Puppies not Camels!

Today one of the local auto rickshaw drivers told me that he heard the camel driver had left Tiruvannamalai with his group of four camels. Big disappointment -- but then felt a sense of relief as I'm sure the working camels would have been in poor condition and the whole thing would have been just one big heartache. However on the subject of camels, I post below a fascinating photograph taken around 1908 of a very interesting travelling camel.

On the subject of animals glad to announce that this is puppy season in Tiruvannamalai, and there are lots of young puppies in all kinds of interesting places. Here is a brick kiln in a field (you can see the tip of Arunachala in the background) that is currently home to four very sweet young pups. I have been short cutting through the brick kiln area and am currently surrogate Mum to the little fellows - who have made a secure and fascinating home for themselves running through the chambers of the brick kiln.

Here they are hoping I have brought them milk -- and at the same time keeping a watchful interest in a couple of ladies peeping over a nearby wall checking out what was happening.

And now that they have reassured themselves that all is safe -- they are eager for their milk breakfast. There are in fact four puppies, with a shy one hiding in the back probably hoping I leave before all the milk is gone!


The very excellent local Animal Shelter has assured me that they will come and pick up the puppies and take them to their Sanctuary, where they will live until they are either old enough to fend for themselves or are adopted. Whatever happens they will be safe and well-fed and have the opportunity to put on weight, get strong and socialise with lots of other puppies. If you are visiting Tiruvannamalai and Ramana Nagar make a point of checking out the great work at the Animal Shelter which is currently home to a large number of dogs (some handicapped), Lakshmi the cow (who has had to have part of her back leg amputated but is mobile and very happy), an injured crow and a nice group of young monkeys.

Animal Shelter Update

Today visited the Animal Shelter to pick up some skin cream for one of my dogs. As always visiting the Shelter is a real pleasure and whilst there caught up with the latest news. As always lots of playful puppies and young dogs, gayly making mischief wherever possible, in this case right underneath a medicine cart - whoops!

Of course I wanted to find out about Baby, the little female monkey orphan that was savaged by some dogs. Happily her wounds are almost healed and she is beginning to be brighter and more interested in whats going on around her.

In the below photograph, the Animal Shelters two highly dedicated vets, Dr. Raju on the left and Dr. Pushpa (in the white jacked) on the right. With tiny Baby in the centre.

Baby is learning how to behave like a monkey and in the next photo plays his favourite game of hanging on to his pretend tree (Dr. Raju).

The next photograph is of a peacock currently receiving treatment at the Animal Shelter. The peacock is an inmate of the Suddhananda Ashram on the northside of Arunachala, where he permanently lives with a colony of four other peacocks.

The poor little fellow got savaged on his rear end by a stray dog. Lets hope that Ashram takes better precautions in the future to protect their beautiful birds.

Before leaving the Animal Shelter wanted to find out about their resident monkey, of whom I have written several earlier postings, here and here. Well apparently the naughty, highly intelligent scamp was able to untie the string fastening of his cage, and made a break for it in the early morning about four days ago. Monkey ended up at the Animal Shelter as a result of an attack by a band of dogs. As the monkey is old and toothless he wasn't able to defend himself and thanks to the intervention of some locals with stout sticks, the dogs were pushed back and the monkey rescued.



For the past two months, the Animal Shelter have been trying to find a happy new environment for the monkey, but due to a series of unfortunate coincidences was unable to ensure a suitable relocation. Word has it that one of the Animal Shelter staff saw monkey in a tree a couple of days ago, so we keep our fingers crossed that the call of freedom ends happily for the dear old-timer and his remaining years are spent munching mangoes high up in the safety of the trees, and far away from bad tempered stray dogs.



Happy to report that the Animal Shelter now have their own website at this link. So please bookmark their site and keep checking with them on their reports of the excellent work they are engaged in, throughout Tiruvannamalai.


In addition in the upcoming Arunachala Grace News, April 2008, we will be having an indepth report from Leslie Robinson, the founder of the Animal Shelter. If you do not yet receive your monthly copy of the Newsletter direct to your email inbox, please check the facility at the left column of this page, to become a free subscriber.

Christmas at Animal Shelter

On Christmas Day I visited the Animal Shelter, where as well as receiving a very large piece of cake, was also able to visit with lots of animal friends. What better way to spend such a special day?

The dear monkey at the Animal Shelter still remains, as the necessary paperwork to send him to a secure facility at Bangalore has still not been processed. As the monkey was getting bored and squashed in his tiny cage, the Shelter got a special enclosure made for him - which although is far from perfect is a HUGE improvement from his previous cramped quarters.

And here is Raja, one of the lads working at the Shelter feeding dear monkey with a nice vegetable snack. You might notice the little monkey friend behind Raja!

Monkey has to go slowly with his food as, due to old age, he doesn't have many teeth left - which is one of the reasons he was so vunerable to attack in the outside world.

At the front desk one little puppy recent arrival ontop the table and two snoozy dogs tucked up under the table.

The below dog was confiscated yesterday from its owner because of neglect. The owner kept the dog tied on a short chain 24-7 to act as a guard dog. Dr. Pushpa (the lady vet) thinks it will take at least a month for the dog to start acting and feeling normal.

Below is Dr. Pushpa examining the pet of the man in the check shirt. He brought the dog from the other side of Tiruvannamalai, thereby bypassing the Government Animal Hospital - even without advertising the great reputation of this Animal Sanctuary continues to grow.

The puppy on the left was picked up off the road just a few moments ago. It was so nervous that it was shaking. So in it goes into its nice bed with a new puppy friend.

After visiting some of the dog compounds, I walked around the small facility and noticed how beautiful it looked now that the trees and plants are doing so well.

And ever in the background is Arunachala - a more brilliant location just could not be found. No wonder the Shelter is doing so well - as its living in the shadow of the Lord.

A Day at the Animal Shelter

I never need an excuse to stop by the Animal Shelter and find out whats happening - having 5 dogs of my own also ensures that I am also in constant need of the Shelter's support and advice. I feel very grateful that the Animal Shelter exists and can help so many discarded, abused, unwanted animals.

In the case of the below puppy he was tossed out in the street and was lucky enough to be picked up by Vishwa - one of the mainstays of the Shelter. So lets keep our fingers crossed that after the frightened puppy has received all necessary treatment (including shots) he will go to a good home. The Shelter desperately needs people to adopt their dogs - so please stop by and have a look at some of their adorable puppies and dogs. And if you can't adopt - then think about visiting them to donate a few Rupees - their work DESERVES SUPPORT.

Below is Dr. Puspha with Vishwa (in the check shirt) with a couple of young assistants, examining a young injured dog.

In the next photograph we have Dr. Raju (our other Veterinary Doctor) and Leslie Robinson, the Founder of the Animal Shelter. Great work guys!

A couple of days ago I posted the story about a dear injured elderly monkey (below photograph) who is awaiting a home at a sanctuary. Things look hopeful as currently Leslie is trying to sort out the paperwork so the monkey can be transported to a Shelter at Bangalore. Hope it happens soon as monkey is getting SO BORED in his cage. Sadly there is nowhere else to put him as the dog facilities are completely filled. Lets hope his release will be soon.

Finally the Animal Shelter has been able to sort out various Trust complications and in the upcoming December Newsletter I will post a full report on their behalf. Also happy to mention that they soon will have their own Website. Once its online I will post link information on this Blog.