When the most innocent suffer because of mankind
While some may wonder why they were born poor or less fortunate and
yearn for fortune, there are some that while struggling to find one bite
for their empty bellies, get hit by vehicles and left on the roads to
die even without a drop of water.
Just after arriving from Melbourne, after seeing clean streets for
many years free of starving and stray animals and considerate people
that slow down for an occasional wild animal or a tom cat, at the
Homagama Junction public bus stop, I saw one animal that was living in
the true hell on earth.
This young dog was hit by a vehicle, possibly a bus, at that bus stop
and both her rear legs were crushed. She was already thin, starving and
looked quite young and new to this cruel world. No one has nursed her,
neither has even called any authority, therefore she has been living in
extreme pain for weeks or months with both her hind legs and spine
crushed.
Just to find a drop of water or a bite to eat she was forced to crawl
on her skinny front legs and we even saw some people chasing her away
when she was nearing shops begging for food or for a dry spot to sleep.
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Help line
If you would like to be
involved with the association or would like to donate and
make a difference to helpless and innocent animals’ lives,
contact 2719716 or 4941084. |
Unable to knowingly let her suffer any longer, we managed to contact
a nearby animal shelter after a friend told us of 'Animal Welfare &
Protection Association'. As I was new back in the country, I did not
know of any other association and was quite surprised to see the number
of dogs they were caring for at their 'Kahathuduwa' shelter when we took
this injured animal by a three wheel.
The current President Ms Jayathillake later told me that this
organization was originally founded in 1964 by a few animal lovers.
Their first shelter was at Kadawatha road 'Dehiwala' and with the
popularity and extreme demand their second shelter was opened at
Diyagama Road, 'Kahathuduwa' in 2003. 'Dehiwala' shelter has a cattery
as well as dog kennels, while Kahathuduwa at the moment only provides
shelter for dogs.
She also states that there are 430 animals being cared at the two
shelters while they also run free immunization and sterilization
campaigns to anyone and everyone when the funds are available. The
'Animal Welfare & Protection Association' runs solely for the benefit of
stray and injured animals and completely supported by generous donations
of kind hearted people.
During Vesak time, the association asked everyone to be cautious of
stray animals on the roads and be patient and slow down rather than
running over a poor animal that may be running around just to find some
food. After all, the Buddha spoke only of kindness to all living beings
as all animals have a right to exist on this planet.
- Chamari Senanayake
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