The Hindu : New Delhi News : Unique project to sensitise animal owners

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Dec 13, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

Unique project to sensitise animal owners

By Bindu Shajan Perappadan

The horse stand at Turkman Gate which houses the largest number of animals in the Capital. Photo: S. Subramanium

NEW DELHI, DEC. 12. The city's oldest horse stand at Turkman Gate that also doubles up as a hospital for working horses, donkeys and mules, is galloping towards a rather unique project aimed at empowering animal owners.

A rather slow and at times even reluctant shift of power from "outsiders" to animal owners, this has been on the cards for a while. But it is only now that a final shape has been given to start this important transfer procedure.

Making owners more responsible towards their animals, the "outside" staff which has been looking after them since 1997at the Capital's Brooke Hospital for Animals, an off-shoot of the U.K.-based charitable organisation, is now training owners to identify problem areas, learn first-aid, animal management and become educated about the most effective use of animals which would be mutually beneficial.

Giving details about the project, the chief executive officer of the Brooke Hospital for Animals, K.S. Murthy, explained: "Delhi has anywhere between 4,000 to 5,000 horses, donkeys and mules and the centre at Turkman Gate has always been our top priority because of its sensitive nature. Not only does it cater to the largest number of animals, it is also the oldest in Delhi. The condition of the animals here is much worse compared with those elsewhere."

"What we are proposing to do at the centre is to improve the knowledge base of the owners, tell them about the health of the animals, educate them about practices that will harm the animal in the long run leading to reduced income, and how to avoid injury and maintain the animals."

And for this project the group has brought in a community facilitator who will now become part of the mobile health team responsible for the medical care and general wellbeing of the animals. "The facilitator will take classes with the owners and encourage dialogue, basically the message that we are trying to send is that they will have to learn to manage their affairs and not be dependent on us," explained Mr. Murthy

This unique partnership between the Brooke officials and the horse owners is expected to go a long way in helping the owners take up the responsibility of maintaining the animals and "not look for outside help".

"We have realised that we have been doing all the work for the people here including providing shelter, looking after the health of the animal and its general wellbeing. Owners here break the animals by pushing them into hard work before time and cause serious ailments due to improper handling and overuse. We are now taking up a scientific and well-researched method to take care of these animals and educate the owners, telling them the right way to handle them which would help them in the long run," explained Mr. Murthy.

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