KPIT Cummins Blog

Following her experience with animal organizations making a difference in Pune, Melissa Womack, Global Marketing Head, KPIT Cummins reaches out to animal lovers.

Image 1: Niketa in the Recuperation Center

On a sunny Saturday in Pune I was showered with love – Puppy Love – literally! I found a kindred spirit in KPIT colleague Niketa Malhotra (Image 1) who works to improve the lives of stray dogs in Pune, India as I do in my US hometown, Dallas, Texas. I spent the day with Niketa learning how dog rescue works in Pune. 

Niketa works with RESQ, a Charitable Trust that takes calls from Pune-ites who spot a sick or injured street dog. RESQ will send help (Image 2). In some cases, the dog is treated and goes on his way, but other situations require more serious intervention.

Image 2: Mahesh, ResQ Driver

In the case of little Peanut (Image 3) his leg was fractured. In the case of Lovey (Image 4), she was found lying on the roadside, dehydrated, with her paws and elbows infected with open wounds. Both were transported to a vet for treatment, and then to RESQ where they could recuperate. A caretaker administers medicine and cares for them while they get better. 


 

Image 3: Peanut

There’s only room for a few dogs at a time so the goal is to get him (or her) back to the same place he was found as soon as practical, preferably sterilized to avoid further over-population. If unable to survive on the street, he is put up for adoption in hopes of finding a home.

In more serious cases, dogs will go to Blue Cross Hospital in Gorpadi, which is the only animal hospital in Pune, where dogs can stay overnight. Blue Cross also treats animals with chronic health issues and special health needs while continuously looking out for a loving home. At Blue Cross, I learned about the inbreeding of Greyhounds resulting in painful hip displaysia.

Image 4: Lovey

I think of the stray dogs in India as Community Dogs, because they live in harmony just like people. While stuck in traffic near Mumbai airport I was delighted to watch two dogs running towards each other from different directions. 

They greeted each other, wagged their tails and then ran off together. They were at home in their community and clearly had plans to do something that day – maybe a dog date?

Did you know?

• In India and in the US we have a dog overpopulation problem. Both countries are working on the solution but in different ways.
  • In the US, an estimated 8 million cats and dogs each year become homeless – half of them are adopted and half are euthanized. As animal rescuers in the US, we receive emails from shelters with photos of dogs and the number of days he has left before euthanized.  We race against the clock to find a place for him before his time is up.
  • The animal rescue community in US and India is trying to educate the public on the importance of sterilization (spay/neuter), which is the only long-term solution to pet/stray overpopulation.
• In India, it is against the law to re-locate a stray animal to another area unless you are adopting it and giving it a loving home. Moreover, it is also against the law to inflict injury on an animal.

How can we help?

Adopt!

• Remember, one dog homed is one dog off the street.

Sponsor!

• Both RESQ and Blue Cross rely heavily on donations. Each requires $4k US (approx. 2,00,000 INR per month) to operate. You can sponsor a dog’s food, treatment, medicines and even petrol for the pick-up vehicle.
• Attend fundraising events - and bring your friends!
• Eat at the restaurants that are helping out RESQ.

Volunteer and Spread the Word!

• Volunteer for fund-raising events, rescues and awareness drives.
• Join RESQ and Blue Cross Pune on Facebook and share pictures of adoptable pets and events.
• Organize a field trip for employees and students to Blue Cross/ RESQ so they learn about the humane treatment of animals.
• Invite RESQ to speak to groups of friends and colleagues about how to make our community safer for dogs and people.

And last but not least - call these organizations when you see a distressed animal. It may be 30 minutes for you to wait until they arrive, but you could save a life!

For volunteering, fund raising, organizing events and further information about animal organizations in India contact Niketa on niketa.malhotra@gmail.com

That's Me with Niketa and Peanut