Trust this squad to rescue strays

When a blind stray dog fell in a gutter at Gartanpada in Dahisar recently, the animal rescue squad of Shree Ramanugrah Trust swung into action.

"We received a call from a woman living nearby that a dog was trapped in a gutter. We realised on reaching there that the dog was blind. Because it couldn't see, it was unable to come out," said trust manager Omkar Rane.

With rescue attempts coming to naught and mercury dipping, Rane decided at 1.30 am to seek fire brigade help.

"We apprised them (fire personnel) of the situation and they gave us a ladder and rope," he said.

Nearly an hour later, the dog was pulled out.

The severely dehydrated animal was then given first aid and sent to the trust shelter at Shrirampur near Ahmednagar.

"The dog was weak and would not have survived on its own. So we adopted it. The shelter can accommodate 400 animals," Rane said.

The squad to rescue strays was formed in 2010.

"Animals without owners and whose owners have died do not receive adequate care. Unlike a lot of NGOs that work for dogs and birds, we do not differentiate. Wherever there is an animal in need, we rush to its rescue," Rane said.

The squad has three ambulances and is in the process of acquiring a fourth.

"Two small ambulances for small animals have beds and first-aid. A big ambulance for cattle is fitted with a hydraulic lift. We are getting another ambulance that will have equipment to revive injured and ailing animals and keep them stable until they reach hospital," Rane said.

The trust rescues 300-400 animals a month. The 24x7 helpline (9619933223 / 9920499404) at its offices in Juhu and Dahisar never stops ringing.

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