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I recently had the opportunity to visit Udaipur due to business. I found the place absolutely lovely especially because of its inhabitants. The people were so friendly, it confused me. Every time I spoke to some local for directions or the likes, their response was so gentle I kept my hands on my pocket thinking the next thing they will ask is for my money. It was hard for me to understand how seven hundred kilometres can make such a difference in how the people are. No rash drunk drivers, no one throwing stones at dogs or hitting cows with sticks. Was it because of heavy Jain culture or the very fact that a normal Rajasthani is a wonderful person, I am not aware but what I saw was something that made me happy.
I was requested by both Mr Amit and Ms Anjali to visit an animal hospital called Animal Aid Udaipur. I was feeling quite out of sorts as my health wasn’t in its best condition but I dragged myself out of my hotel room in the 40 Degree temperature and went on a quest to find that place. It took me sometime to find it as the locals were confused between that place and another govt. animal hospital but finally after a drive onto the outskirts of the town I found the place.
There was a information board on which we were directed to park our cars outside and so I did and started walking down a small cobbled dusty road and soon I knew that I was on the right path as I was greeted by healthy, confident dogs sitting on a wall staring at me with great disdain. I walked on confidently even though at the back of my mind I was a bit worried as the dogs looked like they were not very happy with the new intruder of their privacy. I made a call to Mr Laxman, their manager who asked me to walk in through the gate and as soon as I did I was greeted by a really nice lady called Trudy. Trudy was working in the BPO sector in Nasik when she felt “enough is enough” and after a comprehensive search found a job with Animal Aid and now lives in a nearby village and works in this lovely hospital.
Claire and the others weren’t there as she was very ill and was taken to Jaipur for medical treatment so I was given a full round of the hospital by Trudy and what I saw made me extremely happy. This was one of the best animal hospitals I have ever seen. They had no inclination that I was coming and yet everything was prim and proper, neat and clean and functioning the way it should. I was taken to the puppy area first and I was greeted by sad sight of sickly puppies running around all of them full of bandages and medicines and looked well taken care of. Everything was either clean or being in the process of being cleaned with water hoses and wipers. Then I was taken to the adult dog section where almost each dog had its own little room with a large water bowl to dip in as Udaipur can get very hot. I saw all the sections of the hospital properly like the cattle section and the donkey section and everything seemed just great. I saw cute little calves being hand fed with bottles and cute dogs playing with little calves. Life for animals seemed great in that hospital but what really took my heart was the sand pit section covered with a shed for paralyzed dogs.
Many dogs who are paralyzed waist down but are able to move around on their front legs well enough are put in that sand pit section where they walk around on their front two legs and seemed quite happy and friendly. I played with few of them and they were so over joyed by visitors and by the sight (or smell) of Trudy, all of them surrounded as for a pat. I have seen a few NGOs in Delhi and without a doubt none of them are half as good as this.
If this article seems biased or educated I would simply ask you to go visit the place yourself. Don’t let them know you are coming, don’t give them a chance to change a thing. Just drop in randomly and see it for yourself.
My only request is that I enquired about their ABC programme and came to know that they have been doing active ABC too but haven’t done it in a little while. If we can chalk out a comprehensive plan for that city and help them out with a sector by sector ABC of Udaipur (Udaipur wont be 1/10th the size of Delhi) , that wonderful city can only just become better. I was also informed that Fiapo members like Arpan have already visited this fine establishment. I am sure they would also like to help out in starting a well planned ABC program in Udaipur as they know to best go about it.
I thank Mr Amit and Ms Anjali to ask me to see that place, it gave me hope that atleast some people are still working selflessly. What surprised me the most was the fact that I saw their ambulances going at 11 pm at night for pick ups of injured animals. In Delhi I have to use my friendly contacts to get an ambulance to come after 7 PM.
Please check out the photos.
Hiranmay Karlekar