We're Not Only Reducing the Stray Dog Population in Tiruvannamalai
and Treating Sick and Injured Animals of all Kinds ...

... we're loving them too. Unless animals feel safe, cared for, and loved, deep healing will not take place. For the animals that stay with us but a brief time, it 's the most important blessing we can give.

Our love will stay with them the rest of their lives ... even in some distant time when someone might be throwing stones at them, somehow they will weather the unkindness a little better.

Our shelter provides seven core programs:

ABC (Animal Birth Control) Sterilization and Anti-rabies Program

It’s objectives are to control population and eliminate rabies in the dog population thereby eliminating almost all rabies deaths in the human population.

Homeless street dogs are captured, sterilized, held six days or more to convalesce, given anti-rabies injections, and returned to their original territories. Sometime late 2008 or 2009 the population started reducing naturally as the number of deaths exceeded the number of births. We now know there were over 4000 homeless dogs when we first opened. We believe the number was below 3,500 by March, 2011. With ongoing “maintenance”, the poplulation will continue to decrease and stabilize at a much lower level.

We currently do between 80 and 125 Sterilizations/Anti-rabies injections per month. The total number of sterilizations at the end of March, 2011 was 4186 (around 3600 of those were on “homeless” dogs). This should result in a decrease of at least 6000 puppies born each year, most of whom would have suffered and died on the streets.

The whole process of being caught, incarcerated, and released is potentially awful for the dogs. We go to great lengths to catch them as gently as possible, and to reassure, stroke them, and lovingly talk to them from the moment they are caught. For the time they’re with us convalescing, we give them a lot of caring, love, and reassurance. Almost all of them, by the time they’re released, are much more open to humans.

Our ABC dogs have Arnica and Rescue Remedy (both homeopathic substances) included
in their drinking water. One facilitates healing and the other helps overcome the stress of being “captured” and whisked away to what at first seems a strange and threatening place.

There have not been many rabies cases in this area. When we do get a report we send someone to catch the animal and bring it in for observation. If it does appear to possibly be rabies we inform the Municipality who sends someone to the area to alert the nearby residents and tell those at risk to go for treatment to the Government Hospital. And we immediately send a shelter team into the area to give all nearby dogs anti-rabies injections. As of the end of 2010, we only rarely get a suspected rabies case. That suggests that rabies is almost eliminated in the dog population,

Our Clinic:

Our clinic was originally intended to treat homeless dogs only. Many are brought in having been hit by vehicles, beaten, and/or with a variety of serious illnesses. Surprisingly, though, there has been an unanticipated high number of “owner dogs” brought in for treatment. More than any other shelter we know.

Before we opened there were no small animal specialists within 75 km’s of Tiruvannamalai. As the reputation of the Shelter has grown, more and more “owner dogs” are being brought in for treatment. Regularly we get people from as far away as 100 kilometers. This is in addition to the ABC Sterilization activity. We usually have between 150 to 300 puppies and adult dogs brought to the clinic each month. A number are brought in for treatment more than once. The number of so-called “visits” (If one dog were brought in three times, it would be counted as three “visits”) vary between 250 and 450 each month. At the end of March, 2011 we had treated over 2800 “owner dogs”.

We will treat any small animal in need. There is a government veterinary hospital that treats larger animals but when situations arise where a large animal needs care and we are the only ones that can provide that care we will, of course, treat the suffering animal. Through March 2011 we have treated 1204 animals other than dogs: 230 cats, 350 birds, 233 cows/calves, 209 goats, lambs & sheep, 4 horses, 2 bullocks, 27 donkeys, 2 pigs, 58 monkeys, 9 squirrels, 55 rabbits, 2 eagles, 8parrots, 9 peacocks, 3 deer, 2 snakes, and 1 turkey. Our clinic is open seven days a week. And we provide emergency services 24 hours a day.

Almost all services are provided free of cost. However people with owner dogs are asked to pay a small amount, but are given free care if that is difficult for them. There is no charge for homeless dogs. And we provide free medical treatment (and family planning) for life for dogs or puppies adopted from the Shelter to encourage their adoption.
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Our Hospital:

If required, we provide hospital facilities. Presently we are quite full and need to expand. We presently have limited space to accommodate recovering animals that need isolation and to accommodate animals that must be kept in larger retaining areas.

Our Sanctuary:

For animals that cannot survive on their own, we offer sanctuary for the rest of their natural lives. They are not kept in cages but may freely live out their lives in the compound. It's a very good life. And they are very happy.

An example of the loving care we provide: On Sunday, January 10th 2010 we buried our beloved Lakshmi the cow.
 
We had rescued her from slaughter in a James Bond-like action drama almost two short years ago. She was missing part of her right rear leg (just below the knee). She had been hit by a truck and Dr.Raja had lovingly nursed her back to health, every three days completely changing her bandage/cast, warding off infection, encouraging healing.
 
We had found a lovely home for her outside of town on Hari's estate where we were intending to place her but during the healing process (which took six months) we had come to love her. Her gentle nature … Her sattvic presence … Moving here and there around the Shelter garden … Giving us her darshan. And so she was happy and content with us, and we decided to keep her.
 
She became weak and unable to garner enough strength to stand up on friday. We contacted the one government veterinarian who was expert in large animals. He was in meetings all day and was unable to come on friday. Dr.Raja had arranged to meet him at the Shelter 7:30 saturday morning. It was getting cool here at night and we were concerned about her. In the evening, Dr. Raja had Prakash enclose her entire "resting area" with plastic to ward off any breeze and cold air and made a bed for her of straw covered with a blanket. Our staff picked her up and put her on it … lying on her side). Late evening we were still concerned. Vishwa and I scanned the shops before closing and bought two extra "space heaters", and five wool blankets.
 
She was comfortable. Prakash gave her a lot of extra attention and love during the night but she quietly left her body around 4:30am. We don't know why. She expired before the large animal expert had a chance to examine her.
 
Vishwa arranged for a beautiful burial. Her body was put on a flatbed bullock cart. It was adorned with vibutti(sacred ash) and cum-cum. Totally covered with yellow, blue and red flowers. Four photos of Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi (one with him and his beloved cow Lakshmi, another with Jackie the dog), a photo of Satya Sai Baba, and a print of Chenrizig (the four armed aspect of Avalokateshwara, the Tibetan Buddhist bodhisattva of compassion). There was a large yellow garland (six inches in diameter) encircling most of her body. She actually looked beautiful and peaceful.
 
Eight of us followed the bullock cart, on foot, as we slowly made our way to a quiet remote burial spot facing sacred Arunachala  that Vishwa had found. We threw flower petals on the road the entire way as is the Hindu custom. The eight young men lifted her body off the cart and gently placed it in the prepared grave. We said brief prayers. We all participated in covering her with the earth. It rained for five minutes immediately after we finished … a blessing and very auspicious. The grave site was prepared beautifully. A large cluster of incense was placed on it. Camphor was burned at the foot and head. Vibutti and cumcum was liberally sprinkled all over. The large garland was placed on top of the dirt mound. And as is the local custom a small pool of milk was poured, with a stick of incense placed in the middle … beginning and ending of life with milk. We will miss her...
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Our Hospice:

If an animal is dying, we take it in and give it intensive, loving care which includes IV’s, pain killers, antibiotics, and of course, good food.

Adoption Service:

Through March 2011, we have placed 423 puppies/dogs, and 11 cats/kittens in good homes. We have also relocated many monkeys and birds and found homes for cows, donkeys, and even a turkey. We will not place animals in homes unless we are assured the animal will be well taken care of and enjoy a happy life..

Emergency Services:

We provide emergency services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If an animal is injured in the middle of the night, we will pick him up and bring him to the clinic. Our doctors are on call 24 hours a day.

Our Shelter:

There are two main buildings. One houses a semi-sterile operating theatre, a modern clinic examination/treatment room, a small isolation ward, a small dispensary, a reception veranda, and a large retaining cage.

The other building is 48x18 feet and has three large retaining cages - each 17 by 11 feet and a fully equipped kitchen where the “furry ones” meals are prepared by our dear cook.

We did, in fact, transform a rubbish heap. The ground is now covered with grass and dotted with plants and trees. It’s really quite beautiful. There are three coconut leaf huts which offer protection against the rain, heat, and sun and provide “hiding spaces” for our dogs who want to be alone for a while.

And, of course, much open space where they can run around, romp, and play. The puppies have two separate areas - one for older puppies and one for younger ones that is more contained and protected where they too can play or rest and be more closely watched. School children painted the walls in their own inimitable way (looking so colorful).

Our TLC caregivers provide love and care to the puppies, and to give additional support and affection to “resident” animals who are disabled or old. The staff is working very hard to keep the place spotlessly clean and hygienic. They, however, know that the main thing is for them to care for and give love to the animals.

If an animal is distressed - emotionally or physically - they drop everything and immediately go to it. If two of the dogs get into a conflict, they immediately go to them, break it up, and inject soothing loving, vibes. They also have more than enough time to play with the dogs, and give them special attention.

When one enters the shelter, though there is much suffering, you can immediately feel the spaciousness and joy. Our resident animals are not kept in retaining cages but run around freely. It’s a real experience to see disabled dogs that are happy, and playful. It gladdens the Hearts of animal lovers.
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Our Dear Doctors:

We have two full time staff veterinarians. Both have post graduate degrees from the Chennai (Madras) Veterinary College, one of the finest in the land. Dr. Rajasekar, our senior doctor, has evolved into a wonderful clinician. He is beloved throughout this community of 250,000 people. Buddhists would call him a bodhisattva. He holds nothing back in his efforts to lift suffering. People come from far away to have their animals treated here. Dr.Niranjana, our junior doctor, has been with us since September 2010. . It took us 2 years to get a really outstanding second doctor. She wanted to significantly help lift suffering from the Animal Realm. One of her principal professors at the College told her about us. She was his top student. What an astounding resume’ she has. What a joy she is to work with. People immediately like and trust her. Our great fortune.

We presently have specialists coming several times a month to do the ABC Sterilizations, which allows our staff doctors to concentrate on the clinic and our in-patients.He has performed over 30,000 sterilizations, and is very good.

We also use several consultant doctors that offer their advice, gratis. One is a professor at the college and another, a clinical practitioner in Pune whose specialty is internal medicine. Another has forty years of clinical experience with small animals. We have other doctors with whom we consult from time to time. And several are experienced in alternative medical treatments. From time to time on especially difficult cases we also have contact with several veterinary colleges, and excellent clinical groups in the U.S.
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Our Devoted Staff:

We have sixteen staff members and a part-time cook. They’ve been very carefully selected and we are supremely fortunate to have them because they are all animal lovers, aware that theirs is simply not a regular job and that they are involved in lifting suffering.

They know that they should not go around simply “doing their job”. That they’re around creatures with whom they have relationships. Creatures that need and want their affection, caring, and love.

You can experience it right away when you walk in - our resident dogs are alive and playful. Our disabled dogs romp with all the others. Sasha, the “apple of our eye”, only has his two front legs but runs around chasing, being chased, and tussling with all the puppies.

There truly is spaciousness and joy at our shelter. And it unfolds from these special people and our two vets. In that regard, we would be remiss without saying something about Vishwa, our beloved general manager (pictured on our home page).

He’s young at 28 but beyond his years. He’s been with us from the very beginning, since we started building. He’s so deeply committed that it sends out waves of reassurance. His duties are varied and many. Keeping the staff going. Being aware of each of the animals in the shelter. Working day and night. Often coming in the middle of the night to make sure everything is okay. Working with our daytime people and exhorting them to be aware, to offer love, to care.

He briefs our nighttime caretakers about special cases and to make sure the puppies will be okay. He identifies the disabled dogs, those that might be having a difficult time emotionally. Making sure that the night staff is alert and ready to call us if anything potentially serious is happening. He regularly is out on the streets tracking down some dog who has been reported as suffering.

There was, on one occasion, a dog who had a horrible skin condition - no hair, bleeding, and skin wrinkled like an elephant . It was running loose. It took three days to catch him. The last day was at night. Vishwa chased him (on foot) for three hours. Exhausted, sweating profusely, and drenched (it was raining), he finally caught him..This dog was with us for two months, and has been released with a full coat, healthy, and so happy to be free, again

Vishwa is not just our general manager, he is a pillar and a big part of the soul of the shelter. He was deeply involved in the construction. He fearlessly catches injured monkeys, ferocious dogs in fact, any animal in need. I think he’ll be pleased and embarrassed when he reads this.
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Our Needs:

Our activities have deepened and expanded and we need a larger place. That could prove quite costly depending on land and building prices at the time.

We need more hospital facilities, more individual intensive treatment spaces, several more large retaining cages, and another isolation area for infectious diseases - about 350,000 rupees ($8,000 US).

A simple truck outfitted to serve as a catching, releasing and rescue vehicle.- about 350,00 rupees ($8,000 US).

We would like to purchase a vehicle to serve as a “mobile clinic”. We could help animals on the street - and in the villages. And possibly treat larger animals that can’t be transported.

We need help to keep everything going. Though everything is much cheaper in India, our estimated monthly running costs still approach 325,000 rupees ($7,500 US). There is so much to do ... and as our activities expand the expenses will increase. That’s not even mentioning inflation, which has been heavy here. Increasing our expenditures anywhere from 25 to 40 percent
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The Future:

Several nearby municipalities have approached us to give them help with their own ABC Sterilization and Anti-rabies Programs. One municipality would catch the dogs and transport them to us for sterilization. Another wanted us to do the catching, transportation, all of it.

This is a time of change in India. We are convinced there’s a possibility of raising “national awareness” by example. And that we should engage in activities that accomplishes that. We feel we should establish relationships with journalists and political figures that are open to the many insights we’ve been given in our work here.

It’s difficult being an animal in India. Work animals are often “worked” too hard. - donkeys and bullocks carrying excessively heavy loads, for example. Yes, there are laws protecting them but often not enforced and often the penalties are not severe enough. .Animals are often jammed into trucks and taken to illegal slaughter houses. Sick or wounded animals often do not receive any treatment at all. Indeed, there are many, many issues.

Concerning the cruelty and neglect of animals on the street our belief is that there is so much suffering that it engenders a feeling of hopelessness and helplessness in one who sees it. It is these feelings that are so heavy to experience again and again and again, that has caused Indians to “not feel it” - to block it from their awareness.

But in truth, we believe that the Indians are no different than anyone else. As a matter of fact, they may even be more sensitive and compassionate. Most - whether they like, dislike or are indifferent to animals - do not like to see this kind of suffering.

There are only a small percentage of people who do the abusing. And they are able to do it because very, very few comment. And they are able to do it in “silence”. If only a small percentage of the people were encouraged to comment, the abuse would drop quickly and significantly.
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Our Background and History:

We are located in southern India in a town called Tiruvannamalai. "Tiru" ’is a municipality of almost 250,000 people and one of the most sacred pilgrimage places in all of India.

Mount Arunachala is believed to be the very Heart of Shiva, and has been worshipped for thousands of years. One of the twentieth century’s greatest saints, Baghavan Ramana Maharshi, made his way here at age of sixteen - shortly after attaining enlightenment. And never left. Giving wise counsel to spiritual seekers from around the world who came here to see him. He was a tuning fork of sanity and a door to freedom, His powerful, quiet energy can still be experienced - aspirants of all levels can descend into themselves in the journey to merge with their own Hearts.

How strange and paradoxical, that in this sacred place of Shiva (the Protector of animals) and the home of Ramana Maharshi (who is known to have adored them) it took almost sixty years after Ramana's death for circumstances to come together so as to finally protect the animals he loved so very much.

The population was essentially uncontrolled except for periodic culling by killing-often brutally done. Many had horror stories from the past — bounties paid, clubbing, strangling, piles of bodies in trucks — some still alive.

In February of 2006., Leslie Robinson, the founder of the shelter, was visiting Tiru ready to leave for the Himalayas. He heard that they were going to begin killing the dogs, street by street.

He made phone call after phone call trying to mobilize animal activists around the country. He finally reached Maneka Gandhi in Delhi (of the Gandhi family) perhaps the most effective activist in the country fighting to lift suffering from the animal realm. It was together with one of her main associates in Chennai - a lady whom he came to call “Prema the Tigress” of People for Animals - that they were able to stop the killing. But with the caveat that an effective birth control program had to be put in place. Leslie scrapped his plans to go to the Himalayas.

Then it was an incredible struggle - for over four months - just to try to find a place to rent. Requirements were high because what was needed was a place that was semi-remote. At least one that didn’t have next door neighbors. A place that was not too far outside of town, with some surrounding land. And electricity and water, of course.

The search was exhausting and deeply discouraging. At the same time it was necessary to raise money to fund whatever we did undertake. Yes, there were times when we were simply overwhelmed.

Even with the main institutions helping - The Municipality, Ramana Ashram, Ragammal Hospital and even though we had people out looking, offering a finders fee to anyone who found a place, we simply could not find a place.

But finally in late June, 2006 - a major breakthrough. He had been in close contact with the Municipality. The commissioner, with whom he’d been dealing, grew to respect him. Distrust was replaced by affection.

Having confidence that he would see this thing through and would be able to put it together, the Municipality offered us the use of a beautiful piece of land, initially for five years - 12,000 square feet at the foot of the sacred mountain, Arunachala. Close to town. No immediate neighbors. It was simply perfect.

And so money was raised. It came magically. Derek O’Neill, a major disciple of Satya Sai Baba, and a spiritual teacher in his own right, heard of our work. He summoned him to Puttaparthi to pick up a check. Leslie and Derek immediately liked one another. The check was substantial. It was the beginning of a long relationship. Derek paid for sixty percent of the construction, and sixty percent of the operating expenses after opening. The Shelter could not have become what it is, without his encouragement and support. He trusted us, and exhorted us to do our very best as we saw fit.

We opened January 10, 2007. At that time there were over 4,000 homeless dogs. There was no small animal vet within 75 kilometers. There was no facility to keep and treat animals. The population was out of control. And so there was great suffering. There were between 250 and 350 suffering and dying dogs and puppies on the streets.

And now, four years later: The streets are clear of suffering animals. The population is steadily and naturally decreasing since natural deaths outnumber births. It is probably below 3,500 and with continued maintenance will continue decreasing ‘til it establishes itself at a much lower level. And unexpectedly, but most importantly, the relationship between homeless dogs and humans has been transformed. The lives of the homeless creatures has been truly uplifted.

At our fourth Anniversary Puja January 2011 a longtime resident poignantly observed: “Public memory is short. Few can recall the rampant stray dogs everywhere, young and aged, starving and diseased, scavenging in the garbage heaps, fighting amongst themselves, ignored and abused by the human population, while remaining a menace to all including themselves. In four short years, the roads are more peaceful, with few strays to be seen, and the naturally loving relationship between humans and animals restored to its true state.”
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Our Founders:

Leslie Robinson is a very young 73. He was a lover of animals before he began to walk, bringing dogs he found home to his mother - "Oh Leslie, not another one." He grew up loving dogs and says he will certainly die loving dogs.

He was educated at the University of Michigan - undergraduate and graduate work in business and actuarial mathematics. He joined the Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States as a young man. For a while was the Chief Actuary of the State of Michigan. Then had a consulting firm which rendered financial opinions to government.

He met his guru, Swami Muktananda Paramahamsa, in 1975 and left the business world when he was forty. He traveled with Swami Muktananda.and spent ten years in his ashrams in both the U.S. and India. For a period, he managed one of his main ashrams in the U.S.. He spent four years in the mountains in a small Tibetan Buddhist Gonpa of one of the elder Rinpoche's of Tibet. In total, Leslie has lived in India for thirteen years.

You can get to know Leslie a little better by watching several short interviews with him about the work he is doing in India ... on YouTube.

Gina Suritsch was born and grew up in Vienna and entered adult life as an artist, having attended the Vienna Art College. Gina's spiritual life began in the late seventies in Findhorn Foundation, a spiritual community in Scotland. Later in Findhorn, where she spent five years, she used her background to run a kitchen serving 250.

Gina has worked with kindergardeners and facilitated workshops and seminars. Later she spent several years in Assisi (Italy) in Ananda Community ( based on Parahamsa Yogananda teachings) where she helped start a business for them - making meditation cushions and printed t-shirts which today is a flourishing venture.

She made her way to India in 1985.

Leslie and Gina would like to Thank:

The Shelter is beautiful. It functions in a sea of spaciousness and caring. That it came together as it did, could not have happened without these very special folks.

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