Imagine this. You don’t have a roof over your head. You have no regular source of meals, you can only depend on garbage or handouts from kind people. You have a festering wound with maggots eating away into your flesh. You know you need medical help but you cannot ask for it because you cannot speak, you can only bark, meow, or bray.
And that is why we do, what we do. Our desire to alleviate animal suffering motivated us to establish an organisation in 2002. The collective effort of a very small group of people grew since 2002. Next summer, we will celebrate 23 years of working towards the welfare of animals in Thane district.
Since the inception of our organisation, the scope of our work has increased exponentially. Having reached out to 1,87,000+ animals and birds in the last two decades, it became imperative to expand our premises to include better facilities for the animals we care for.
The Problem at hand : Simply put, we needed more space to accommodate more animals. From 180 animals per annum in the beginning, to 17000+ per annum now, we have struggled for space to house all our facilities. In Thane itself, there are more than 10 lakh animals. But over the years, we have had a steady inflow of patients from neighbouring districts as well. Although we have managed to adjust everything (from a surgery to a digital radiography department) in the current small space, the reality was that WE WERE FALLING SHORT OF SPACE. It became crucial to expand our premises, and upgrade our facilities.
Also, the fact remains that in Thane district overall, there is an acute shortage of facilities that cater to unowned animals. Although there are several animal shelters, there are barely 4 organisations spread all over the district that can offer diagnostic care. While we are always grateful about being able to offer modern diagnostic services to so many animals in need, we have felt an inadequacy with respect to those we have been unable to cater to due to a lack of facilities and space. We felt we can do more not just for the animals, but the community caretakers as well who often have to queue for hours come sunshine or rain, as well as our tireless staff who work outdoor in the OPD in the relentless summer heat. We had to overcome this feeling of despair and frustration – so we chose to take a leap of faith, and do something about it.
In 2019, the Managing Committee began toying with the idea of expanding the facilities, however, with the advent of the pandemic, we took a step back, as we were not sure of the financial setbacks we could face. However, as we stabilised post-pandemic, and witnessed an increase in our out-patient numbers, we asked ourselves the quintessential question – ‘If not us, then WHO , if not now, then WHEN?’ Our Board decided to expand our clinical facilities in 2023 by renting a property adjacent to our current facility. Thanks to the generosity of the property owner, we have now rented the 2500 sq ft space. Our plans for the new space include:
We foresee that the new annexe will facilitate a reduction in cross-infection risks, and give us more space to treat the burgeoning numbers of OPD patients. Additional staff will be hired to ensure and support smooth operations.
The space for the new annexe comes as a blessing. It will augment OPD and IPD patient capacity. It will offer high quality veterinary diagnostic facilities, as well as an appropriate venue for educational programs, workshops, and community outreach initiatives to raise awareness about animal welfare. More space will allow for increased volunteer activities, and will foster community involvement and support for our mission. Most importantly, it will break the myth that animal hospitals should only feature basic facilities. We can always do better, and that is what we should strive towards, not just as an organisation, but as a community.
This journey, to work for the welfare of animals will encompass the experiences and growth we encounter along the way, rather than just focusing on the end goal. It will be a constant of lessons that will be learned, the people we have and will meet, and the moments that will shape us during our journey.
As we progress, our goals will evolve, new opportunities will emerge. Sharing experiences with others will create strong support networks The people you meet during our journey will result in friendships and collaborations that we will cherish always.
Our journey will allow us to savour all of these. This project, like all others , will be a part of the journey we have undertaken. Destination will be decided by the powers above.
Best wishes
Shreyasi
