Animal Aid :: Giving medical attention to real live angels describes every position in Animal Aid.


Dr. Saket Pathak, Dr. Mahesh Chand & Dr. Suresh Sharma

Dr. Saket Pathak, Senior Veterinary Surgeon. Dr. Saket has been serving Animal Aid since before the hospital even opened. In addition to serving as chief surgeon and treatment officer for large and small animals, he is one of our most treasured assets for the kindness he brings to everyone, knitting together our diverse, energetic crew.

Dr. Mahesh Chand, Veterinary Surgeon from North Rajasthan, trained in Bikaner. Dr. Mahesh is our donkey specialist, and is also expert in performing street dog sterilizations and treating “all comers.” Volunteers visiting Animal Aid might enjoy engaging Dr. Mahesh in conversation ranging from astronomy to astrology! He’s a terrific blend of scientist and Hindu mystic.

Laxman Singh Rathore, our Production Manager, is responsible to manage staff rotations, keeps records, handles medicine and food purchasing and all the myriad “miscellaneous” tasks that keep the hospital running smoothly.

Chaman Singh
is carrying something that weighs 300 kilos here, but AAS staff make everything look eeeeasy.

Chaman Singh Chauhan is a Veterinary Assistant whose casual, humorous and welcoming manner with volunteers has helped many western visitors feels like they’re 'home.' Chaman’s talents are broad. He’s a great surgical assistant and dog-catcher, snake-catcher, driver, wound dresser, prep worker.

Gajendre Singh Chauhan, “Gaju” is a perpetually smiling, fantastic “do-er” in both emergency and routine situations. Like most of our staff, Gaju can slip in an i.v. at the first try on even the most wiggly dogs, and has great compassion for suffering animals.

If you’re a barber, and your clients begin demanding “The Pig,” this is Pinku, who proudly set the trend. Gaju, to the left of the up-and-coming star, is a friend to all, and works for Animal Aid with his whole heart.

Kamla Bai Gameti is a natural healer. She is a tribal woman without any formal education whose magic touch has healed hundreds of animals who would have been considered “beyond hope” by many conventional medical practitioners. Kamla’s expertise is too broad and beautiful to limit it to saying “she works wonders with mange” (although she does); Kamla sees the “whole animal” perhaps better than any other staff; she understands their moods, and she gives love to every living thing she passes.

Sonu Harijan is our lead cleaner. She is also our lead smiler. And one of Animal Aid’s greatest ambassadors for her cheerful and effervescent attitude which comes in very handy on hot, pre-monsoon days.

Davendra Harijan is a “gentle giant” type who has learned more skills in a shorter time than most people we’ve ever encountered! His favorite word is “yes” and he is a wonder at holding down a struggling water buffalo or clearing out a blocked drain pipe!

Ashok Kumar Saitarwal, 20, is a recently graduated compounder from Bharatpur who shows tremendous promise as a compassionate and hard-working member of the Animal Aid family

Prakash Dhabai, 22, has lived in Hawala all his life. Prakash was a frequent volunteer with Animal Aid whose love for animals guides his hard work. He’s our “nursery care” specialist, in charge of replacing mother’s care for orphaned puppies, kittens and even donkeys.

Vikram Salvi is a ground staff who helps with dog-catching, cleaning, and general first aid assistance. Vikram is kind and gentle by nature, and has blended in with the staff with great speed.

Mukesh Singh Rathaud is Animal Aid’s lead singer, who can be heard cheerfully humming Hindi film songs while shoveling, carrying, feeding or dog walking.
Vinodh Choudhary, 21, comes from Jaipur where he learned his trade as a compounder. Vinodh’s specialty is large animals, and he is not only an excellent technician, but an effective large animal handler.

Dilip Singh
and Staff Member Go-Girl, (she's one of the guards.)

Dilip Singh is a cheerful soul who rounds out many teams with versatile interests and abilities.

Chandan Singh,
night guard
(although he has many four-legged helpers!)

Chandan Singh, feeder and guard, is a sprite! Chandan lets all the loose puppies sleep with him if it starts to rain. Although Chandan got his hand caught in a sugar cane press some years ago, and it would have been considered useless by many, Chandan Singh Ji is able to tackle virtually any physically challenging situation with competence—and he gets great results. The animals adore Chandan Singh, and this is the greatest evidence of his wonderful work.

Shalini Santosh, Education Coordinator, is a forthright advocate for animal protection. Shalini’s portfolio includes making school and other public presentations, liaison with the media, and general public relations conduit. Shalini’s background as an educator (she has a Ph.D. in art and worked for several years as a secondary school teacher) helps strengthen her appreciation of education’s great importance for the animal protection movement. Her warm laughter joins with serious determination to make her a great addition to the Animal Aid family.

	Laxman sorts through clinical records and bills Kamla Bai prepares breakfast for the dogs. Often it is her loving voice alone that can coax a scared, injured dog into eating.