Reports / Features

Volunteering in Sri Lanka - August 2007

Two volunteers from Animal Rights Cambridge went out to Sri Lanka to volunteer, doing animal rescue work with a small english based charity called Home And Abroad Animal Welfare.

"We were there for about 3 weeks in total and most days were very busy. We went out in the mornings to start work at 8.30am and came back again at 2pm (ish) for a lunch break, before going out again to do more work until about 8pm. Every day was different some days we did outreaches to very poor areas; some days we went to slaughterhouses to give the cows water and try to buy some to save them; some days we found several dumped puppies and kittens; and some days were spent fetching dogs for operations and blood tests, check-ups etc. 

When we did outreach work to certain areas, we parked and locals brought their dogs to be wormed, fed, defleaed, vaccinated and put on the list for neutering operations. We handed out dog bowls, dog soaps, collars and leads. One trip to a shanti town area in Colombo, the group found a tiny puppy who had been dumped in the sewage. He was black with slime, shivering and struggling to breath. He was washed and fed, then later taken in by a volunteer who cared for him.

We found many dumped puppies+kittens on the trip including a puppy by the canal, a pup in the sewage, 2 puppies thrown off the back of a motorbike in a bag, 2 kittens dumped at an ATM machine, a puppy dumped outside in the street, a kitten in the middle of the road and two puppies given to us.  

Many dogs were spayed/ castrated on the trip and many more written down to be neutered on the next trip. This is one of the most vital parts to the work out there because it prevents more dogs/cats being born to become street dogs or strays. It also means many less puppies/kittens will be dumped or killed.

The slaughterhouses and pig farms in Sri lanka are terrible places. The methods of slaughter are very basic, most cows are beaten badly before having their throats cut. Some cows were witnessed being so badly beaten their eyes fell out while they were alive. The pig farms are cramped and dirty.

Cats and dogs are often beaten or stoned and some dogs are even machettied. Many of the dogs we treated were scared to be touched or stroked and reacted as if they were about to be hit. We witnessed some little boys and even girls beating and stoning dogs. (the volunteers interviened and stopped it)

Education is also key to helping the people to know how to care for their animals and what they shouldnt do. The volunteers gave a few talks in schools and temples to the children, teaching them not to throw stones, how to pick up their dog nicely, to give food and water regularly.  

Although there is so much cruelty to animals there, we met some people who really loved their dogs and cared for them the best they could, despite being very poor."

Veggie Festival in Goa, India 2007

A couple of members of ARC went out to india for a few weeks for a veggie/vegan festival. They saw the Bear sanctuaries where moon bears rescued from the bile trade have been rehomed. More details to follow.....