Animals feel, think, know and they suffer! Scientific research and evidence irrefutably proves that they are beings with individual personalities as well. Veterinarian, Dr.Shiela Rao was the guest on the Navhind Times talk show, ‘Talk from the Heart’ which aired recently on the Goa 365 channel. Co-founder and trustee of CUPA (Compassion Unlimited plus Action), an NGO that takes animal welfare to the next level, she spoke expansively on the need of the hour which is to understand and participate in animal welfare.
Founded in 1991 in Bangalore by Crystal Rogers, Suparna Ganguly and Rao, CUPA has been providing rescue and relief to sick, injured and abused animals for over three decades and has impacted over 12 lakh animals to date. One of the oldest animal welfare organizations in the country it runs seven centres that work with diverse causes like providing free medical care for community animals; providing a permanent retirement home for blind and senior dogs; rescuing abandoned, sick and injured large working animals, sterilizing dogs; finding homes for abandoned pets and more. Recounting her journey with CUPA, Rao said, “The last 33 years have been very challenging but equally rewarding.”
The most impactful initiative of CUPA according to her is the sterilization of dogs. “Decades earlier stray dogs were kept in the pound for three days and then electrocuted. CUPA managed to close that electrocution centre and start the birth control programme,” she shared. “Even before it became a law, we were sterilizing street dogs.”
Along with times, laws too have changed with regard to protecting animals against cruelty. Highlighting the progress made in this area, Rao said, “When we first started we had made small booklets just of section 11 of the PCA act in Kannada and English to educate people about the laws that existed. Many were not aware of these laws. Today of course the awareness is much more and laws are more stringent. The police too play a positive role in this area and their presence does make a difference.”
Another important area that CUPA is doing commendable work in is rescuing and rehabilitating animals. However in an urbanized city like Bangalore, this task is far from easy. “At present the biggest challenge is the distance and the traffic. If the animal is on the other side of the city, sometimes we do not make it on time due to the traffic and we lose the animal,” she shared. The other obstacle she called attention to was managing the large animals like cattle, horses and donkeys after they were rescued and treated. Cultural and societal attitudes toward stray animals especially stray/homeless dogs too are a major cause of concern she stated.
With the growing stray dog population not just in the state but globally as well, viable solutions are the need of the hour. “Just feeding the strays is not enough. The responsibility does not end with feeding the dogs as animals need to be vaccinated, neutered, etcetera. If action is not taken and they are just fed, they will multiply and the sick strays will become sicker or even die. Along with compassion there has to be action,” she said.
