Sponsor an Animal at VSCPA
VSPCA has one of the most comprehensive animal shelters in India: dogs and cats, cattle and birds, and wildlife that was being illegally kept to be sold dead or alive. As if that wasn't enough work to do, we also have our ambitiously eco-friendly 100% organic farming and renewable energy projects to run, plus our medical facilities for the animals!
As much as we'd like to take in every needy animal in Visakhapatnam–and trust us, there are plenty–we have neither the space nor the resources. However, there are some truly distressed individuals we come across that we just cannot turn away. The dedication of our volunteers is boundless, but the funds available to cover the costs of caring for our animals are not.
Meet some of our family below and consider donating $20 a month which is an average price for all types of the animals care (less than $1 a day!) to cover some of the costs so that we may expand our family even more. All of us at VSPCA greatly appreciate your support – especially the animals!
Our website volunteer has kindly agreed to take the time to put your name (or the name of someone you are honoring) next to the story with all new sponsorships of six months or more.
Please note that donations made on this page are not USA Tax deductible. If you can benefit from USA tax deduction please visit our donation page and see the Donate By Mail section.
Sponsorship stories written by VSPCA staff veterinarian Dr. Bhanu and volunteers Scott Feldstein, Judy Hungerford, Brook Bennett, and Janine Vocke.
Listen to the song “I Need Love”, donated to VSPCA by Chris Gormley, and performed by his band Daylight for Dead Eyes:
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Williams
Williams was rescued from a person who purchased him for a sacrifice. We were alerted by one of our supporters and we immediately rescued Williams to stop this kind of illegal practice. He came to us terribly dehydrated and very weak, but is recovering well. He enjoys the entire area 9 acres at VSPCA all by himself walking the entire stretch. Williams enjoys the pond with the buffaloes and moves around with the horses and cows. He also accompanies our shelter helpers. He is almost like a small child following everywhere and very friendly.
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Maria
[Sponsored by Adele Carroll until March 25th, 2014!] Maria was hit by a car in town as a small puppy and VSPCA was alerted. We provided Maria medical care, vaccines, and treatment. She grew and blossomed in her new happy sanctuary. But she could not walk and dragged her hind legs everywhere she went. Even paralyzed, Maria would run and play, but she was developing sores on her knees. Through donations, Maria has a cart for her size since she was small and since this she is able to run around with companions in the shelter every day. She is very lovely and cuddly, but Maria does need funding for her specialized care.
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Charlie II
Charlie II walked his way into the Kindness Farm from the hills nearby. With heavy rains for the last few months and with the recent cyclone bringing in more rains, one fine day he walked into our area from the nearby hills and neighbouring pond. Star tortoises are endangered species and thus have high protection attributed under the Indian law. This kind is popular in our areas and we do our best rescuing and rehabilitating them. Our main sanctuary has dozens of them well taken care of and saved from cruel fate.
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Munk
[Sponsored by Sarah Newman until May 17th, 2014!] He was named as Munk as he looks and behaves like a monkey, with his very friendly and playful nature. He was rescued on the roadside two months ago in a condition of complete collapse. His left hind limb was completely swollen with bruising on the medial aspect which made him unable to get up for 4 days. The bruise has turned in to an open wound with pus discharge a week later. It was very hard on him at that time. He felt very weak, not eating, and crying all the time.
With daily treatment and special care the wound healed up to 80% and now Munk is very active, eats and plays well. The healing is under progress. He in now mingling with the other kittens and enjoying his new life, and ready for his sponsor.
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Chenny
[Sponsored by Alexandra Rukeyser until August 29th, 2013!] Chenny was very sadly abandoned by her person. At the shelter she started crying the whole day for her person and would not eat. One day she ran away from the shelter looking for them. Luckily she was found two weeks after she left the shelter by our staff person. But again she ran away to a village nearby our shelter. This time it was one of our vets who found her while coming to the shelter in the morning. Can you imagine that she responded to his call and ran behind his motor bike for almost 2 kms. (she recognized him as he used to feed her and she had affection for him) Finally she settled down in our vet's resting room. When nobody is there in the room she sleeps on the chair of our vet and when anybody enters the room she will get down from the chair and sleep on the floor. We are happy that she is with us now and will continue to take care of.
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Blacky
Blacky came to us when he was a pup. We rescued him with a fractured limb (Left hind limb). The broken limb became gangrenous as it might have occurred long back. The limb was very nasty to look with offensive smell. At first we thought of amputation of affected portion of the limb. But one of our vets (Dr. Rajeswar) has taken his responsibility and treated him with daily dressing of the injured part for about two months with much patience. He was restricted to the kennel for those two months. Slowly the fractured ends were healed up with complete healing of the external wound. And now finally he is moving and even running also with a slight deviation of the affected limb. There is a famous saying, "I dressed the wound. God healed it" which we feel applies here.
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Puli
This is an unfortunate story where we couldn't save his mother from severe illness because of the negligence of the owner. His mother suffered from chronic bloat when he was 20 days old. The owner of the cow tried for 20 days to cure the illness of the cow with locally available facilities. But as he couldn't bear the expenses he left Puli and his mother in VSPCA Our shelter vets attempted a surgery (Rumenotomy) suspecting foreign bodies in stomach to get rid her from illness. Surprisingly there was a tumor found at the opening of esophagus in to the stomach obstructing the outflow of accumulated gases in the stomach causing bloat. The tumor was removed but unfortunately his mother died on 4th post-operative day because of the drastic deterioration of the condition by the time our vets attempted surgery.
He is under very special care in our Goshala with a nutritious diet but was lonely for his mom. Now he is 3 months old but he couldn't drink milk on his own as he was accustomed to take milk by suckling the staff's finger dipped in milk. However now he has forgotten his loneliness by roaming with his friend Chotta (a shelter dog in Goshala) behind the shelter workers. See Chotta in the photo.
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Toffee
We found Toffee on road side with injuries all over the body and it was unable to move from that place. We took to our shelter and given first aid. He was very docile and friendly to us. Our vets examined him and found fracture of right forelimb and was operated to repair the fracture. As the fracture was just below the shoulder joint they have found no way to repair except for wiring the fractured ends including the joint which made the joint immovable. We are happy to see Toffee now moving and bearing weight on the operated limb two months after surgery.
Doublestuff
[Sponsored by Karen Atkin until June 31st, 2013!] This beautiful cat has grown up in the shelter. Someone found her in a trashcan when she was a small kitten, and brought her to us. She's very gentle, and enjoys sitting on laps. Unfortunately, it's incredibly difficult to adopt out cats in this part of India, due to superstitions and the likelihood that someone would steal them for their meat. We're glad she enjoys a lot of feline companionship, because we intend to keep her safe at the shelter for as long as we can!
Turmeric
One time Turmeric had a home of his own. He was lucky, because very few cats in India do. Unfortunately, Turmeric's owners surrendered him to us for unknown reasons, and he's had a hard time coping with this. He wants to be around humans, but he doesn't have the courage yet to trust people. We hope that with enough time, he'll understand that he's in a safe place, and everyone at the sanctuary loves him.
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Guddi (Cow)
Guddi was born in our shelter. After birth he used to get up and hit the surrounding walls in the shelter frequently. At first we thought it as normal but after 2 days we came to know that it was blind. It was given special care and nutritious diet since then. It used hit its fellow animals also. The same thing continued nearly for 2 months but now he got acclimatized in the sick animal shed special shed where he is being raised. Now he is happily moving throughout the shed as if there is nothing wrong in his vision.
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Midnight
This poor Jersey Cow named Midnight was in-transport to a slaughterhouse with other cows where she slipped and fell into a hole near the A.V.N College (which is well-known for slaughtering of cows near Kotha Road in our city of Visakhapatnam). Because she fell there as the opportunity to rescue her in the early hours of 5th July (2011) and we brought her to our shelter , after an altercation with the truck-owners who wanted to send her to slaughter. So for the past 8 months she was safe in our shelter with other animals. Then on 10th March (2012) we came to know that she was pregnant at the time we saved her from being slaughtered as she delivered a beautiful male calf early in the morning, who we named Nandi! So she was actually in her early pregnancy (1 month gestation) at that time of rescue where she almost went to slaughter, by grace alone we saved two lives with a thought of saving one life.
Raja
Raja (means “King” in Hindi) escaped from the slaughterhouse and of course when we found him we gave him refuge. He was very frightened at the time but has since become calm and regal. VSPCA hopes to get a pond for the water buffalo on our new land someday, as they love to bathe and right now we have no facility to bathe them (though they do get a twice weekly shower and scrub-down.)
Agi Ramudu
[Sponsored by Alexandra Rukeyser until August 29th, 2013!] Agi Ramudu joins our steadily growing stable of horses and has quickly been let into the social circle of our previously-rescued horses, BPHV and Guddi Guram. We found Agi Ramudu abandoned on a beach. He was injured when we found him and believe his owner left him because he was no longer able to work - on a farm, for pony rides, or whatever - a far-too-common practice here in India. Can you imagine abandoning your child because they failed their exams and were unable to graduate? As long as people fail to realize that keeping an animal is a responsibility and not a simple matter of ownership, our shelter will continue to be in danger of overflowing and running out of the necessary resources to care for all our resident animals. Agi Ramudu is now enjoying a happier life, getting to graze daily on the nearby hills.
Little
Sponsored by Elin Chistyakov until August 29th, 2013! We would like to thank Leela, one of a growing number of locals who has been touched by our message of animal welfare. She called us when she found Little - named for his adorability - by the side of the road, probably hit by a car. He has been one of the lucky ones and has made a complete recovery, becoming one of the darlings of our shelter. With his positive energy and ability to warm up to people, Little has been become a top candidate to become our next Dr. Paw. It is a program we are hoping to expand, and has truly shown to be a silver lining in the dark cloud of poor treatment of animals which we are battling everyday in Vizag. Former Dr. Paw, Victor, traveled to a local institution for children with mental disabilities. He was very well received and truly furthered our cause with the adults and children, alike. By implementing programs to serve the community, we can turn the negative of animal suffering into a positive.
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Snoopy
This sweet guy came to us after he was hit by a car on one of India's busy streets. His back, left leg was fractured and the bone was sticking out, exposing a dreadful, open wound. At first we thought our only choice was amputation, but decided instead to repair it, and let it heal for several months. And it worked! He's now able to play with the rest of the dogs on all four legs, with just a slight limp.
ABHA
This poor Jersey Cow was in-transport to a slaughterhouse with other cows when she slipped and fell into a hole near the A.V.N College (which is well-known for slaughtering of cows near Kotha Road in Visakhapatnam). She was rescued in the early hours of 5th July and brought to shelter, after an altercation with the truck-owners. She is now safe in our shelter with other animals, and would love your support!
Three parrots
[Sponsored by Patricia J. Latas DVM until September 9th, 2013, and another three parrots sponsored by Petra Kipp until September 21st, 2013] On July 16th, 2011 we got a call from Mr. Radha Krishna, a local resident of Boyapalem, Devimetta, stating that an astrologer was carrying 3 lovely Parrots in mid-day under the hot sun for his daily work. Immediately our rescue team tracked down the man. The poor parrots were very weak, with no food or water provided by the astrologer. After a long argument we rescued the parrots and warned the man about the consequences.
The parrots have been fed and are now safe in our aviary facility designed exclusively for parrots, where they will complete a rehabilitation program.
Bala
This small baby Monkey was rescued by our team after we received a call from A.Sujatha of Vivekananda Nagar, Yendada, Visakhapatnam. She was injured by a plastic rope which had been tied to her neck, deeply cutting her skin. The cut is so deep that she is currently unable to eat or chew. We are very closely following her like a baby and providing her best medical treatment and care.
Melanie
[Sponsored by Karen Atkin until June 31st 2013!] This little girl is terribly frightened. We rescued her from some people off the street who were trying to kill her for her meat. Now, she has a hard time trusting anyone but the other kittens. She spends most of her time hiding in the cubbyholes and hideaways of the Kitten House. Please let her know she's loved, and consider sponsoring her!
Jimbo
Jimbo is a very territorial, protective dog. He's been badly hurt by people, and wishes he could still trust someone. Once upon a time, he had a family of his own, but was thrown out on the street until we found him. He likes to pick a spot away from the other dogs, and protect the other animals at the sanctuary. Please consider sponsoring him, so we can make his life just a little bit better!
Chipatti
This sweetheart wants to be your friend so badly, but he's never sure if he can quite trust you. He'll wag his tail vigorously, but back up as you approach him. But with enough gentle patience, he'll come over to you, expecting a professional belly rub. He's spent most of his life at the shelter, having arrived with his five siblings after his mother was killed. He needs all the extra love he can get!
Sapphire
Some of the sweetest dogs at the shelter are the ones who've been hurt the most. And this girl is one of them. When she was just a puppy, she came to our shelter. Her eye was already injured, and beyond repair. Through the years, her condition hasn't stopped her from anything! She's grown into a beautiful, happy dog.
Bhimboy
Bhimboy wasn't born in the shelter, but his eyes were still closed when he arrived. Having been bottle-fed, he's grown into a happy, healthy dog. Right now, he runs freely with dozens of other dogs, but we hope that one day he'll find a home where he can get the one-on-one attention that he's never known. In the meantime, we hope to find a sponsor who will be able to make his life as enjoyable as possible!
Sitha
One night a boy drove up on a motorcycle, carrying an animal with a cloth tied over her head. He quickly gave her to us, and left. Underneath, was a terrified monkey with several fingers missing from her left hand. Monkeys are incredibly intelligent animals. So, unfortunately, once they've been abused, they're likely to be violent due to their fear. We spent months treating and working with Sitha, who has come a long way. We feel she deserves all the bananas she likes. (And yes, that's a lot!)
Licorice and Candy
This beautiful, black bunny and this sweet, white rabbit were surrendered by their owner. He was being transferred to a new area, and decided his rabbits wouldn't be moving with him. Thankfully, they were sent to us instead of the slaughterhouse. Now they have ample space to hop around and play with each other. And of course, they also enjoy posing for pictures and soaking up as much attention as they can get!
Aloo
[Sponsored by Karen Atkin until June 31st 2013!] One of the most handsome, yellow cats at our sanctuary nearly didn't make it here. He was rescued from people along the side of the road who were trying to catch and kill him for his meat. Aloo is very shy; Unfortunately he's still traumatized from his experiences as a kitten. He spends most of his time sleeping on the high balconies and bridges, and watching the rest of the cats play down below him. With enough time, we hope his fear of people will lessen ... especially of those he can trust!
Milo
When you walk into the cat house, you're more than likely going to find Milo scaling the walls. He's a climber, and he loves the attention it brings him. Milo was rescued from cat hunters, who were trying to catch him on the roadside. In this part of India, people are very superstitious of cats, and many people eat them. Milo was saved from an unimaginably-painful death caused by the cat hunters. Instead, he's going to live a long, happy life climbing on all the platforms and ladders in our newly-built cat house!
Jack
As soon as you come to the shelter, you're guaranteed to be greeted by a swarm of wagging tails. Jack is always part of the welcoming committee; so excited to see both new and familiar faces! He came to the shelter as a small puppy, and has grown up amongst the rest of the dogs. He gets along well with everyone, and has a very gentle demeanor. We hope that one day he'll find a home to call his own, forever.
Channa
Many of the cats at the shelter are frightened by people, due to their past experiences, but Channa loves attention. She's one of the first to jump in your lap, and the last to leave. She came to us as a kitten after being attacked by a pack of dogs while she was searching for food along the side of the road. Channa's grown up into a playful cat, and enjoys swatting keychains, backpack straps, and anything that dangles.
Dosa
This beautiful cat was found injured along the side of the road. Her back leg was in very bad shape, having most likely been hit by a car. Someone made an SOS call, and we came and brought her to the shelter. She's made an excellent recovery, and enjoys spending time with the rest of the cats in the outside section of the cat house.
Buji
[Sponsored by Paulomi Joshi until April 25th, 2013!] As soon as you walk in the kitten house, Buji is guaranteed to be right beside you, wanting to play. Her happy personality is contagious, yet she’s been through so much!
Having lost her mother, Buji curled up beneath a parked motorbike, trying to hide from the rain. Only a few weeks old, she was so small and afraid. She cried all night until our sanctuary manager found her, and brought her to the shelter. Now she spends her days playing with the other kittens, and anxiously awaiting new toys.
Jessie
In 2006, VSPCA got a call from News Channel 9. They asked for us to help a herd of cows, which were being forced to walk more than 30 miles to the slaughterhouse during the heat of the day. Due to the fact that it was an illegal slaughterhouse, VSPCA was able to intervene. The cows never made it to the slaughterhouse; Instead they made it to our sanctuary. And it's safe to say that Jessie is extremely happy about that slight change in plans.
Susan
This poor girl tried so many times to have a calf of her own, but every pregnancy resulted in a miscarriage. Then, one day, she gave birth to a calf, who was unfortunately very sick. This was the last straw for Susan's owner, who decided to sell her, as well as her dying calf, to the butcher. We stepped in at the last minute and rescued Susan, however, her calf had already died from his illness. We hope that being surrounded by the other cows provides some comfort to her, having been through so much. Maybe one day she'll adopt a motherless calf of her own.
Carrot and Pebbles
These two little bunnies, and their sister, used to live in a meat shop. They weren’t given proper food or water, they had developed mange, and were incredibly weak. Now that they’ve been rescued from slaughter, they spend their days grooming each other, and happily gnawing on the shoes of anyone who walks in their pen.
Autumn
Autumn's elegance draws her out from the rest of the crowd. Her quiet, calm demeanor enhances her beauty. She used to belong to a family, but was brought to us when they discovered their granddaughter was allergic to her. Feeling abandoned, she's now very wary of people. It's hard to say what other forms of abuse she's endured throughout her short life. Her mysterious eyes seem to yearn for someone to listen to her story. For now, the best we can do is show her affection.
Squirrel
Squirrel enjoys sunbathing on the bench in the outdoor-enclosure of the cat house. She's a mild-tempered girl, who wishes she was still part of a family. Many people in India refuse to be near a cat, let alone have one as a pet. We're not giving up hope, but Squirrel will likely be with us for a long, long time.
Sundara
Sundara (meaning beautiful) is Rani's daughter. (You will see Rani's profile on this sponsorship page.) Rani was not good at allowing Sundara to feed from her, so their wonderful keeper, Ramarao, nursed the calf from the bottle. And look how well she has grown up. She lives up to her name with her placid nature and beautiful appearance. As our cattle shelter is so crowded now she may be one of the many cows that will go to our new Kindness Farm when it has the necessary infrastructure built there to shelter and house the animals.
Star Tortoise
[Sponsored by Erika Seshadri until April 21st, 2014!] They may be small – maybe that's why nobody notices them on our sponsorship site! They may not be furry or cuddly but they are beautiful and highly endangered as a species. Our star tortoises are in a new enclosure having been rescued from poachers planning to use them for their meat and other body parts which are often exported to China for use in so-called medicinal remedies.
Star Tortoises are nearing extinction, which is why their preservation at VSPCA and elsewhere is critically important. Can you help by sponsoring these beautiful creatures?
Smoothie
The kids in the streets love it: the Pomeranian. White and furry and beautiful, it’s the most popular playmate and showpiece among the lesser classes of India. Smoothie must have been one such loved darling albeit an abandoned one by some poor family who couldn’t take care of him when he contracted a severe case of mange. He was found on the highway, disoriented and depressed, unable to sniff his way back home. He’s now recovered quite magnificently at the VSPCA shelter as you can see. He loves lazing around with his new friends, and running around VSPCA staff for treats.
There are many cases of abandoned Poms at the shelter. We really hope that our continuing efforts in educating less-aware pet owners in this city will put a stop to more such occurrences.
Sparky
[Sponsored by Thea Ward until May 22nd 2013!] One rainy morning in late September 2009, Sparky was found at the entrance to hotel by the hotel bellboy where I was staying while volunteering at VSPCA. He knew I was a veterinarian so he called me; he assumed I would take care of him, and of course I did. Sparky was found by the door, mewing softly, so I took him with me and started looking around for the rest of the family but couldn’t find any of them. Was he abandoned? I took the tiny one to the VSPCA shelter and immediately we bottle fed him the special kitten milk I had luckily brought with me from Boston. On my exam he was found to be healthy. I gave instructions how to treat him and what to look for (in case of diseases), since it was a day before my departure and I couldn’t continue my daily check-ups. Now I got the news he survived and he has grown to be such a healthy, sweet and handsome cat! — Dr. Bosmat Gal
Cheyenne
What a gorgeous dog! Cheyenne is only six months old but is already quite the “lady’s man” at the shelter. He was dropped off with his mother and 3 siblings. His story shows just how important our ABC programs are. When Cheyenne’s mother gave birth, his “owner”, or guardian as we like to say, didn't see a litter of adorable puppies to raise; he saw more mouths to feed. Unfortunately due to malnourishment two of his siblings died shortly after arriving, but at least Cheyenne is able to live with his mother now at the shelter whom we also took in. Taking this case, had we reached Cheyenne's mother with the ABC program, two lives and much needed space at the shelter would've been saved. One simple surgical procedure or one litter that might get abandoned, die prematurely, or not get enough food to develop into healthy adults. Every little bit helps.
Rahni
Rahni is Hindi for “princess”. When she was a kitten she was adopted by some elderly people but later on they were unable to care for her and returned her to VSPCA. She loves to play with the donated toys if we are lucky enough to get them for her. If you look closely you will see that she is a calico (tricolor) with one leg brown.
Chintu
Chintu, a darling little rhesus monkey, was found by one of our shelter’s workers after receiving a report that the man keeping her was holding her in cramped conditions and not feeding her properly. She will join the rhesus population at our shelter and we have very high hopes for her future. Because of her youth, we might be able to release her someday. The majority of our monkeys were held in captivity for so long that they have been permanently scarred with little chance of learning the survival skills necessary to return to their rightful homes in the wild. So while we feel fortunate and optimistic about Chintu, the cruelty of monkey handlers in India creates so many cases with much less hope. For now, all we can do is try and muster as many resources as possible to continue to educate the public, expand our network of responsible individuals in the community willing to help, and take care of the animals we are lucky enough to get to in time.
Drone
This is an unfortunate story where we could rescue him but not his mother during our recent cow rescue. (Please see the dramatic story with photos here.) His mother breathed her last breath due to exhaustion and extreme dehydration while being illegally transported for slaughtering.
He is under very special care with a nutritious diet but was lonely for his Mom. However now he is quickly finding his loneliness disappear in our shelter with a world of love from many more mothers to give him ease and care.
Simhachalam
When he was barely months old, he was surrendered to the Simhachalam Devasthanams. This is the temple on the hill where we have previously rescued over 200 cows. And this is the story of every male calf born to the farmers, who is "offered" by the farmer / devotees to the temple.
Simhachalam was rescued from harsh conditions and would have gone for illegal slaughtering. He has grown into a strong young bull and enjoys our shelter atmosphere.
Chinni
She came to us a pregnant woman. Chinni belonged to a family who used to send her out of the house for her “regular”. There were neighborhood complaints and during one such time she was taken away by the municipality and brought to her shelter.
She is very active and keeps jumping like a spring. All her babies were given away for adoption and Chinni stays with us waiting for better opportunity but if not she has found a permanent abode at VSPCA.
Mushkar
His tender naughtiness and cute mischief led to him being separated from his owner. His original human partner was working in a State Government Road and Buildings Department. Originally an abandoned kitten, he was looked after by his human friend but as he grew up he became very playful and mischievous.
During one morning at the office they found files and other office materials completely scratched and partly destroyed. This led to a lot of anger and furor and Mushkar was brought to us. Since then he has brought in a charming era of the other cats and kittens proudly following him in his antics.
Jagadamba
One evening while on her way to the shelter, Sarada (Shelter Manager) stopped to feed some hungry dogs, then got into the ambulance to go to her office which is 4 kms away. But to her surprise this particular dog seemed to want to be with the VSPCA and kept following the vehicle through the busy main road. She had no option but to take him to the shelter. 5 years old, Jagadamba seems to speak with eloquence and varying pitch. She actually speaks!
Faith
[Sponsored by Kalyani Vunnava until November 20th, 2013!] This little sweetheart was rescued from the roadside, her eyes severely injured. She was taken to our shelter, where she was given treatment, but it was too late. Just a kitten, she’s permanently blind. Since she’s unable to see, she?s very frightened of new people, but she loves the friendly sound of a familiar voice. When she’s not playing with Buji, she enjoys having people hold her in their arms and sing her to sleep.
Chameli
One day, VSPCA workers found a little puppy walking up the middle of a busy street. She was taken to the shelter, where we decided that due to her charming, quiet personality, she belonged in the office. Now she spends each day guarding her fortress, cuddling with office staff, and playing with her best friend, Roo. She even uses the toilet!
Balram
Named after Lord Krishna’s brother whose principal weapon was a plough, Balram is quite a survivor just like his warrior namesake. After receiving an SOS call about a grievously injured buffalo, a VSPCA emergency vehicle rushed to the spot and rescued him.
Though he lost one of his horns to the accident, Balram recovered quite nicely (and handsomely we might add!) within a few weeks of good rest, food and medicine.
BHPV
[Sponsored by Mailyn Soteras until June 5th, 2013!] This horse was named after the industrial park where we found him abandoned. Animals have helped make our lives easier for thousands of years, in agriculture for example. When they are treated responsibly, it displays one way that we can coexist harmoniously in modern society. But BHPV’s “employer” didn’t know how to properly fit him with the equipment needed for his job. What?s more, he was overworked and the harness he was wearing continuously dug into his chest, badly injuring him. Unable to perform his job anymore, the owner no longer had any use for him. Devoid of any compassion or sense of responsibility, he “fired” BHPV and left him by the side of the road next to the compound. Our shelter doesn’t have the most ideal facilities for horses, but true to our philosophy of animal welfare, we took him in and our vets worked hard to tend to his wounds. He is now doing remarkably well and has opened up quite a bit, showing us his truly feisty side. We have grown to love him and hope to be able to continue caring for him if we can’t find him a suitable new home.
Julie
Meet Julie, the newest shyster in our lot. She apparently had no canine interaction before she was ruthlessly abandoned by her owner on an empty road. So she has a hard time palling with other dogs at the shelter. Our over 120 dogs got all territorial with her once they knew they could set her flying with a little growl. She didn’t know they were just entertaining themselves as they do with all new comers. Finally she found this little cat haven that we were renovating at the moment and made herself comfortable on the raised kitty platforms. And she is, of course, so full of antics now in her own way!
Baddu
Baddu's mother was Gowari who was stolen from her owner to be taken to an illegal slaughterhouse along with many other cows. The animal theft was reported to VSPCA and we rescued all the cows inside the truck, saving them from an inhumane and illegal slaughter. Some time later, Gowari's daughter Baddu was born, but sadly Gowari died during the calf's birth. However, Baddu has been able to grow up with the friends of her mother who were all rescued that day by VSPCA! She is a real sweetie.
George
[Sponsored by Erika Seshadri until April 21st, 2014!] Gorgeous George the water buffalo was hit by a car and was found lying in a road, unmoving. The VSPCA SOS team was called to rescue him and they brought him to the shelter. George continued to suffer from shock for some time, would not eat and was terrified of anyone coming near him.
But now, many months later, he has recovered and is a happy and engaging fellow! At the shelter he has a terrific life in the large animal area, with both a covered area of stalls and a large back field where he can roam with his pals. Apart from looking forward to being sponsored, he is really looking forward to going to our new land called Kindness Farm where there will be a pond for him to bathe in.
Jyoti
Jyoti, like so many others, was rescued from a life of cruelty and misery on the streets of Visakhapatnam. We are so grateful to passers-by who ring VSPCA when they hear a cat in distress or see it tossed away as garbage. This sweet little cat may be timid after her past life out on the streets but she is coming out of her shell in the cat enclosure which she shares with lots of friends. Her life is no longer in danger and she can live a safe and playful life.
Arjun
The animals we help and rescue often surprise us with their will to survive and their sheer persistence. In fact they become quite pacified after they realize our rescue staff is there to help them rather than harm, despite the fact that the very humans have attacked them in the first place. This sweet dog was hit by a car and suffered a grievous injury in the leg, losing a lot of blood in the process. Obviously, the driver didn’t stop to take a second look but a witness to the incident called VSPCA on time. Unfortunately, his leg has to be amputated but he doesn’t seem complain, jumping to join his new mates. We named him after Arjun, the courageous warrior in Hindu Mythology.
Gebo
Gebo is the smartest among our newcomers. He knows he is handsome and that running around in circles around our shelter manager Sharada when she’s doing her rounds would put him in the shelter’s spotlight! Gebo was abandoned by his human family, probably weeks before our rescue squad got to him. He was suffering from mange and ticks. He was brought to the shelter, picked clean of the ticks and his mange was treated. But a recurrent ear problem keeps troubling him every once in a while. He is being well taken care of but he still needs your love, support, and prayers to recover completely.
The Ducks of VSPCA
Every now and then we catch at least one of our shelter staff transfixed at the ducks paddling away in their pond. They are an endearing sight indeed. We have just rescued eighteen more ducks from the butcher’s knife and you can see they have admirably gelled in with our existing gaggle. They were cramped in tiny cages without food or water, left in the terrible South Indian heat with all their defenses taken away. Slaughtering ducks for meat is illegal in India, but the practice still continues as law enforcement remains ineffective. Being the only animal welfare organization in Visakhapatnam our rescue team regularly combs the network of slaughterhouses and butchers and then we file cases against the traders who violate the law. We have managed to shut down the trading of duck meat in four shops recently and we will continue our efforts until there is no more trading. The process may take several months, even years to put an end to this deep rooted malpractice among meat traders. You can help us keep the battle alive!
Chinna Pothuraju
Chinna Pothuraju (means “small buffalo” in Telugu, the dialect of Andhra Pradesh) was rescued by VSPCA from a cruel animal transport. He was found hidden under the driver’s seat in the vehicle. Now he’s found sanctuary with other buffalo at our shelter.
Read more about our efforts against cruel animal transport here.
Three Brothers: Visakha, Valley, and School
If the welfare of animals is going to improve, everyone in society must do their part, however small it may seem. Take Aravaind for example. He is a student at Visakha Valley School. Playing in the schoolyard one day, he heard cries coming from a dumpster. Inside were three kittens. Of all the possible things a child in his position could have done, many of them not so pleasant, he called his mother. She in turn rang us up and we found that the kittens probably hadn't eaten for a couple days. We are grateful to Aravaind and other children who have contributed to our efforts over the years. It just goes to show that everyone should be held accountable for the wellbeing of animals, and the educational programs we are trying to develop should go a long way towards spreading our message of compassion. Sponsor all three kittnes for $30 a month.
Gajni
Of course, we are thrilled that we have become so much more well-known around Vizag in the past few years. However, in a strange way, this could eventually impede us from offering the best care possible to all the animals that are brought to us. Our shelter is rapidly filling up, and we have been trying to negotiate with the local government and raise the necessary funds to expand our grounds. Gajni was found by the side of the road near our shelter as a small pup and thankfully we were called in to rescue her before anything awful happened to her, such as dying of starvation or a traffic accident. We are truly grateful that there are so many responsible people in Vizag who recognize our name and support our mission, but how long will we be able to offer sufficient care to all our new and longtime residents as more and more animals in trouble are brought to us?
Sotta
Sotta's near-tragedy and stunning recovery demonstrate the progress that can be achieved when good people cooperate towards the goal of helping animals who are threatened simply living in a world that often seems made for humans. Sotta was run-over by a vehicle in the congested streets of Vizag, leaving her with a badly broken leg. A kindhearted student found her and phoned us. Coincidentally, Bosmat Gal our highly-skilled consultant vet, who is sponsored by Animal Rescue League of Boston to work in India, was at the facility and oversaw Sotta's care. Through a careful rehabilitation program involving repeated tranquilization and redressing of her plasters, Sotta made a full recovery over the period from September 2008 thru early 2009. The cost of medical supplies, food, and the salaries of our staff and local vets — however meager they may seem by Western standards — add up quickly as we continue to carry out our mission.
Anjali
Anjali was a street performer, a servant of sorts. In India, many captured monkeys are expected to do just that: obey and perform. We must remember that however common they may be here, monkeys are not domestic animals. Far from a willing participant for her cruel captor, Anjali often refused to perform and became aggressive, baring her sharp teeth at the crowds. In retaliation, her owner removed many of her teeth - her main survival tools. This proved to be ineffective in getting Anjali to cooperate, so in a strange show of compassion he took her to the zoo. Unfortunately, the zoo is not in the "welfare" business and doesn't take in rescued animals. With our reputation as the leading local, grassroots animal welfare organization, the zoo referred the owner to us.
Monkeys are not easy to care for at the shelter. Their mental trauma is often so deep that they don't know how to get along with each other, understandably mistrust our staff, and must be kept separate. But Pradeep was moved by Anjali's story and convinced Sarada, who is like a mother to many of our monkeys, to accept one more orphaned monkey into our family. It is a dilemma faced by all those who rescue wildlife- release them into the wild where they would die for lack of proper survival skills, or care for them for the remainder of their lives in confined and under less than ideal circumstances. All we can hope for is to provide Anjali and other mistreated wildlife with as much love and support as humanly possible.
Small Blackie
She originally belonged to a rich person who kept her in a house always tied outside in a verandah. Incidentally, this house was VSPCA's first full fledged office.
We go out with evening feedings of street dogs and one night we found this dog ouside her house crying and since then she was part of our feeding list.
One morning the house boy brought to us Small Blacky with her front leg broken and we admitted her to our shelter. On investigation we found out that the owner while drunk through an empty alcohol bottle at her. So of course we did not send her back there and kept her with us!
Rani
Rani was rescued under very dramatic circumstances. A few years ago she escaped the gallows of the butchers and our team found her just in time.
She is a very loving and gentle cow, mingling with all and reaching to all the young ones with her gentleness. She has been aptly named "Rani" - (Queen) because of her approach and personality.
Mommy
She was brought in with five of her puppies based on an SOS call of abandonment. We presume that she was left by her owner when she became pregnant. Now that the puppies have been given for adoption she behaves like a "Mommy" to the other dogs.
Milky White
She lost her way and could not locate her house. This is near Jagadamba Junction. In the heart of the city, she was found in a very erratic manner desperately feeding her way in and out of traffic.
She ultimately met with an accident being hit after which we were called but no owner ever came forth. She has since recovered and now she is with us enjoying the second phase of her life.
Lab
Lab, who is 6 years old, is our actual lab assistant to our vets as he supervisors them from the chair of the laboratory — hence his name “Lab”. One leg is limp due to an accident — this dog has come to our fold by virtue of being run over by a jeep. Instead of treating him he was abandoned and left on the street to fend for himself by his disgraceful owners. Generally this type of breed, whenever they contact any minor curable disease, they are simply abandoned on the streets. Such dogs who has been brought up with much love and affection and comfort knowing the limitations, leaving them to fend for themselves in the harsh weather without any food and water is a most painful suffering and a crime on the part of owners. This dog does not have to go back to the streets now and happy at our shelter for the past 2 years.
Guddi Guram (“blind horse”)
Sometimes we tend to forget that many animals are forced into non-stimulating and often solitary lives, strictly for our entertainment. Guddi Guram is a half-blind,old horse who was used at weddings and festivals to carry people around in the hot Indian sun. We were constantly warning its owner that Guddi had passed the “retirement” age for horses.
Eventually, this strenuous labor was taking its toll and we seized her before she would have collapsed. She is one of 3 wonderful horses who have joined our extensive family of dogs, birds, cattle, monkeys, cats and others. If we find animals in trouble, we will do all we can to give them all better lives, regardless of what type of animal they are, or how they were mistreated by people.
The Crows of VSPCA
[Ongoing sponsorship by Michelle Harrington and family, in remembrance, honor and love of their strong brave-hearted dog Zeus.] The first time I was at the shelter, being lovingly attacked by mobs of dogs hoping I had biscuits in my pockets, I was very surprised to see crows landing on the volunteers’ shoulders for morsels of food. Crows? A harbinger of evil in many cultures across the world, at VSPCA they are just one more creature that fit harmoniously into our haven for animals of all kinds who we are trying to give a better life. As with all our residents, the crows have come here due to some tragedy that befell them, before they were luckily found by one of our hardworking employees. Crows, some of the most intelligent members of the bird world, will stay with humans throughout their lives if taken care of from a very young age. To some people, crows may not be the most desirable house guests, but to us they are family.
Blackie
Not so long ago, the owner of the cutest little black Pomeranian puppy brought her to our shelter with a badly broken leg. She had fallen down a hill. We would nurse the puppy back to health and return it to him. Some days later, a lady who worked at the Pomeranian's house came by to check on Blackie's condition. She told us the ugly truth about Blackie's leg. The owner had come home drunk one night and threw a bottle at the puppy. We decided that Blackie deserved a better caretaker. Now Blackie has many loving caretakers and a bunch of brothers and sisters!
The Parrots of VSPCA
[Sponsored by Patricia J. Latas DVM until September 9th, 2013!] Perhaps the well-known phrase, “as free as a bird”, refers to the liberating feeling that comes from knowing you can do whatever you wish, whether man or beast. In other words, if an animal chooses, of its own will, to stay in the companionship of humans, then perhaps it’s actually free. Well, it’s no doubt freer than an animal that has been kept in decrepit and inhumane conditions by cruel people trying to turn a small profit. All of the parrots who have successfully recovered from such early hardships fly away to explore the world outside of our sanctuary. Mithoo is a lone exception. She has called the lush trees which surround the aviary her home since her release eight years ago. What’s more, she prefers to be hand-fed by our shelter manager, Sarada. The ultimate goal of VSPCA is to improve the welfare of all animals, at risk or not. The wonderful thing about our bird population is that there is no imminent danger of overcrowding. As long as the shelter can afford the guava, peanuts, and corn to put in Sarada’s hand, we will continue to make VSPCA a haven for Mithoo and all her feathery cousins.
Babu
Babu's story is one of right place, right time. Passing a truck stopped by the side of the road, a worker in our rescue mobile saw the driver beating a monkey. The monkey had torn up a wad of its owner's money. In his anger, the driver willingly gave us the monkey. When we got Babu, his ears were pierced and his teeth stained yellow from tobacco. When Babu came to the shelter six years ago, we didn't have any proper monkey enclosures and he loved playing with the dogs and cats. After we took more monkeys in he didn't get along with them. Being the biggest and naughtiest monkey at our shelter, he has his own cage to keep him from getting into fights. He's a cheeky little monkey but we love him just the same!
Twin Tortoises
One of the newer enclosures at the shelter is our space for star tortoises. They are just one of the endangered animals of India shamelessly poached for their meat and other body parts. One day a man who came to do some repair work at the shelter noticed the tortoise enclosure. Learning of this animal's dire situation, he told us that he had noticed some boys in his village using some baby star tortoises as marbles. This story is a bit innocent and cute, but the usual circumstances under which these animals are found is not as laughable. We now have 19 star tortoises, both children and adults, in a lovely shaded, grassy area awaiting favorable circumstances for their release.
James Blonde
Once the picture of utter dejection, James Blonde is transforming before our very eyes since his rescue. Found in a terrified heap, infested with ticks and only days away from death by starvation, he now comes out to play, is putting on weight and even lets himself be petted. James Blond has proven to be such a charmer that even protective Mama is perfectly content to have him out in the courtyard with her six pups. He is a perfect example of how a dog will bloom when treated with love and care. Have a look at the happy fellow, and please consider sponsoring this lovely chap so his needs will be taken care of and those resources used to save other precious creatures like him.
Trooper
Found emaciated and left to starve in a filthy kennel in a yard in Andhra Pradesh, “Trooper” was rescued and brought to the VSPCA by a concerned citizen. Initially vicious when approached, Trooper has turned into a veritable love sponge; his favourite thing in the world is to play with people. Just watch the video of him horsing around with one of his favourite humans soon after his rescue. Now neutered, vaccinated and dewormed, Trooper is rapidly gaining strength and putting on weight. He has joined the large family of permanent animal residents at the VSPCA and eagerly awaits a sponsor to cover the costs of his care.
Murthi
[Sponsored by Bill Burton until May 22nd, 2014!] Murthi was picked up in response to an emergency call. When he was rushed to the shelter, he was in critical condition. Murthi’s lower jaw had been shattered from a very hard impact. AFter he had been attended to by our vets, we returned to the area where the “accident” had taken place to ask the people living there how this happened. The story we got from them was of Murthi running into a train, but our vets’ diagnostic points in another direction. The injury was immense and Murthi’s jaw had to be wired in order to keep it in place. It has been a while since the accident and Murthi has coped with his injury well. The shelter is going to be Murthi’s home forever, where he is always under the watchful eye of the people who love him.
Lucky
[Sponsored by Bruce Doran until December 20th, 2013!] As difficult as it is to understand why people treat animals poorly, we know that this world will never be free from cruelty. VSPCA works very hard to help as many animals as we can and it is encouraging when we approach this goal with the assistance of the community. Lucky was found tied to this tree with all this garbage all around, presumably by his owner. As if abandoning an animal in 40°C (100°+ F) heat isn’t bad enough, tying it up so that it can’t search for food or shelter is inexcusable. The next day, a shop-keeper found the dog and fed it for a week before calling us. We are so grateful to the shopkeeper for caring for the dog when he had no obligation to do so. Sadly, the dog problem in Visakhapatnam is so overwhelming that the shelter is quickly becoming overcrowded. So it so important for Lucky and all the other dogs at the shelter and in our city that everyone pitches in to make this world a better place for our animal companions.
Yuvraj
If you are ever fortunate enough to visit our shelter, you may wonder why many of the animals which seem so happy and healthy are there in the first place. They were all sick, injured, abused, or abandoned at one time. The sad fact is that many people in India either don't want a sick pet or simply don't have the money to care for them. When Yuvraj, or “Prince,” was brought to us, he was one of 31 abandoned kittens and cats with a serious disease affecting their lungs. With the loving care of the vets and volunteers to whom we are so grateful, you can see that Yuvraj, along with all the other cats, were cured and are destined to live a long and and happy life at the shelter. We definitely plan on treating him like a prince!
Tiffin
Taking in injured animals is always a little bittersweet. Bitter in that they were injured, often by cruel and thoughtless people, but sweet because we found them before further harm could be done. Our workers found Tiffin being attacked by the side of the road- by dogs.- and his back legs were (thankfully) only slightly injured. Now thinks everyone is his mother. When a worker enters the cat house, they really have to be careful not to step on Tiffin as he follows them around. We cannot release motherless babies, as we do the healthy adults dogs and cats, back into the neighborhood where we found them. Tiffin awaits adoption but is honing his feline instincts with the other 37 cats in the meantime.
Taffy
[Sponsored until June 26th, 2013 by Wes Sheppard!] Cruelties in the pet trade in Asia are not only limited to endangered species. While on patrol in one of the local markets notorious for illegal sales of restricted species, one of our workers found a little bundle in a dustbin. While we don't know the background of Taffy's abandonment, an increasing trend in this part of India reveals a disgusting practice. Dogs are much preferred over cats as pets in India. So, many of the cats sold in markets are not really for companionship- they are being sold for food. When nobody is buying, the cat is no longer needed. Whether this was Taffy's story or not, much of our feline family has been rescued from dustbins. Taffy has been with us for about two and a half years now.
Milky
[Sponsored for life by Monica Amesty!] One of our sharp-eyed drivers spotted little Milky when he was about 4 months old by the side of the road. At that time, about 4 years ago, he had avery bad eye infection. After some antibiotics and other routine remedies, the eye still didn't heal that well. Finally, the eye was so bad that the only option was to perform surgery and remove the eyeball altogether. Milky had to be kept in his own cage for 2 months, to protect his eye from other cats' claws while the eye healed. Milky will live out his remaining eight lives in the safety of our shelter, where his sight problem cannot endanger him.
Billy
In India, manu monkeys are thought of as pets, profit, or pests. About a year ago, we were called down to the police station. When we arrived, there was a little girl and her monkey in the holding cell! The monkey had been trained to steal people's cell phones, which the villagers then sold. The girl and Billy were both released, and we adopted one of them. Billy came to our shelter and has proven to be quite crafty even when not picking pockets. Although only here for a year so far, Billy seems accustomed to the way of life at VSPCA, which he teaches to the younger monkeys who he shares a cage with. However, as with all our wild animals, we hope that Billy can soon return to his rightful home in the forest.
Sponsor the feeding of all the animals at the sanctuary for rs. 15,459, or $371 (USD) for one day to honor a special occasion, like a birthday, anniversary, or memorial. You tell us which day to commemorate with your donation!