Activists set up shelters for rescued pets

Kochi: When several districts in the state are in the grip of floods and heavy rains, people are often unable to save their pets.

Rescue workers have found hundreds of animals during rescue operations. Animal rights activists have set up temporary shelters for animals and birds abandoned during natural calamity.

Various animal rights organisations are actively engaged in rescuing animals, giving them food, shelter and necessary medicines.

“Though many people, including dairy farmers, had shifted their cattle to safe places when rains intensified, our volunteers have found several animals abandoned and struggling in neck-deep water. We have got several calls from different parts of the state and rescued dogs, cats, cows, goats and ducks and hens,” said Gayathri Krishna, manager of Humanity for Animals.

“However, unlike 2018 floods, the number of animals trapped is less this year in many districts. The volunteers are trained to handle wounded animals and to give them first aid.”

The Humane Society International (HSI) India has set up an emergency helpline to coordinate animal rescue across the state.

According to Sally Varma, senior outreach coordinator of HSI, people should not tether pets if they can’t take them to safe places.

“Since animals are natural swimmers, they can reach highlands of their own, if kept them free. We have received calls from many families for shifting their pets to safe places. More than floods, landslides in northern districts have affected pets and street dogs,” she said.  

Sally and her team members are actively engaged in rescuing animals in Nilambur and nearby areas.

Last year, more than 8,000 cattle, calves and buffaloes, 3,297 goats, and 47 dogs had died in flooding according to government records.