd have company. She's made friends with several of the dogs and puppies. It was a bad break, so she's not playing yet. She's just kind of hanging out with them...and sleeping alongside. Vishwa will find a good home for her when she's ready...Om Namah Shivaya.
• Someone closely connected with the Shelter called Dr. Raja at 7:30pm. He saw a dog almost too weak to move near his house, about 7 kms from the Shelter. Arunagiri and Balaram went. It was a male, about 7 years old. He looked like a walking skeleton. You could clearly see every one of his ribs. We've had him two weeks. He hadn't been in an accident. He was just starving to death. He'd walk a short distance, and then collapse. Dr. Raja treated him, including heavy doses of calcium and vitamins. In the morning he got a good warm bath. Slowly, as his appetite gets stronger, his energy is coming back. He now has a strong appetite...Om Namah Shivaya. Mani has been watching him during the day; Balaram at night. He's bonded with both. But he actually likes the entire Staff. He was very happy to be rescued, and will be with us permanently...Om Namah Shivaya.

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Before closing I want to mention My Guru. My Teacher. Many, many years ago during his lifetime, he would give a short teaching each night. And he'd always begin with, "I welcome you All with all my Heart. This is my most important Practice...Welcoming another Being with love."

Hoping that each of you is doing excellently.

May we all be Blessed with greater compassion. May we all be Guided and Protected.

As in previous Reports, I've included a collection of photos. Please enjoy. Remember the theme is simply Love.

PLEASE...REMEMBER...DONATIONS.

THE PRECIOUS ONES NEED US...AND WE NEED YOU.

THESE ARE LEAN TIMES FOR US. RECURRING DONATIONS, EVEN QUITE MODEST ONES, ARE BEST.

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Sending Blessings, Love, and Wishes for all things Good. From all of us...Me, Dr. Raja, Vishwa, our devoted Staff, and The Precious Ones.

May our beloved Planet heal. May we all be blessed with more compassionate understanding. May we all be good to each other.

Leslie, The Aging Expatriate Warrior

Arunachala Animal Sanctuary & Rescue Shelter has earned the following badges on GlobalGiving.

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Links:

• Really, really good video-Hridayam-8 1/2 minutes.
• Henri Jolicoeur-Interview of Leslie-15 minutes.
• Leslie--Centrally important talk to Staff-8 minutes.

Dear People... Dear Animal Lovers... Dear Supporters.

Namaste. I bow to your Innermost Selves.

In these most difficult of times the Shelter is simply going beautifully.

There are many good shelters in India, but ours is unique. The Grace of Arunachala, Ramana Maharshi, and the other exalted Beings of this holy town is palpable. Inside, the Shelter is permeated with love. Some people experiencing it for the first time get teary because they didn't know a place such as ours existed. On the streets, many say they have never, in India, seen people so caring to the animals. And the animals so open to the people.

When we opened in 2007, it was awful. The worst I had seen. There were 350 suffering and dying animals on the streets. Widespread abuse. People avoided coming here. Most visitors to Ramana Maharshi Ashram would not stop for chai or a coconut across the road, because it was too emotionally disturbing to be approached by the pleading suffering puppies and dogs that were abundant.

Today Tiru is totally different. The homeless dog population has stabilized for the first time in forty years, and it is rabies free. There are no more suffering and dying dogs on the streets. There are 10,000 fewer puppies born each year - almost all of whom would have suffered and died. There is no longer widespread abuse, and thus, very few aggressive dogs.

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT HAS HAPPENED IS THAT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE HOMELESS DOGS AND THE PEOPLE AMONGST WHOM THEY LIVE DAY IN, DAY OUT, HAS BEEN TOTALLY TRANSFORMED.

Many years ago, my Baba told me, "A physician heals with the Heart." Our belief is that a creature must feel safe, cared for, and loved for deep healing to take place. So the very core of all our Work is demonstrative Love. Touching. Stroking. Holding. Reassuring. And yes, kissing. This truly, truly is a special animal shelter.

We treat every animal in need completely free of charge, regardless of whether they are homeless, wild, or domestic. That includes operations! Over the years, we have cumulatively given over 300,000 treatments to animals as in-patients or thru our shelter clinic, taking in dogs, puppies, cats, kittens, birds, peacocks, deer, horses, cows, rabbits, snakes, owls, mongooses, ducks, chickens, squrrels, eagles, reptiles, and so on.

Among shelters of larger municipalities:

• We may be the only one that has 24/7 emergency rescue any time of the day or night within 125 kms.
• For adoptions, we are the only shelter that goes out as far as 100 kms to find caring homes for puppies and dogs. We have placed over 1800 in good homes. Vishwa has trained several college students to search for these homes, and the students are so moved by the Work that they will only accept reimbursement for expenses...Om Namah Shivaya.

The general citizenry, the Municipality, business owners, the Police Department, and the Forest Department are very grateful. Generally, everyone is grateful.

And we, too, are grateful for the way it has unfolded. We pray that the knowledge we have been given of how to transform the relationship of the animals with the people - and how to uplift the human community - spreads far and wide. It is so important to millions across India. And in other countries.

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This Report, like many of the others, gives an overview of the energy our Work has generated to lift suffering from both the animal realm and the human realm.

I also discuss why the traffic in Tiru is so difficult for the Precious Ones.

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To remind you of the level at which we are operating,  below are our STATISTICS SINCE OPENING JAN.2007 THRU AUG.2024. 

• Clinic Visits........................105,807
• In-Patient Treatments........220,302
• Anti-Rabies Injections.........26,119
• Emergency Rescues..............8.607
• Dogs Sterilized ......................9,678
• Animal Adoptions..................1,657
• Non-dogsTreated..................11,326 (Included in"Non-dogs Treated" are 4,053 cows & calves, 342 goats & sheep, 2,857 cats, 1,427 birds, 408 rabbits...and 527 squirrels/ donkeys/pigs/peacocks/parrots/eagles/horses/deer/ bullocks/ snakes/turkeys/owls/ducks/mongooses/turtles.)

 MONTHLY (these figures are current), we:                 

• treat 800 to 1,500 out-patients in the Clinic, most of whom are "owner dogs";
• give 1,500 to 3,000 treatments to in-patients, almost all of whom are homeless dogs;
• go out on 100 to 120 emergency rescues;
• perform 100 to 125 sterilizations;
• give 130 to 250 anti-rabies injections;
• place 8 to 20 puppies in good homes;
• treat 100 to 200 animals other than dogs.(Mostly cows, calves, goats, sheep, and cats...but many others too.)

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While the stats are impressive, they are not the main thing. THE IMPORTANT THING IS HEART! For deep healing to take place, a creature has to feel safe, cared for, and loved.

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About the traffic. There are specific circumstances as to why Tiru has one of the most difficult situations for animals and traffic accidents. All other municipalities are on flat land, where there is generally a lot of space for animals to be safe from heavy traffic. Not true of Tiru. The municipality is built around the sacred mountain, Arunachala. So there is much less flat land. Further, Tiru is one of the holiest places in southern India, and draws ever-increasing numbers of people in cars. The traffic is narrowly concentrated around the mountain, and with the increasing number of cars, there are more and more accidents.

When we opened in 2007, there were 5 to 10 emergency rescues a month, which was high for that time. A year ago there were 40 to 70. We now have 100 to 120 rescues a month! IN A NORMAL SITUATION THIS WOULD BE 5 OR 10. This extreme frequency of rescues could only happen in Tiru, and the intensity of traffic is completely beyond our control.  We hope it has now leveled off.

We have our six best Staff doing the rescues. Normally, two go out on each rescue. (They are very loving and good.) About half the accidents are not serious. The Precious Ones are basically mostly in shock, so are quickly able to go back to their territory and be free. However, I sometimes worry about the overload for the Staff.  Please say a prayer for them.

I have recently asked three Spiritual Masters who are the heads of three major ashrams to do ongoing practices to help protect the Precious Ones.

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Here are some new Rescue Stories from Vishwa.  For many of  you, it's your favorite part.

• Got a 1pm call at the Shelter from a shop owner about 20kms away. There was a dog with a bad skin condition, no hair, and sores on her body, and a very bad maggot wound on her nose. Pandi and Prem went out. It was a 2 year old female. She was fast, and It took an hour to catch her. The maggot wound was old, had a lot of maggots, and smelled awful. She was very uncomfortable. Dr. Mahesh treated the maggot wound first. Then this girl got a medicated bath. She started in Cage 2. Mani and Santosh cared for her. She was bathed every 5 days with ointment and tablets. We've now had her two weeks. Her skin is healed but the hair's not fully in yet. She's a real sweetie and playing with all the other dogs. The shop owner who called has visited twice. He's going to adopt her in another two weeks.
• Got a 9:30pm call at the Shelter from someone near the Collector's Office, about 10kms away. She had passed a dog on the side of the road who was crying and had an awful maggot wound on his testicles. Prem and Tamil went, and got him without a chase. Dr. Mahesh and Dr. Raja treated him. It was a bad infection. They gave him a strong painkiller, and worked on him for a 1/2 hour. He started in Cage 2. Mani and Santosh took special care of him...and he came to love them. He spent another month on the veranda, where he completely recovered and played with a number of the other dogs. We then released him into his territory. He was very, very happy...Om Namah Shivaya.
• Got a 7:30am call at the Shelter from the Forest Department. A young male deer had been attacked by several dogs. He had bad, bleeding bites on both back legs. They had chased the dogs away, but the deer was really hurt. Pandi, Dharma,Tamil, Prem, and Hari all went. The deer was 4 years old and had full antlers. It took 1 1/2hrs to catch him. Dr. Mahesh treated him, and gave him three injections-- painkillers, antibiotics, and anti-rabies. They put him in a large cage. Pandi watched over him during the day. Arunagiri at night. We kept him three days, then called the Forest Department, who released him into the Forest. He was very, very glad to get away from us! Om Namah Shivaya.

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Before closing, I always like to say something about my beloved Dr. Raja and Vishwa who are now as I enter "old age", actually running the Shelter. (I am overseeing and advising.) They are s-o-o-o good, it is humbling. At times I feel inadequate. What a blessing they are! They have both been with me from the very beginning. And it is together that we have built this wonderful shelter.

I sometimes call Dr. Raja "Schweitzer", after the famous Nobel laureate philanthropist, Dr. Albert Schweitzer. One of his most profound  qualities is his deep silence. When people converse with him, there is no "window-dressing" of created personality. He relates from the unadorned quietness of his own being in a way that you know is real and true. Thousands of people love this man. You simply know there's no judgement, no duplicity. It is within that quietness and stillness that Dr. Raja cares for animals. And all experience it. Many owners come from as far as 150 kms away to have him treat their creatures.

Many of you know that I sometimes call Vishwa "The Martian" because an Earthling couldn't do what he does. He oversees all the operations. He is up at least seven or eight times a month in the middle of the night on emergency rescues that are often more that 20 kms out of town. And he never tells me when he's overloaded, which he always is. If I feel he's in a money bind, the conversation goes, "Vishwa how in the hell can you be tight on money? Payday was only five days ago." And if I press him, I find out he'd run into a guy who was taking four cows and two calves to be slaughtered, and Vishwa bought them for 30,000 rupees with his own money...Four weeks later, I found out he bought four calves under similar cirumstances for 12,000 rupees. (They were all very weak, and he was only able to save one.) And he's supporting these creatures in a cowshed setup he has behind his house...on his money!!! My beloved Vishwa.

And I am so deeply touched by the Staff. So little of what's going on now depends on me. Inside the Shelter, It isn't an atmosphere that is contrived. The relationship between the Staff and the animals is close and real. Everyone cares for the animals differently according to their own essence. Things ebb and flow quite naturally. The animals experience that, are a part of it, and feel safe and secure. They have choices. They have lives. They're not just in captivity with people "being nice to them".

What a Blessing it is to be able to lift suffering from even one creature. What a blessing it is to experience the Blessing of being able to do it.

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This brings us to the end of the Report.

Hoping that each of you is doing excellently. That you're unfolding beautifully and strongly inside. My Baba said that nothing is gained without some inner austerity.

As in previous reports, I've included a collection of photos. Hoping you enjoy them. Remember...the theme is simply LOVE.

PLEASE...REMEMBER...DONATIONS.

THE PRECIOUS ONES NEED US...AND WE NEED YOU!

RECURRING DONATIONS, EVEN QUITE MODEST ONES, ARE BEST FOR US.

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With love, blessings, and wishes for all things good...May we All, each of us, act in a way that emits uplifting, healing energy. May we be Guided and Protected. May we be kind to each other. May those not as fortunate prosper.

Leslie, the Ageing Expatriate Warrior

Arunachala Animal Sanctuary & Rescue Shelter has earned the following badges on GlobalGiving:

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Links:

• Really, really good video-Hridayam-8 1/2 minutes.
• Henri Jolicoeur-Interview of Leslie-15 minutes.
• Leslie--Centrally important talk to Staff-8 minutes.