VSPCA Updates

VSPCA: History in the making in the midst of turmoil

Tue, 15 Dec 2009 19:59:00 GMT

<table cellspacing="0" border="0" style="margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 0;" cellpadding="10" width="550"> <tr> <td style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; font-family: Georgia, Paltino, serif; color: #222222;"><p style="margin-bottom: 20px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; font-family: Georgia, Paltino, serif; margin-top: 0; color: #222222;"><img src="http://vspca.org/newsletters/images/newsletter_header.gif" height="90" alt="VSPCA" width="530" /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 20px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; font-family: Georgia, Paltino, serif; margin-top: 0; color: #222222;"><strong>Dear Friends,</strong></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 20px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; font-family: Georgia, Paltino, serif; margin-top: 0; color: #222222;">VSPCA asks for your heartfelt attention to our cause on behalf of our dearly loved 1000 animal friends at our shelter. As always the challenges are extraordinary and all these difficulties are borne by the animals. We speak for them only!</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 20px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; font-family: Georgia, Paltino, serif; margin-top: 0; color: #222222;">It's been a year of hardship and achievement. Here are some of the highlights:</p> <ul style="margin-bottom: 20px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; font-family: Georgia, Paltino, serif; margin-top: 0; color: #222222;"> <li>Animal birth control (ABC) for dogs and protection for cats steadily increasing to outlying areas, cattle protection, sea turtle protection, wildlife rescues and shelter activities.</li> <li>Improving our education programmes with the breakthrough in conducting awareness / education to over 3000 police cadets members and also school children.</li> <li>Teams for protecting street cats and parrots from poachers setup on a permanent basis.</li> <li><img class="right" src="http://vspca.org/newsletters/images/flood-relief-sweaters.jpg" height="151" align="right" alt="School children who received VSPCA flood relief" style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 0; display: block; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 0;" width="250" />Huge disaster relief effort for the worst flood in Andhra Pradesh in 100 years for animals and for people too (school children received sweaters). <a href="http://www.thehindu.com/2009/11/22/stories/2009112257220300.htm" style="color: #660000;">Read more in the Hindu</a></li> <li>New cat shelter and new horse sheds built</li> <li>Successful but laborious and exhausting treatment of Foot and Mouth Disease afflicting our shelter animals.</li> <li>"Vegan Meals To The Poorest of The Poor" program to feed people a meal a day. This is to supplement the diet of the street people who also routinely share their food with the street animals, mostly dogs. These people who are already living on the roads with no shelter or possessions. The least we can do is try and feed them as well.<br /> </li> </ul> <h3 style="color: #222222;">Just a few of our recent rescues:</h3> <table class="rescues" cellspacing="0" border="0" style="margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 0; border-top: 4px solid #DDDDDD;" cellpadding="0" width="100%"> <tr> <td style="font-size: 14px; border-bottom: 4px solid #DDDDDD; line-height: 19px; font-family: Georgia, Paltino, serif; color: #222222; padding: 10px;" width="50%"><img src="http://vspca.org/newsletters/images/2009-12-cows.jpg" height="214" alt="Rescued cows" width="250" /></td> <td valign="middle" style="font-size: 14px; border-bottom: 4px solid #DDDDDD; line-height: 19px; font-family: Georgia, Paltino, serif; color: #222222; padding: 10px;" width="50%">These cows were recently rescued. Please read about Pradeep Nath and his <a href="http://network.bestfriends.org/golocal/international/13916/news.aspx" style="color: #660000;">continuing lifelong efforts to protect cows.</a></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="alt" style="font-size: 14px; background: #F3F3F3; border-bottom: 4px solid #DDDDDD; line-height: 19px; font-family: Georgia, Paltino, serif; color: #222222; padding: 10px;">Little was found nearly dead by the Beach Road, probably hit by a car. He has made a full recovery and due to his darling and friendly nature he is a real favorite and may become one of our Dr. Paw dogs.</td> <td class="alt" valign="middle" style="font-size: 14px; background: #F3F3F3; border-bottom: 4px solid #DDDDDD; line-height: 19px; font-family: Georgia, Paltino, serif; color: #222222; padding: 10px;"><img src="http://vspca.org/newsletters/images/2009-12-little.jpg" height="246" alt="Rescued dog" width="250" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="font-size: 14px; border-bottom: 4px solid #DDDDDD; line-height: 19px; font-family: Georgia, Paltino, serif; color: #222222; padding: 10px;"><img src="http://vspca.org/newsletters/images/2009-12-kitten.jpg" height="177" alt="Rescued kitten" width="250" /></td> <td valign="middle" style="font-size: 14px; border-bottom: 4px solid #DDDDDD; line-height: 19px; font-family: Georgia, Paltino, serif; color: #222222; padding: 10px;">A fool left this sweetie in a drain to die, a good person rang us up to come and save him.</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="alt" style="font-size: 14px; background: #F3F3F3; border-bottom: 4px solid #DDDDDD; line-height: 19px; font-family: Georgia, Paltino, serif; color: #222222; padding: 10px;">A former employee of VSPCA who was trained in animal abuse awareness spotted this python and phoned us. Prasad, our current VSPCA staff member, seized the python from the "entertainer" (man on left) who kept the snake always confined in the bag. In cases like this, we offer the offender a job at our shelter. It is illegal to confine wildlife and since the python was healthy we were able to release it unharmed into the nearby Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary.</td> <td class="alt" valign="middle" style="font-size: 14px; background: #F3F3F3; border-bottom: 4px solid #DDDDDD; line-height: 19px; font-family: Georgia, Paltino, serif; color: #222222; padding: 10px;"><img src="http://vspca.org/newsletters/images/2009-12-snake.jpg" height="250" alt="Rescued snake" width="250" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="font-size: 14px; border-bottom: 4px solid #DDDDDD; line-height: 19px; font-family: Georgia, Paltino, serif; color: #222222; padding: 10px;"><img src="http://vspca.org/newsletters/images/2009-12-parrot.jpg" height="247" alt="Rescued parrot" width="250" /></td> <td valign="middle" style="font-size: 14px; border-bottom: 4px solid #DDDDDD; line-height: 19px; font-family: Georgia, Paltino, serif; color: #222222; padding: 10px;">Dr. Subhir, one of our five vets on staff, treating a rescued parrot for injuries.</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="alt" style="font-size: 14px; background: #F3F3F3; border-bottom: 4px solid #DDDDDD; line-height: 19px; font-family: Georgia, Paltino, serif; color: #222222; padding: 10px;">Chintu is a Rhesus monkey seized from the "owner" who kept her locked away without much food. She is cute, nice and extremely loving. We will look for a group of Rhesus monkeys to be her new family but for now she needs our help – <strong><a href="http://vspca.org/sponsor/" style="color: #660000;">please consider sponsoring her or any of other needy animals.</a></strong><a href="http://vspca.org/sponsor/" style="color: #660000;"></a></td> <td class="alt" valign="middle" style="font-size: 14px; background: #F3F3F3; border-bottom: 4px solid #DDDDDD; line-height: 19px; font-family: Georgia, Paltino, serif; color: #222222; padding: 10px;"><img src="http://vspca.org/newsletters/images/2009-12-chintu.jpg" height="296" alt="Rescued monkey" width="250" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="font-size: 14px; border-bottom: 4px solid #DDDDDD; line-height: 19px; font-family: Georgia, Paltino, serif; color: #222222; padding: 10px;"><img src="http://vspca.org/newsletters/images/2009-12-bhim.jpg" height="217" alt="Rescued dog" width="250" /></td> <td valign="middle" style="font-size: 14px; border-bottom: 4px solid #DDDDDD; line-height: 19px; font-family: Georgia, Paltino, serif; color: #222222; padding: 10px;">Bhim, who was greatly injured by a huge sword thrown from a butcher's shop. He is recovering and will stay with us.</td> </tr> </table> <p style="margin-bottom: 20px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; font-family: Georgia, Paltino, serif; margin-top: 0; color: #222222;">This past year we faced drought, floods, recession and rising prices. And now we face political upheavel in Andra Pradesh. <em>Your support is vital to make it through these challenging times.</em> Our operating expenses are depleted once again – <strong><a href="http://vspca.org/donate.php" style="color: #660000;">will you please send us any amount for our destitute animals today?</a></strong></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 20px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; font-family: Georgia, Paltino, serif; margin-top: 0; color: #222222;">We are so grateful for your support in 2009. Many blessings to you and yours for the holiday season and for 2010. </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 20px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; font-family: Georgia, Paltino, serif; margin-top: 0; color: #222222;"><em>Pradeep Nath, President and Founder<br /> Eileen Weintraub, volunteer for VSPCA outreach (USA)<br /> and all of us at VSPCA.</em></p> <p class="intro" style="margin-bottom: 20px; font-size: 12px; border-bottom: 1px solid #DDDDDD; line-height: 16px; font-family: Georgia, Paltino, serif; margin-top: 0; color: #222222; padding-top: 10px; font-style: italic; padding-bottom: 10px; border-top: 1px solid #DDDDDD;">Note: As we send you this update, our state of Andhra Pradesh, India is in turmoil. The national government appears poised to give in to popular demands to carve out a new state, Telangana, from the whole. How will VSPCA be affected? It will make our presence here more important, because our city, Visakhapatnam, will likely become the capital of the new state. For now, the violence and curfews will continue to hamper our work, for we are the only animal protection organization in the region and animals are always at exceptional risk in times of political upheaval. Bandhs (strikes) are hindering our normal activities and we are risking our lives to rescue animals in these extreme situations. We hope the situation calms down for the sake of all. <a href="http://www.thehindu.com/2009/12/13/stories/2009121357900100.htm" style="color: #660000;">More about the domestic situation here.</a></p> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Visakha-Society-for-Protection-and-Care-of-Animals-VSPCA/267632620493" style="color: #660000;"><img src="http://vspca.org/newsletter/images/find_us_on_facebook_badge.gif" border="0" height="44" align="right" alt="VSPCA on Facebook" width="144" /></a> <p style="margin-bottom: 20px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; font-family: Georgia, Paltino, serif; margin-top: 0; color: #222222;"><em>Visakha Society for Protection and Care of Animals</em><br /> 26-15-200 Main Road, Visakhapatnam<br /> Andhra Pradesh 530001, India<br /> Tel: 91-891-2716124 (office) 2001046 (shelter)<br /> <a href="mailto:vspcadeep@yahoo.co.in" style="color: #660000;"></a><a href="http://vspca.org" style="color: #660000;">http://vspca.org</a></p> </td> </tr> </table> <table width="550" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="10"><tbody><tr><td style="color:#666"> <p>You are subscribed to the <strong>Visakha SPCA</strong> list with the address <strong>example@example.com</strong>. You may automatically unsubscribe from this list at any time by visiting the following URL: http://vspca.org/cgi-bin/dada/mail.pl/u/updates/.</p> <p>(If the above URL is inoperable, make sure that you have copied the entire address. Some mail readers will wrap a long URL and thus break this automatic unsubscribe mechanism.)</p> <p>You may also change your subscription by visiting <a href="http://vspca.org/cgi-bin/dada/mail.pl/list/updates">http://vspca.org/cgi-bin/dada/mail.pl/list/updates</a>.</p> </td></tr> </tbody></table> <p><a href="http://vspca.org/cgi-bin/dada/mail.pl/what_is_dada_mail/">Mailing List Powered by Dada Mail</a></p>

Disaster relief; new cat shelter; horse sanctuary; more...

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:53:00 GMT

VSPCA helping in Andhra Pradesh, India flood relief efforts

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 11:41:00 GMT

<table width="550" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="10"> <tr> <td style="font: normal 14px/20px Georgia, Palatino, serif;color:#111;"><p><img src="http://vspca.org/newsletters/images/newsletter_header.gif" alt="VSPCA" width="530" height="90" /></p> <p><em>Dear friends, </em> </p> <p>Recently, the vast area of Andhra Pradesh was hit by <strong>overwhelming and devastating floods</strong>. At the outset of this tragedy we knew that VSPCA could not just sit by and let animals suffer. We have been incredibly busy and increasingly stressed trying to help as much as possible in the aftermath of this terrible flooding. This update is to inform you of our work. <a href="http://vspca.org/donate.php">Your kind and generous donations are going directly towards VSPCA's flood relief program.</a> Even though the situation is worse than any we have faced in the past, we are well-trained to render vital and life saving help. <em>(<a href="http://www.vspca.org/programs/floodrelief.php">Read more about our flood relief work and philosophy.</a>) </em></p> <p>This Indian national tragedy received little coverage worldwide. <a href="http://beta.thehindu.com/news/national/article29834.ece">Please see this slideshow of the aftermath via The Hindu</a>; also, <a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/10/07/india.aftermath/index.html#cnnSTCVideo">this short video from CNN</a> which shows the extent of the devastation.</p> <p><em>The following update is from VSPCA founder and President Pradeep Nath regarding the October 2009 floods in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka states.</em></p> <table width="250" border="0" align="right" cellpadding="10" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 0 0 20px 20px; border: 1px solid #DDD;"> <tr> <td style="font: normal 12px/16px Arial, Helvetica, sans; background-color: #F3F3F3;"><h3>Flood statistics</h3> <ul style="margin-left: 15px; padding-left: 0px;"> <li>18.30 lakh (almost 2 million) people affected</li> <li>475 villages affected</li> <li>83 Mandals affected </li> <li>over 60,00 cattle washed away</li> <li>54,369 houses damaged</li> <li>383,716 people displaced</li> <li>243,656 people in relief camps</li> </ul></td> </tr> </table> <p>All of our present efforts are towards suffering animals that still have a chance for survival.</p> <p>Since the 2004 Tsunami we have learned to work with the local animal welfare resources including hiring local labour. This also teaches the public how to help animals in these disasters. Our employment of local vets and assistant vets with government support (the Animal Husbandry department) changes the mindset of these personnel to help the animals. Where there is no local animal welfare help we send in our own teams. </p> <p><img src="http://vspca.org/newsletters/images/kurnoolrelief.jpg" width="525" height="347" alt="Flood releif in Kurnool" /></p> <p style="color:#666; font: normal 12px/16px Arial, Helvetica, sans; text-align: center;">In the Kurnool district where the effect is the greatest, we have developed three teams of four persons each along with the local groups.</p> <p>Depending on the progress of relief efforts, we are send in more help if needed, or divert to other locations in more desperate need.</p> <p>In areas where than are no animal welfare organizations we send in our own teams.</p> <h3>What do our teams do?</h3> <ul> <li>For each team we hire a multipurpose vehicle.</li> <li>We cover at least two pre-designated villages per day.</li> <li>If we get enough support, we can create makeshift camps for animals that require more ongoing personal attention.</li> <li>Dogs and cats need food and water and injured ones will need medical treatment.</li> <li>Cattle need minerals and special feeds of green grass and vaccinations. </li> <li>We are reaching Kurnool town and 20 other villages. At all of these places there were cattle, dogs and cats all along the roads. How they survived up until now is incomprehensible. </li> <li>We are performing quick, but thorough checks for outbreaks of contagious diseases arising out of continually wet conditions to prevent potential epidemics.</li> <li> The situation in other districts such as Mahubnagar, Krishna and Viyawada continues to be alarming. We will need to stay and help continuously for at least three weeks to help stablize the health of surviving animals. Ongoing efforts may take months.</li> </ul> <p>Unfortunately, one of our teams was attacked by people who wanted the food we were going to provide to the animals. Therefore, we have been distributing chapattis, breads and biscuits to people while simultaneously feeding the animals. Without proper electricity, and no drinking water, food procurement is immensely difficult with a very high price rise due to shortages. </p> <p>With the stench of the dead and with muddy water everywhere, people are scared to return and thus we find it dificult to get hired labors to work, and less volunteers opting for this risk, but we are doing our best.</p> <p>As a future challenge, there are <strong>200 villages</strong> where the residents will need to be relocated permanently to higher ground due to ongoing risks to their flood damaged houses. </p> <h3>What have we done so far?</h3> <ul> <li>Provided relief in 7 villages, and Mantralayam Town (Goshala)</li> <li>Fed and treated 3400 animals (cattle, dogs, cats, pigs, buffalo, goats, and horses)</li> </ul> <h3>Philosophy</h3> <p>Our priority goes out to street animals requiring treatment for injuries, malnutrition and dehydration. At the same time we help owned animals in distress and our help restores their owners' faith not to abandon them! Our objective is to bridge the gap between humans and animals. This kind of disaster brings a feeling of togetherness to reach people through animal welfare. It does take a lot of time and desperate measures but this is our choice and a chance to prove that animals have a right to live and not a subject for human consumption.</p> <p><strong><a href="http://vspca.org/donate.php">We look forward to your generosity</a> as we focus on mitigating the sufferings of the animals</strong> – wherever they are, whomever they are and however they are.</p> <p><em>Pradeep Nath- Founder/President VSPCA</em></p> <hr /> <p><em>More photos and stories follow here...</em></p> <p><img src="http://vspca.org/newsletters/images/kunoolflood_absossdog.jpg" width="525" height="267" alt="Lost dog" /></p> <p>This fellow lost his very good people who are still missing in the floods. Used to a life of comfort with all the love and affection, he had been looking for them for several days when he rescued him. We have asked the nearest animal welfare organisation (which is 100 kms away in Anantapur) to keep him until we can locate the remaining family members or we can find him another loving home. </p> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5" style="margin-bottom: 1em;"> <tr> <td valign="top"><img src="http://vspca.org/newsletters/images/kurnoolturtle.jpg" width="250" height="181" alt="Saving a sea turtle" /></td> <td valign="top"><img src="http://vspca.org/newsletters/images/flood_poordog_eye.jpg" width="250" height="181" alt="Poor dog missing his eye" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top">Wildlife needs help too, this tortoise just needed relocating back to a safe environment.</td> <td valign="top">This poor fellow will lose his eye but with our medical care he will not lose his life.</td> </tr> </table> <p><img src="http://vspca.org/newsletters/images/kurnool_feedingcow.jpg" width="525" height="362" alt="Feeding a cow after the flood" /></p> <p>Our first team arrives with few supplies.</p> <p><img src="http://vspca.org/newsletters/images/kunool_floodrelief2.jpg" width="525" height="360" alt="Flood relief" /></p> <p>A few days later VSPCA is more prepared and the word is out so that farmers can receive life saving food for their cattle. Someone cares and that is VSPCA!<br /> </p> <p><img src="http://vspca.org/newsletters/images/kernool_saved_animals.jpg" width="525" height="500" alt="Rescued animals" /></p> <p><em>All above received help for injuries, malnutrition and dehydration.</em></p> <p>Our VSPCA shelter in Visakhapatam itself and surrounding areas are coping and are safe! We are humbly grateful to all of you who have assisted us so far and care about animals and people even though we may be so far away. We pray that the worldwide conditions improve for all suffering beings.</p> <p><em>Eileen Weintraub,<br /> volunteer for VSPCA outreach</em></p> <p>Your kind donation of <em>any amount</em> will help – <a href="http://www.vspca.org/donate.php"><strong>please donate!</strong></a></p> <p><em>Visakha Society for Protection and Care of Animals</em><br /> 26-15-200 Main Road, Visakhapatnam<br /> Andhra Pradesh 530001, India<br /> Tel: 91-891-2716124 (office) 2001046 (shelter)<br /> <a href="mailto:vspcadeep@yahoo.co.in"></a><a href="http://vspca.org">http://vspca.org</a></p> </td> </tr> </table> <table width="550" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="10"><tbody><tr><td style="color:#666"> <p>You are subscribed to the <strong>Visakha SPCA</strong> list with the address <strong>example@example.com</strong>. You may automatically unsubscribe from this list at any time by visiting the following URL: http://vspca.org/cgi-bin/dada/mail.pl/u/updates/.</p> <p>(If the above URL is inoperable, make sure that you have copied the entire address. Some mail readers will wrap a long URL and thus break this automatic unsubscribe mechanism.)</p> <p>You may also change your subscription by visiting <a href="http://vspca.org/cgi-bin/dada/mail.pl/list/updates">http://vspca.org/cgi-bin/dada/mail.pl/list/updates</a>.</p> </td></tr> </tbody></table> <p><a href="http://vspca.org/cgi-bin/dada/mail.pl/what_is_dada_mail/">Mailing List Powered by Dada Mail</a></p>

Our name change; police cadet training for a kinder world; and much more!

Thu, 06 Aug 2009 17:38:00 GMT

<table width="550" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="10"> <tr> <td style="font: normal 14px/20px Georgia, Palatino, serif;color:#111;"><p><img src="http://vspca.org/newsletters/images/newsletter_header.gif" alt="VSPCA" width="530" height="90" /></p> <p><em>Dear friends, </em> </p> <p>In this news update:</p> <ul> <li><a href="#name">Why the VSPCA Name Change?</a></li> <li><a href="#police">Police cadet training for a kinder world</a></li> <li><a href="#psb">The Pet Shop boys </a></li> <li><a href="#cats">More nabbing of the cat killers and cat ABC matching dollar for dollar fundraising effort!</a></li> <li><a href="#dogs">Catching dogs with nets training for Hyderabad dog catchers</a></li> <li><a href="#outreach">Humane Outreach to College</a></li> <li><a href="#conference">VSPCA goes to Washington (almost)</a></li> <li><a href="#activists">Our youngest activists</a></li> </ul> <h3 id="name">New name, same letters</h3> <p>Teachings against cruelty to animals go back thousands of years. Alas, humans are so slow to catch on! While stopping cruelty to animals will always be a focus for VSPCA, we are doing so much more: preventing cat and dog overpopulation, promoting species conservation, humane education - the list goes on. <em>The Visakha Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals</em> no longer captures our broad mandate. That's why we've changed our name to <em>The Visakha Society for Protection and Care of Animals</em>. We are, of course, still VSPCA and <a href="http://www.vspca.org">www.vspca.org</a>.</p> <h3 id="police">Police Cadet Training</h3> <table width="250" border="0" align="right" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 0 0 10px 10px;"> <tr> <td style="color: #666; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px; text-align: center;"><p><img src="http://vspca.org/programs/images/police-training.jpg" width="250" height="188" alt="Police cadets" /></p></td> </tr> </table> <p>This amazing photo at right shows the rapt response of one of several groups of young, Andhra Pradesh police cadets (3000 in all) recently attending a humane education workshop by VSPCA. The workshops covered a wide range of subjects, from India's animal welfare laws to the need for aggressive dog and cat birth control and humane transport of animals. We were invited to give the workshops by the Police Superintendent, N. Sanjay of Anantapur. Many of the cadets had extremely thoughtful and empathetic questions. The workshops had a remarkable impact on them. They not only pledged to try their hardest to protect animals, many pledged to try and go veg!</p> <table width="250" border="0" align="right" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 0 0 10px 10px;"> <tr> <td style="color: #666; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px; text-align: center;"><p><img src="http://vspca.org/newsletter/images/cadet_question.jpg" width="250" height="188" alt="Police cadet question" /></p> <p>Many of the cadets had thoughtful questions.</p></td> </tr> </table> <p>N. Sanjay writes: "I explained the importance of Care and protection of animals and opined that those who take care of animals would also be affectionate and sympathetic towards fellow human beings. The VSPCA members enlightened us about animal rights and need for care and protection of animals through Power Point presentations, visuals and lectures and received appreciation from one and all."</p> <p>VSPCA hopes to train another 5000 to bring to a total of 8000 police cadets having their eyes opened to help animals. </p> <p>Please see the <a href="http://vspca.org/programs/police.php">full report here</a> and <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vspca/sets/72157621954634902/">photos here</a>.</p> <h3 id="psb">The Pet Shop Boys</h3> <table width="250" border="0" align="right" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 0 0 10px 10px;"> <tr> <td style="color: #666; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px; text-align: center;"><p><img src="http://vspca.org/newsletter/images/pradeepandthepetshopboys.jpg" width="250" height="152" alt="Pradeep lecturing pet shop owners" /></p> <p> Pradeep lecturing to the pet shop owners and dog breeders and trainers in the VSPCA office.</p></td> </tr> </table> <p>VSPCA held a required attendance meeting on July 19 for the pet shop owners, dog trainers and breeders in our city of Visakhapatnam. Twenty business owners in all came. It was news to them that we are going to enforce the laws regarding the sale of animals, crack down on illegal wildlife sales and enforce proper licensure. This is just the tip of the iceberg, but it a good start as many abuses are being perpetrated and the animals suffer greatly in illegal and cruel conditions. With the public's help, we are keeping a watchful eye on their shops and businesses. </p> <h3 id="cats">More nabbing of the cat killers and cat ABC matching dollar fundraising effort!</h3> <table width="250" border="0" align="right" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 0 0 10px 10px;"> <tr> <td style="color: #666; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px; text-align: center;"><p><img src="http://vspca.org/newsletter/images/cat_killers.jpg" width="250" height="188" alt="Apprehended cat killers" /></p></td> </tr> </table> <p>If you ever wondered what cat nabbers who sell the cat meat for profit look like, here they are after VSPCA stopped them and a few more teams including children (we are not showing the graphic photos of the poor tortured cats) and told them to take up another profession. We even went so far to offer them employment at the shelter but they are nomads and left town instead. It is true that these people are very poor, but that is no excuse for criminal activities and we have encouraged them to reform. No one ever told them before what they do is illegal and wrong. Here they are in front of our ambulance which clearly gives the message that animals matter!</p> <p><strong>Ms. Olive Walker, has generously pledged a matching fund for cat spay/neuter and all your donations towards that for the rest of August will be matched by her dollar for dollar! It costs just $10 to fix each cat!</strong> VSPCA has one of the <a href="http://www.vspca.org/programs/abc_cats.php">few safe cat spay/neuter programs within India</a>. Neighborhood communities in Visakhapatnam will protect the cats against being snatched for meat in future if there are not too many cats and they are spay/neutered. This shows people that cats are valued community animals and not to be viewed as pests.</p> <h3 id="dogs">Catching dogs with nets training for Hyderabad dog catchers</h3> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 0 0 10px 10px;"> <tr> <td style="color: #666; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px; text-align: center;"><img src="http://vspca.org/newsletters/images/dog_catching_pics.jpg" width="530" height="173" alt="Humanely-captured dogs" /> <p> These street dogs <em>(left)</em>were humanely caught after the training sessions and can be helped now. Municipal dog catchers with humane nets <em>(right)</em>.</p></td> </tr> </table> <p>It is a sad fact that although Dog Animal Birth Control (ABC) programs are in effect in many places in India, many dog catchers still do not know how to use the net but use the catch pole which is less humane. In Hyderabad (state capital of Andhra Pradesh) from 26th of July to 1st of August, VSPCA and <a href="http://www.bluecrosshyd.in">Blue Cross of Hyderabad</a> jointly ran training sessions for over 50 municipal dog catchers.</p> <h3 id="outreach">Humane Outreach to College Students </h3> <table width="250" border="0" align="right" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 0 0 10px 10px;"> <tr> <td style="color: #666; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px; text-align: center;"><img src="http://vspca.org/newsletter/images/pradeepteaching.jpg" width="250" height="190" alt="Pradeep teaching at the college." /> <p>Pradeep teaching at the college.</p></td> </tr> </table> <p>Just last week VSPCA President Pradeep Nath, Secretary B. Mallika and volunteers Sivalakshmi and Suchitra conducted a humane education program for 86 students at Krishna College. The students were full of burning questions. A few even became VSPCA volunteers. We intend to present the same program at the local engineering college next. </p> <br clear="both" /> <h3 id="conference">Taking Action for Animals (USA) conference</h3> <table width="250" border="0" align="right" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 0 0 10px 10px;"> <tr> <td style="color: #666; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px; text-align: center;"><img src="http://vspca.org/newsletter/images/conferencebooth.jpg" width="250" height="185" alt="Eileen at the Help Animals India/VSPCA booth." /> <p>Eileen at the Help Animals India/VSPCA booth.</p></td> </tr> </table> <p>Help Animals India/VSPCA was represented by Eileen Weintraub at the Humane Society of the United States' Taking Action for Animals conference near Washington DC (USA capital). Many of the conference-goers were interested in India's animal issues, especially those who have traveled to India and witnessed the suffering first-hand. <br /> </p> <br clear="both" /> <h3 id="activists">Our youngest activists</h3> <table width="250" border="0" align="right" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 0 0 10px 10px;"> <tr> <td style="color: #666; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px; text-align: center;"><img src="http://vspca.org/newsletter/images/Samhitha-and-Sanchith.jpg" width="250" height="188" alt="Samitha and Sanchith" /> <p>Samitha and Sanchith</p></td> </tr> </table> <p>We have hope for the future when people like Samitha and her brother Sanchith take an interest in helping VSPCA and our animals. Samitha encouraged us to rescue yet another horse from the streets that we didn't think we had room for! Thanks to Samitha and Sanchith's family, we do. They're sponsoring the horse, Vanessa, and our recently rescued monkey, Anjali. <a href="http://www.vspca.org/sponsor/">Read their stories here.</a></p> <p>Our work continues: A <a href="http://www.vspca.org/awards.php">new award</a> for VSPCA's work was accepted by our advocate and advisor Bhagavan Das; and new sponsorship opportunities are available – <a href="http://www.vspca.org/sponsor/">please take a look!</a></p> <p>SOS ambulance rescues, dog and cat animal birth control programs, puppy adoptions, treating sick animals, promoting alternative animal-friendly technologies (biogas, vermicompost, etc) continue to preoccupy us in and beyond our busy 1000-animal sanctuary. We are very grateful for all of our monthly subscribers and other donors for helping us pay the bills that keep VSPCA going – we need all of you more than ever! <strong><a href="http://www.vspca.org/donate.php">Please join our effort to make a real difference for the animals of Visakhapatnam and Andhra Pradesh.</a></strong><a href="http://www.vspca.org/donate.php"></a></p> <p><img src="http://vspca.org/newsletter/images/animals.jpg" width="530" height="131" alt="Animals at VSPCA" /></p> <p>Wishing you all well until next time,<br /> <em> Visakha Society for Protection and Care of Animals</em></p> <p>Reported by Pradeep Nath, <em>VSPCA Founder and President</em><br /> Written by Eileen Weintraub, <em>VSPCA Representative</em></p> <p>VSPCA<br /> 26-15-200 Main Road, Visakhapatnam<br /> Andhra Pradesh 530001, India<br /> Tel: 91-891-2716124 (office) 2001046 (shelter)<br /> <a href="mailto:vspcadeep@yahoo.co.in"></a><a href="http://vspca.org">http://vspca.org</a></p> </td> </tr> </table> <table width="550" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="10"><tbody><tr><td style="color:#666"> <p>You are subscribed to the <strong>Visakha SPCA</strong> list with the address <strong>example@example.com</strong>. You may automatically unsubscribe from this list at any time by visiting the following URL: http://vspca.org/cgi-bin/dada/mail.pl/u/updates/.</p> <p>(If the above URL is inoperable, make sure that you have copied the entire address. Some mail readers will wrap a long URL and thus break this automatic unsubscribe mechanism.)</p> <p>You may also change your subscription by visiting <a href="http://vspca.org/cgi-bin/dada/mail.pl/list/updates">http://vspca.org/cgi-bin/dada/mail.pl/list/updates</a>.</p> </td></tr> </tbody></table> <p><a href="http://vspca.org/cgi-bin/dada/mail.pl/what_is_dada_mail/">Mailing List Powered by Dada Mail</a></p>

New horse rescue, ending the cat meat trade, and other news

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 21:40:00 GMT

<table width="550" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="10"> <tr> <td style="font: normal 14px/20px Georgia, Palatino, serif;color:#111;"><p><img src="http://vspca.org/newsletters/images/newsletter_header.gif" alt="Visakha SPCA" width="530" height="90" /></p> <p><em>Dear friends, </em></p> <p>Expanding the reach of our animal birth control programme, improving our shelter's resistance to natural disasters and battling the shocking local trade in cat meat (we are not showing photos of this here) are among our current challenges at VSPCA. Read more about them below.</p> <h3>Bringing canine birth control up north</h3> <table width="250" border="0" align="right" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 0 0 10px 10px;"> <tr> <td style="color: #666; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px; text-align: center;"><p><img src="http://vspca.org/newsletters/images/2009-06-dogs.jpg" width="250" height="160" alt="Shelter dogs" /></p> <p>Will you help me get Animal Birth Control and a rabies vaccinations?</p></td> </tr> </table> <p>Since 1996 we have provided spay/neuter/vaccination services for almost 70,000 dogs in our area of Greater Visakha. But just 30 kilometres to the north of us (and throughout much of India) it's an entirely different story. In the town of Bhimli, there are no such services. There, the preferred method of dog population control is to kill the animals, and cruelly. We are therefore extremely heartened to report that we are going to extend our canine birth control program to Bhimli. <a href="http://www.vspca.org/donate.php">Your donations</a> will help us make this program a sustainable success. </p> <h3>A horse named Vanessa</h3> <img src="http://vspca.org/newsletters/images/2009-06-vanessa.jpg" alt="Vanessa" width="250" height="195" align="right" style="margin: 0 0 10px 10px;" /> <p>For two years now, we have operated a medical camp every two weeks for horses, which are relatively new to our are . The camp provides vaccinations, extra feed when needed, and counseling to owners about proper shelter and care to these often-abused horses which are used to provide "rides" to the public on the beach road. In one of our camps we were fortunate to rescue "Vanessa" (shown right) – <a href="http://www.vspca.org/sponsor/">read his story and other new animal sponsorship stories here</a>.</p> <p><strong>As this newsletter goes to press we just rescued another horse from starving on the streets and he is now with us at the shelter. </strong> He was rescued from BHPV (Bharat Heavy Plates and Vessels Company), about 60 km from our shelter. Pradeep was called by a good friend at 3.30 pm and our resuce team was there by 4.30 pm with our cattle rescue vehicle. He was, as you can see from the photos (below) a victim of terrible mistreatment.</p> <p><img src="http://vspca.org/newsletters/images/2009-06-rescued-horse.jpg" width="525" height="292" alt="Rescued horse" /><br /> <br /> He is now with us under our care with the best medical attention. We are hoping he will recover very fast.<br /> <br /> This is the fourth case of extremely abused horses coming in to our shelter, and we are running out of room for new horses which need rehabilitation. <a href="http://www.vspca.org/donate.php">Your donation can help us rescue more horses in need.</a></p> <h3>Cat Eaters are on the prowl</h3> <p>In the city and the country, the cat killers are on the prowl again. We are not showing the gruesome photos here but cat meat is in high demand. Although we have caught these cat poachers several times, the punishment is not strong enough to deter them. From now on we will book them under the more stringent Wildlife Act.</p> <p>More info on <a href="http://vspca.org/programs/abc_cats.php">cat ABC at VSPCA</a> and <a href="http://www.vspca.org/programs/cateaters.php">the cat-eaters</a>.</p> <p>A craving for cat meat in India? Well, not really. We have yet to hear of anyone here with a taste for cat meat. Rather, our informers say the cat meat is being used to adulterate other meats without people's knowledge. </p> <p>Another theory is that the cats are being captured for experiments. But that is not a possibility because all animal experiments must be approved by the Animal Welfare Board of India of which VSPCA President Pradeep Nath is a member in our region. Whatever their purpose, we are committed to stopping these criminal acts once and for all.</p> <p>In one neighbourhood, for example, the cat poachers have been driven out of business because the entire community of 50 families is united in protecting the animals. We have committed to do Animal Birth Control on the 40 cats still living there which is ongoing right now. <a href="http://www.vspca.org/donate.php">If you could help us fund the ABC, we (and the cats) will be deeply grateful. </a></p> <h3>On the trail of Parrot Poachers</h3> <img src="http://vspca.org/newsletters/images/2009-06-parrot.jpg" alt="Rescued parrot" width="100" height="117" align="right" style="margin: 0 0 10px 10px;" /> <p>The abusive exploitation of parrots by "fortune-tellers" is a problem here where they are captured as babies from the wild, kept in tiny boxes all day long without proper food or water (except when they are let out to "work") with their wings badly clipped to the point of mutilation. Please read our <a href="http://network.bestfriends.org/india/news/34153.html">Best Friends blog for more</a>. This year, for the first time, we have been fortunate to receive help from the <a href="http://www.parrots.org">World Parrot Trust</a> so we may rescue more of these parrots. </p> <h3>New disaster risk-reduction building at our shelter</h3> <p>Every year, our city of Visakhapatnam is prone to cyclones. At our shelter, the potential for damage or disaster is great. On any given day we cater to 611 cattle, 200 dogs, 53 cats, 40 Animal Birth Control operations for dogs and cats, new wild animal rescues and the upkeep of 4 horses, 11 monkeys, 34 star tortoises, 124 birds, 15 rabbits, 6 mice, 8 guinea pigs, 6 crows and 2 hens. All this on less than three acres of land.</p> <p>We are always apprehensive about the safety of the animals in our shelter, even during normal monsoon times. </p> <p>Although we have already spent a lot of money developing our drainage system, we are far from having solved the problem. We would like to develop our disaster plans to include an improved drainage system, a boundary wall up to five feet high, structures to keep wildlife safer, and an inventory of emergency materials such as mobile generators, torches, shovels, industrial equipment, rain coats, rain boots, helmets and flash lights.</p> <p>And we are making progress. Recently, <a href="http://www.wspa-international.org">WSPA</a> generously helped underwrite the construction of our <a href="http://www.vspca.org/programs/floodrelief.php">new Emergency Animal Feed Storage Facility</a> (shown below). Built four feet above ground level, the facility will keep feed and medicines for up to 1000 animals (including up to 6 tonnes of cattle feed) safe and hygienic through any flood. We are grateful to WSPA for this generous help.</p> <table width="250" border="0" align="right" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 0 0 10px 10px;"> <tr> <td style="color: #666; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px; text-align: center;"><p><img src="http://vspca.org/newsletters/images/2009-06-shelter.jpg" width="250" height="228" alt="Feed storage facility" /></p> <p>Our new emergency feed storage facility.</p></td> </tr> </table> <p>We are pleased to acknowledge major support for our programmes from the <a href="http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=3">Greater Good Animal Rescue Site</a> . You can help their noble effort for all animals by visiting their site and clicking each day.<br /> </p> <p>We have received extremely helpful supplies once again from the <a href="http://www.arlboston.org/site/PageServer?pagename=about_sister_shelter">Animal Rescue League of Boston</a>. A special thank you to our consultant expert veterinarian, Dr. Bosmat Gal. Her twice yearly visits are continuing to improve our standards and protocols. Supplies were also donated by a great new grass roots group, the <a href="http://www.amcf.nl">Animal Medical Care Foundation.</a> This year, we once again received sponsorship for two veterinarian salaries from the Maria Norbury Fund for Animals. We currently employ four extremely hard working veterinarians and hope to add a fifth.</p> <p>Thank you for all the support from our many worldwide friends.</p> <table width="250" border="0" align="right" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 0 0 10px 10px;"> <tr> <td style="color: #666; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px; text-align: center;"><p><img src="http://vspca.org/newsletters/images/2009-06-sarada.jpg" width="250" height="197" alt="Sarada" /></p> <p>Our shelter manager Sarada stands outside the VSPCA front gate with a few of the nearly 200 free-roaming resident dogs we have rescued. </p></td> </tr> </table> <p>Now, the punishing summer heat – with all the hardships, virulent diseases and special needs for our care to all of the street animals – is upon us. A dependable flow of monthly income is key to our ability to maintain the shelter and all of our programmes. We are driven to continue our mission! <strong><a href="http://www.vspca.org/donate.php">Please consider becoming part of the Visakha SPCA Sustainers Fund</a></strong> by joining our loyal team of monthly donors. Of course, any contribution is most welcome including your ideas and important networking to your friends. Your donation is fully tax deductible if coming from India or if coming from the United States (through the Help Animals India info available on our donate link).<br /> </p> <p>On behalf of Pradeep Nath and all at Visakha SPCA,<br /> <em>Eileen Weintraub<br /> Visakha SPCA global outreach</em></p> <p>Visakha SPCA<br /> 26-15-200 Main Road, Visakhapatnam<br /> Andhra Pradesh 530001, India<br /> Tel: 91-891-2716124 (office) 2001046 (shelter)<br /> <a href="mailto:vspcadeep@yahoo.co.in"></a><a href="http://vspca.org">http://vspca.org</a></p> </td> </tr> </table> <table width="550" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="10"><tbody><tr><td style="color:#666"> <p>You are subscribed to the <strong>Visakha SPCA</strong> list with the address <strong>example@example.com</strong>. You may automatically unsubscribe from this list at any time by visiting the following URL: http://vspca.org/cgi-bin/dada/mail.pl/u/updates/.</p> <p>(If the above URL is inoperable, make sure that you have copied the entire address. Some mail readers will wrap a long URL and thus break this automatic unsubscribe mechanism.)</p> <p>You may also change your subscription by visiting <a href="http://vspca.org/cgi-bin/dada/mail.pl/list/updates">http://vspca.org/cgi-bin/dada/mail.pl/list/updates</a>.</p> </td></tr> </tbody></table> <p><a href="http://vspca.org/cgi-bin/dada/mail.pl/what_is_dada_mail/">Mailing List Powered by Dada Mail</a></p>

For the love of India's cows: VSPCA rescue victory

Tue, 07 Apr 2009 12:04:00 GMT

Exciting news from Visakha SPCA

Wed, 04 Mar 2009 21:14:00 GMT

2008: Our story so far...

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 20:21:00 GMT

Fighting the flood in words and pictures

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 19:27:00 GMT

URGENT: Orissa flood situation report

Fri, 26 Sep 2008 15:31:00 GMT

The good and not-so-good news from India

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 17:08:00 GMT

<table width="550" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="10"> <tr> <td style="font: normal 14px/20px Georgia, Palatino, serif;color:#111;"><p><img src="http://visakhaspca.org/newsletters/images/email_header.gif" alt="Visakha SPCA" width="447" height="84" /></p> <p><em>Dear Friends,</em></p> <p>Hoping you can find the time to read our packed newsletter. Please send us your feedback, comments and ideas!</p> <p><strong>Students and VSPCA: A Match Made in Heaven</strong></p> <p><em>Students East and West</em> was the unoffical theme of our India Independence Day celebration on August 15th. Not only were 150 five to fourteen-year-old Visakha schoolchildren our guests of honour at a special presentation on kindness to animals, so were VSPCA's three volunteer veterinary students from the University of California at Davis. During the event, we lectured on taking proper care of animals, sang animal-related and patriotic songs, showed humane education films about VSPCA and handed out prizes for academic achievements.</p> <p><img src="http://visakhaspca.org/newsletters/images/raising_flag.jpg" alt="Raising the Flag of India" width="530" height="218" /></p> <p style="font-size:11px;line-height:14px;"><em>Raising the flag of India. In attendance: VSPCA office staff (Pradeep Nath, Raju Lalam, Prasad Rao); our vet student volunteers (Louise Mary, Katy Siquig, Jennifer Lawler); and our intrepid office dogs, Roo and Chameli.</em></p> <table width="270" border="0" align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tr> <td style="width:250px;padding:0 20px 10px 0;font-size:11px;line-height:14px;"><img src="http://visakhaspca.org/newsletters/images/third_grader.jpg" alt="Third grader" /> <p><em>Katy Siquig awards a third grader with a prize on India Independence Day.</em></p></td></tr> </table> <p>It's a privilege to work with these caring young American students who also kindly brought us vitally needed vet supply donations. Louise Mary writes about her experience volunteering for VSPCA: </p> <blockquote> <p><em>"The VSPCA has worked wonders with limited resources, and the cats have two large beautiful enclosures. The cats themselves were healthy, alert and had beautiful glossy fur. During my stay in India, I was able to travel a little and appreciate what a great job the VSPCA program is doing. The health of the street dogs and the attitude of the people towards animals were noticeably better than other cities I visited. In Visakhapatnam, the people seemed less afraid of the dogs knowing that they were vaccinated, and there was less aggression amongst the dogs themselves. There were also far fewer dogs! Overall it was truly an informative and amazing experience, and I was greatly inspired by the dedication and tirelessness of the people who run the shelter."</em></p> </blockquote> <p>And Jennifer Lawler writes:<em> "I was impressed by the dedicated shelter staff, who are working diligently to change an entire society's perceptions of animals."</em></p> <p><a href="http://visakhaspca.org/testimonials.php">Read more testimonials from our visiting UC Davis vet students here.</a></p> <p>Meanwhile, over in Australia, while third-year University of Melbourne veterinary student Matt Pascall has yet to visit us (he will in January) that hasn't stopped him from volunteering. This August, Matt donated his considerable athletic prowess by participating in a "half Iron Man" challenge in Queensland. Matt swam 1.9 km, biked 90 km and ran a half marathon to raise help our street dog program by raising funds for a year's salary for one of our vets! Read more about Matt's heroic effort <a href="http://www.vet.unimelb.edu.au/news/ironmanmatt.html">here</a> and <a href="http://werribee.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/general/fun-run-for-paws-cause/371423.aspx">here</a>.</p> <p>To all of our outstanding student volunteers, a deep and heartfelt thanks!</p> <table width="270" border="0" align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tr> <td style="width:250px;padding:0 20px 10px 0;font-size:11px;line-height:14px;"><img src="http://visakhaspca.org/newsletters/images/real_environmentalists.jpg" alt="Real environmentalists don't eat meat" /> <p><em>VSPCA Founder Pradeep Nath</em></p></td> </tr> </table> <p><strong>VSPCA Says No to Meat, Yes to Planet</strong></p> <p>Recently, India's Rajendra Pachauri, Chair of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change which won the Nobel Peace Prize last year with former US Vice President Al Gore, made his views on meat and climate change known in no uncertain terms. Noting that a 2006 UN report shows that animal agriculture is responsible for more greenhouse gas emissions than all of the world's transport sector, the 68-year-old economist (and vegetarian) forcefully suggested that one of the most effective ways people can fight climate change is to go vegetarian, starting with one meat-free day per week. That's a message we at Visakha SPCA can get behind 100 percent, as evidenced by this photo of Pradeep Nath literally wearing it.</p> <p><strong>Heavy rains due to climate change</strong></p> <p>Although the worst flooding in India in 50 years is in one of India's poorest states, Bihar, there is trouble here as well, as reported by Pradeep:</p> <blockquote> <p><em>The conditions are not good for the white cattle at our shelter. Whenever they get wet continuously they need immediate medical attention. Of course, our drainage system is now very good since the improvements, but there is still much more to be done.</em></p> <p><em>To help with the flooded areas we are linking with other groups in Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and now East and West Godavari, Rajahmundry and Kakinada to try and do our best. Already we have rescued several cows from being swept away (although one calf very unfortunately drowned.)</em></p> </blockquote> <p>We have set up a special fund for rescuing animals in the surrounding areas as well as channeling them to teams working in Bihar. <a href="http://visakhaspca.org/donate.php">Please consider donating</a><em> (when you land on the PayPal page, specify that your donation is for our Natural Disaster Rescue Project)</em>. <a href="http://www.hindu.com/2008/09/11/stories/2008091153840400.htm">Click here for just one of many news stories</a> that describe one of many describing situations where we go out and do what we can to rescue animals. </p> <table width="270" border="0" align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tr> <td style="width:250px;padding:0 20px 10px 0;font-size:11px;line-height:14px;"><img src="http://visakhaspca.org/newsletters/images/petshop_rescue.jpg" alt="Pet shop seizure" /></td> </tr> </table> <p><strong>"Pet shop" Raid</strong></p> <p>A grossly negligent and definitely illegal pet merchandiser was recently raided in by our VSPCA staff. We seized over 28 rabbits (big and small) and 85 birds (budgies, cockatoos, finches, pigeons and doves). We will make sure this "shop" does not open again.</p> <p><strong>Squatters Occupy VSPCA Grazing Land!</strong></p> <p>Our unfortunate problem is that there are now camps of people squatting right outside VSPCA on the hill even though they have other places to live. We only have only 2.2 acres at the shelter, and we have been using this government-owned land for all of these years as pasture for our cows and horses - now these people are illegally occupying the land! The police have been called, but we do not know what the outcome will be. We hope to move 300 cattle to other land which is quite far from here. We need to raise funds to develop grazing areas for the cattle on the new land and, ideally, to further our goal of making VSPCA self-sufficient by growing food, producing more vermicompost for sale and using cow byproducts like biogas (fuel) and cow urine (used in herbal medicine products).</p> <p><img src="http://visakhaspca.org/newsletters/images/hilloccupation.jpg" alt="Occupation of grazing land" width="530" height="271" /></p> <p>Fundamentally the problem is too many people (and animals) fighting for diminishing resources. Visakha SPCA is active in protecting what is left of our ecosystem. <a href="http://network.bestfriends.org/international/news/28711.html">See the Best Friends blog about our campaign.</a></p> <p>Many challenges face our area, see: "<a href="http://tinyurl.com/6nhddp">Coastal Corridor of Greed in Andhra Pradesh</a>"</p> <p>Please read our <a href="http://visakhaspca.org/sponsor/">new sponsorship stories</a>.</p> <p><strong>Donors to the Rescue</strong></p> <p>We are happy to tell you that since our previous email report in August, we have received a life-saving grant from Ahimsa Foundation which will pay off our current debts. The bad news is our debts keep coming. <a href="http://visakhaspca.org/donate.php"><em>Please help us to keep helping the animals</em></a>. </p> <p><em>We would also like to thank the following major contributors for their gracious assistance: </em></p> <p>GVMC and AWBI (for ABC program) WSPA (sponsorship of attendance for Pradeep Nath at Asia for Animals conference and New Zealand Disaster Relief workshop); The Animal Rescue League of Boston (working visit, continuing expertise by Dr. Bosmat Gal and vet supplies donated by Cyprus charities -- Sirius dog shelter for suture materials and the Malcolm Cat Protection Society for cat collars), the Visakha Gowrakha Samithi (for monthly cattle feed) and Lynette Bevan (one year sponsorship of "Billy" and "Bannu"! ) Sharon St. Joan, Vishaya Anand Kumtekar, Matt Pascall, Olive Walker. </p> <p><em>We are also indebted to the following kind contributors:</em> Robert and Sherri Andrews, Monica Amnesty (sponsorship of "Milky"), Swathi Buddhiraju, Patricia Cade, Lucie Farrow, Chris Fletcher, Chi Lam Fung, Radha Kaipa, Ravi Kiran and Belina Kantamneni, Susmitha Subba Raju.</p> <p><em>As well as cherishing our monthly subscribers:</em> Syd Baumel, Lynette Bevan, Jean Bird, Judith Embry, Renee Kehr, Melanie Freeberg, Esther Geisser, Rob Holland, Judy Hungerford, Glynis Jennings, Amy Kauffman, Kumar Kakarlapudi, Lek Hanshin, Brian Mann, Sandi Passmore, Momemaneni Radha, Gina Sopwith, Margot M. Stoffels, Venkata Tadimeti, Andrew Wells. Finally, Animal People News, Maneka Gandhi and Phil Wollen continue to be our guiding lights. </p> <p>With kind regards from all of us,</p> <p>Eileen Weintraub (USA)<br /> <em>VSPCA Global Outreach</em></p> <p>Pradeep Nath<br /> <em>Founder and President</em></p> <p><em>Visakha SPCA</em><br /> 26-15-200 Main Road, Visakhapatnam<br /> Andhra Pradesh 530001, India<br /> Tel: 91-891-2716124 (office) 2001046 (shelter) <br /> <a href="http://visakhaspca.org">http://visakhaspca.org</a></p> <p>All photos © 2008 Visakha SPCA</p> </td> </tr> </table> <table width="550" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="10"><tbody><tr><td style="color:#666"> <p>You are subscribed to the <strong>Visakha SPCA</strong> list with the address <strong>example@example.com</strong>. 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