Community Animals Wellness Initiative (CAWI)

Community- Animals Wellness Initiative (CAWI) ,a collaboration between Daya Animal Welfare Organisation, Hand in Hand, Trivandrum and Dr Zoo Pet Hospital, is inspired by a comprehensive vision for the welfare of canine and feline community animals and human beings. It is unique in that it is much more than mechanically catching dogs on the roads and sterilising them. This project has a wider interest and commitment. Apart from reducing incidence of zoonotic diseases especially the dreaded rabies, man-dog conflicts and maintaining a sustainable stray dog and cat population, we cater to community feeders- carers who are constantly being harassed and hounded by local residents and local self governing bodies for feeding the stray dogs. By supporting them to sterilise their dogs, we are making their lives less stressful, and most of the times, they are able to fend off criticism and threats with the sole undertaking that they are getting the dogs sterilised and this will stop further population growth in the area. We are also helping people who have adopted female indie dogs but cannot afford the expenses incurred to spay their pet. In the absence of our support, they would be compelled to dump the unwanted puppies in various places.

Let us not forget that the government is mandated to take care of homeless animals and in the case of dogs, ensure that they are vaccinated annually against rabies and sterilised.Most pathetic it is that although street dog sterilisation protocols were put into effect in 2001, those responsible for implementing birth control measures have treated the matter with indifference and insensitivity. That’s the reason there has not been any tangible improvement in the situation.Cash strapped animal welfare organisations and compassionate private citizens have been forced to take up what the government is duty bound to do.

Burgeoning street dog population and its attendent issues that seriously impede normal day to day activities , the miserable life these poor creatures live facing hunger,thirst, disease, lack of shelter and the abuse and cruelty they receive from human beings, the desperate pleas of those who take care of these animals with whatever little means they have….CAWI addresses the sum total of all these issues.

Since mid December till date 17.7.2024 ,we have sterilised 218 female dogs and 22 female cats, a total of 240 animals, from Ernakulam, Thrissur and Kottayam districts. The total expenses on an average per dog comes to around Rs 4750 of which Rs2500 being surgery/ hospital charges are being sponsored by Hand in Hand , an informal group of citizens in Trivandrum . The incidental expenses for petrol, handling of dogs, batta for ambulance driver and boarding during post op period amounting to Rs 2250 for 133 dogs were sponsored by two institutions under their CSR activities. We have had to struggle hard to find the deficit .

If we are to continue our work , we need responsible and compassionate people to come forward and contribute in any way possible. If each of you who read this post would sponsor the incidental charges of Rs 2250 of at least one dog, it would be a great relief.