Humane Education

Imagine not knowing that throwing a big rock at a dog to move him out of your path is an act of cruelty.

Imagine not understanding that a parrot needs more room than a 1’x1’ x1’ rusty-wire cage.

Imagine not recognizing that a leopard in a cage of cement about the size of most people’s bedrooms, without a single green leaf or wood stump even to scratch his nails, is not fair.

Imagine not knowing that a wagging tail means a dog wants to say her friendliest “hello.”

Many people reading this website would be stunned to learn how reactions and interpretations we might consider “basic” and instinctive are not, and that many people in Udaipur and in India generally have not been invited by schools or parents to consider the social lives of animals, their unique needs, and the compelling reasons for us to protect them.

The Animal Aid humane education programme reaches students of all ages in Udaipur’s schools, colleges and institutes with one over-arching aim: to instill in them the realization that the animals all around us deserve our protection and respect. The presentations we make helps teach them HOW to offer that protection and respect.

Our humane educator Trudy D’Souza organizes and conducts two to four presentations each week, reaching 100-150 students. We prefer to speak in smaller classrooms rather than large assemblies where we can interact with the students in a friendly environment.

Our sessions with students are an introduction to the world of caring for animals, shedding light on the issues animals face in Udaipur specifically, and India generally, and the things one can do to start helping animals… such as calling Animal Aid’s helpline when you see a suffering animal in Udaipur, collecting bedding for the comfort of recovering animals at our shelter, or speaking out against an act of cruelty.

From feedback gathered from our audiences, we’ve learned that only in the rarest of cases have they ever volunteered with a non-profit organization or been involved in a social cause. And so our presentations are an eye (and heart) opener, and an open invitation to those who have wanted to do something for animals but not known where to start.

“Why call Animal Aid?” We show the importance of calling Animal Aid to report a street animal in distress by showing amazing recovery stories.

We have found, for instance, that most people don’t know that the skin condition mange is treatable. Dogs suffering from mange lose the hair on their bodies and often get terrible skin infections that if left untreated can lead to other illnesses and death. There is a common misconception that mange spreads easily to humans and that any proximity could lead to infection, and so dogs with mange are often chased away from their own homes on the street, making it difficult for them to find food and fend for themselves. We see the result of this in the shy, scared state that rescued mange-dogs often come into our shelter. Educating audiences on how mange-dogs are treated, how mange is contracted (that it is impossible for a human to get mange from mere proximity), helps mange dogs in Udaipur get the treatment and care they deserve.

“Animals need you!” “What if you were driving home one evening, were hit head on by a speeding car, and were left bleeding on the side of the road…What if someone passed by, heard your cries for help, but walked on? What if you didn’t have a mother or father to call? Imagine it was you, and now prepare yourself for what you will do the next time you see an animal in distress. Don’t walk by! Call Animal Aid!”

This is how we engage the imagination of our audience to bring street animals and their needs to life. We want students to realize that if they walk on, that suffering animal simply will not get saved, that there is no one else but them to stop and do something.

Enabling people to go from being passive to active is the heart of Animal Aid’s mission.We believe that the first time someone sees an injured or ill street animal, stops, and calls us to come to the rescue, something pivotal has happened. That animal has been brought into his/her consciousness, has been acknowledged, and something has been done to help.

Usually, when someone calls us once, they call us again for another animal in need, and their involvement in animal protection increases manifold.

“When you call Animal Aid…” We explain the process of attending emergency rescues so that the students know what to expect:  what questions they’ll be asked to describe the injury/illness, exact location of the animal, explaining to them the approximate time it will take for us to reach, and the help we will request of them.

We explain the reasons behind Animal Aid’s requirement that the emergency caller stay by the animal until our ambulance has reached. This is because on many occasions animals have wandered off and we’ve been unable to find them which is costs us precious time needed to rescue other animals, and of course it leaves the animal untreated. If the student is unable to stay, then they are asked to find a shop-keeper or a near-by home, explain to them the situation, give their number to us so that we can contact them in order to rescue the animal. Explaining all of this to the students in the classrooms makes the actual rescue go much faster as they know the drill when they call to report a suffering animal.

Dog Bite Prevention Ignorance about dog behavior is wide-spread in Udaipur and all over India. It is common to see children and even adults cringing in fear at the sight of dogs doing normal (non-aggressive) doggy things, like playing, searching for food, or just crossing the street.

While there are scores of people in Udaipur who love street dogs dearly and take great care of them, there are even more who believe that dogs may bite at random and should be shooed away. This can lead to acts of cruelty against dogs like rock-throwing, kicking, and even more violent acts of abuse.

The most common-place acts of cruelty against dogs come as a result of fear. While to become fully comfortable with dogs one must spend considerable amounts of time interacting with dogs, we have found that gaining the basic knowledge of “Dos and Don’ts” around dogs can significantly reduce fear.

This means simple but important things like, “When walking past a dog, keep your arms to your sides, don’t run, and look straight ahead.” We encourage people to gain the trust of dogs in their neighborhoods by feeding them treats regularly, so the dogs are even less likely to ever bite out of fear.

A volunteer is explaining the care being given to an injured calf

“Come visit Animal Aid!” We encourage students to visit the shelter to meet the rescued animals, to watch rescued animals receive treatment, nursing care and love, and to see with their own eyes what these gorgeous animals need.

Animal cruelty in Udaipur Parakeets in cages, overloaded working donkeys, wedding horses tied for months at a time, the municipal corporation’s abuse of street dogs, confinement of wild animals at the Udaipur zoo, plastic on the roads ingested by cows and slowly killing them, and random acts of cruelty committed by Udaipurites… we start conversations about issues such as these which are seldom discussed in schools.

The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 There are laws that can stop some forms of cruelty. But what constitutes cruelty? Is chaining a cow for days a crime? Is keeping a parakeet in a cage illegal?

Identifying illegal cruelty is the first step in helping students respond to situations of severe animal abuse when the police should be called upon to take action.

Animal Aid can’t always tackle animal abuse alone. We explain that if a student has seen an act of wanton cruelty, in some cases it will be required that they personally lodge the complaint. Animal Aid offers to accompany them to the police station and guide them through the process, but as the eye witness, they will be called upon to speak. Many are not willing to speak out against cruelty because of societal pressures against it, and fear of harassment, but we appeal to the students to realize that in many cases of cruelty, the perpetrator will act again unless they face a consequence.

Turning to the law does not necessarily get fast or just results, but it gives the message to the abuser that they are being watched and their actions are not being tolerated. We offer students anonymity in reporting cases of on-going cruelty such as an animal left untreated inside of a dairy, or a dog left on a chain without getting exercise for days on end. Whatever action can be taken, depending on the specific situation, we encourage them to give us information.