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.At some point, which we believe has already been reached, the population will start reducing naturally as the number of deaths exceeds the number of births. With ongoing “maintenance”, it will continue to decrease and stabilize at a much lower level.

We currently do between 80 and 140 Sterilizations/Anti-rabies injections per month. The total number of sterilizations at the end of September, 2009 was 2631 (around 2300 of those were on “homeless” dogs). This should result in a decrease of at least 5000 puppies born each year, most of whom would have suffered and died on the streets.

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.

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 grows, 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 125 and 200 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 175 and 350 each month. At the end of July, 2009 we had treated over 1600 “owner dogs”.

We will treat any small animal in need. There is a government veterinary hospital that treats larger animals but when a situation arises where a large animal needs care and we are the only ones temporarily available we will, of course, treat the suffering animal. Through August 2009 we have treated 124 cats, 72 cows, 24 calves, 97 goats & sheep, 2 horses, 2 bullocks, 7 donkeys, 1 pig, 27 monkeys, 11 squirrels, 22 rabbits, 2 eagles, 5 parrots, 5 peacocks, 10 doves, 21 pigeons, and 65 other avians. 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 pedigree dogs are asked to pay a small amount, but are given free care if they cannot. Around 85 percent of the “owner dogs” are mixed stray breeds and thus, are free. We do not charge for the homeless dogs that have been taken in to strongly encourage and support their adoption. In fact, we provide free medical treatment (and family planning) for life for these adopted street puppies.
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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's 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 August 2009, we have placed 251 puppies, 9 adult dogs, and 7 cats in good homes.

Emergency Services:

We provide emergency services 24 hours a day, 7 daysa 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 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 fledgling 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) and we encourage children to come play with the pups.

Two of our devoted staff, Shanti and Marimutha are there to give 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.
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Our Dear Doctors:

We have two staff veterinarians. Dr. Rajasekar, our senior doctor, has a post graduate degrees from the Chennai (Madras) Veterinary College, one of the finest in the land. He has evolved into a wonderful clinician. The Buddists 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.Selvi, our junior doctor, has been with us a short time. And we are very fortunate to have her.

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.

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 twelve 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. He’s probably “The Pet” of the shelter.

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 25 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 ($9,000 US).

We need more outdoor ”in the open” fenced in areas.

And another computer.

We could use apparatus for delivering gas anesthesia.

A used portable x-ray machine.

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 275,000 rupees ($5,500 US). There is so much to do ... and as our activities expand the expenses will increase.
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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.

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 see 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.
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Our Background and History:

We are located in southern India in a small town called Tiruvannamalai. "Tiru" ’is a municipality of over 200,000 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.

At the time the shelter opened, it was unfortunately and horribly a common experience to see suffering dogs - starving yet bloated with worms, awful skin conditions, broken limbs ... on and on. To see poor helpless puppies starving and dying.

But there were no vets or a facility to treat them. If a dog were fortunate, they would be attended by some caring person who tried to nurse them to health. But usually if it was injured, or became ill, it just slowly, and all alone, suffered and died.

There are between 3,000 and 3,500 homeless dogs in the Tiruvannamalai area. The population was essentially uncontrolled, except for periodic culling by killing - often brutally done. 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 her and 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 us - 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. We had been in close contact with the Municipality. The commissioner, with whom we’d been dealing, grew to respect us. Distrust was replaced by affection.

Having confidence that we 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 - 12,000 square feet at the foot of the sacred mountain, Arunachala. Close to town. No immediate neighbors. It was simply perfect.

When we were first getting things together, Karuna Society for Animals & Nature offered to let us use their Society as a “fiscal umbrella” and we initially formed as their Tiruvannamalai Branch. That lifted the immediate need to form our own Trust, and allowed us to concentrate on the founding, which was a difficult task, indeed. We opened on January 10, 2007 as Karuna’s Tiru Branch. And now operate in our own Trust as Arunachala Animal Sanctuary & Rescue Shelter.

One no longer sees all the suffering animals. We’re very grateful that our shelter came together as it did. And we feel deeply blessed that it has been able to lift so much of the suffering. But there’s a lot more to do. There are still many new injuries, and many new illnesses.

There are also the often overloaded bullock carts. There are the monkeys. The goats. The cats, cows, birds, and other animals. And there are the difficult conditions of surviving the hot season and the monsoon. There are the dogs and other animals in nearby municipalities. There is helping lift national awareness. And clearly, we could use your help.
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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.

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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