A dozen of touching stories, each illustrated with a beautiful photograph, make up the 2010 calendar from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India, has been released to mark the organization’s Tenth anniversary. Each month features a brief description of an animal’s life before he or she was rescued as well as a photograph showing how he or she has fared after the rescue. In addition, each story is accompanied by information on how to avoid contributing to animal exploitation.
Mahesh Hiramath was working in his field near the village of Kupwad when he saw a herd of horses being driven past. He noticed that one young animal was severely wounded, bleeding and unable to walk properly. Feeling sorry for the colt, Mahesh bought him, named him Harshvardhan and turned him over to Animal Rahat-an animal rescue group that receives support from PETA-for treatment and lifelong care.
A PETA India staffer spotted a man trying to sell a caged blossom-headed parrot. The staffer informed him that keeping wild birds in captivity is illegal. She then took the parrot to a veterinarian, who discovered that the bird was severely malnourished. After being treated, Pintoo, the parrot, was rehabilitated and released into the wild.
When PETA India moved its headquarters to Pune, staffers noticed that a neighbor was keeping a German shepherd, named Rex chained outside all day long in all weather extremes, including rain, freezing cold and severe heat. Denied proper shelter and contact with humans and other dogs, Rex barked day and night. Eventually, the neighbor agreed to give Rex to PETA India staff. In his new home, Rex is happy and playful. A lovebird named Whoopey lived in a cage as part of a school exhibit. PETA India members explained to the teachers and principal that the birds should never be kept in cages. The school administration agreed and gave the bird to PETA so that the animal could be rehabilitated. Whoopey now lives at Katraj Rescue Centre, where he is enjoying life in a natural habitat with other birds.
Rapple, the cat had become trapped on a locked terrace on the second story of a building. She was unable to climb down by herself and no one could reach her. PETA supporters called for a fire fighter, who climbed up to the terrace and retrieved the tired, hungry cat.
Dr Dhananjay Shinkar, Animal Rahat’s veterinarian, was doing routine work in Miraj when he came across a donkey named Rani on the side of the road. Rani had a scabies infection so severe that she had lost most of her fur. Dr Shinkar took Rani to Animal Rahat for treatment. She has recovered and is enjoying retirement with other rescued animals.
PETA rescued Surya and nine other tigers from the Empire Circus. They had lived in small, barren cages without adequate food or access to a pond to cool off in and trainers had used beatings, starvation and other cruel methods to force them to perform tricks. Now the tigers live at Nahargarh Rescue Centre near Jaipur. At the centre, they have everything they need, including a pond.
In a landmark action, 37 abused monkeys were seized from the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune after PETA exposed atrocious conditions at the facility. For more than a decade, the animals at NIV were kept in filthy cages and exposed to searing heat, and many of them were crippled because of untreated illness and injuries unrelated to research. Some had missing fingers, some had missing teeth and many whirled in circles because they had gone mad from years of confinement. Now Maruti and his companions live at the Katraj Rescue Centre in Pune, where they are able to socialize, climb trees, play and enjoy the sunshine.
The stories in calendar show that there are many ways to help animals. Dharmesh Solanki, PETA’s senior campaigns coordinator is confident that these heart-warming accounts would encourage readers to love and protect animal throughout the year.
- 6754 reads
Add new comment