Losing a dear colleague to CoVid-19
A Significant Voice for Animals is Gone Forever!
Dr. Behera was from the region of Kakinada, about 179 km from us. His person and his significant voice for animals is no more. He left us for the heavenly abode in the 3rd week of August this year, succumbing to Corona Virus complications last week.
A gynecologist, he had his own own nursing home and a flourishing clinic. The upper storey of his home was made into a refuge for dogs who were 3-legged, very old and with incurable mange. It was a home to 24 such dogs. Aside from this, Dr. Behera made time to feed dogs and rescue injured and abandoned dogs as well. He did his best to find forever homes for his animals but kept them, when they could not go to another home.
Despite a heavy workload, being an ardent animal lover, Dr. Behera and VSPCA’s Pradeep Kumar Nath, got together to form the The Kakinada Society for Protection and Care of Animals. Kakinada society supported VSPCA’s goals by Spaying-Neutering and Vaccinating 1100 dogs before the pandemic hit, this year! He did this with the permission of the Greater Visakha Municipal Corporation - the GVMC.
Pradeep and Dr. Behera shared a deep bond. They worked to lay out the Animal Birth Control Program ABC program based upon the lessons learnt from VSPCA, for street dogs in the Kakinada region. VSPCA continued providing the Kakinada Society technical and advisory support. The friendship ran deep and the work of animal protection and care expanded in this shared compassion.
Dr. Behera was so practical - with humans and with animals. He was trained and experienced in gynaecology and animal care and treatment. And, he did both jobs with the utmost of respect and love.
This is the 2nd person we’ve lost to Covid. It’s heartbreaking digesting these losses for VSPCA Founder and staff. With a heavy heart everyone left behind goes on.
Dr. Behera and Mr. Narayan Rao are symbols of dedication, pure love, selflessness, service and nonjudgement of others. And this includes all living beings of all shapes and forms and sizes.
In their memory, in the deep void they leave behind, we recommit ourselves to the service of animals and their habitats.
We acknowledge our Late Dr. Behera’s efforts in this regard.