CHENNAI:The Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) is all set to open its new animal shelter home in August, at Thirupalaivanam village in Ponneri Taluk, 50 kilometres away from the city.
Spread across 5.28 acres, this home will shelter birds and animals rescued from in and around the area. “Abandoned animals face a lot of trauma after being left on the streets, we want to make them feel at home in this shelter,” says D Shegar, executive secretary of SPCA Chennai.
The idea of starting a new home came up after Shegar and his team of animal welfare officers visited a shelter for cattle in Haryana two years ago, “We had gone there for training and were surprised to find 4,000 animals and birds, including those injured, being taken care of at the shelter. Inspired by the shelter, we decided to start a similar home, besides sheltering them,” says Shegar.
Soon, the SPCA opened a home in Vishakapatnam and its success prompted them to start a new venture at Thirupalaivanam. “Our main aim is to provide all the necessary care for animals,” he adds. As the shelter home will be surrounded by 1,000 acres of agricultural fields, the officials are also looking at ways to help farmers in the neighbourhood.
“We will provide a pair of bullocks to each farmer who seeks assistance in farming. We will go about identifying such families with the help of the local departments and others,” says Shegar. “This way, we also wish to promote the use of cattle instead of tractors. This will keep the environment healthy too,” he adds.
The new home, which was supposed to have been opened in February, will be inaugurated in August due to fund issues. The home will be equipped with a clinic, an ambulance with 10 members, including a vet, to look after the animals. They will reside at the staff quarters constructed near the shelter. “We hope this initiative is successful,” says Shegar.