This baby monkey, Mahaveer, has been treated a few times by Braj Animal Care. When we first met this baby, we could see that its right arm and leg were badly damaged. They appeared to be burnt and barely attached to its body. We administered treatment to help with the pain, promote healing and to prevent infection. Despite this, Mahaveer needed amputation and this procedure was done in Mathura. We met the little one again for a follow-up after the arm and leg had been removed. The wounds were still healing so we administered spray to help the process along and we provided antibiotics too. This little fighter is active and on the road to recovery.
Simba's Story . . .
Location: Shri Krishna Sharanam
Cause/Concern: weakness and low temperature
Treatment: administered injection for infection, pain, inflammation and multi-vitamins given
This little pup was affectionately named Simba by the children in his local area. He was always smaller and weaker than the other puppies and he never had anything other than milk or water. Simba always refused chapatti, toast or biscuits. Braj Animal Care gave him deworming treatment and the first dose of the vaccine schedule for puppies.
A few weeks later Simba was playing around the children and snoozing under the sun — nothing seemed off. The next morning, he was in bad shape and some local people took him into their home and kept him warm but he wasn’t drinking any milk. Concerned, they called us to check on him. His temperature was really low and we think he might have been out in the cold all night without shelter. We treated him and left for our next case. Within an hour, were informed to come and check on him again as his condition wasn’t improving. As we were rushing back to administer a drip, we received another call informing us that Simba had taken his last breath. We checked to make sure there were no vital signs then we placed some Tulsi leaves in his mouth and buried him nearby.
Shoorvir's Story ...
We were first informed of this case on 13th December 2022. A dog had sustained a serious injury to his front right leg and at the time, the wound was bleeding. When we reached the location, Mayavati colony, he was nowhere to be found. We were told that various people had tried to shut the dog in a communal room but because he would bark incessantly, others would set him free.
He would come to the locality around 5:30 pm to 6 pm for food daily, but the day we went to look for him, he didn’t show up and none of the local people had seen the dog since he sustained the injury
This case played on our minds because we knew time was running out. This dog could die from infection or become prey to other animals. We didn’t give up hope and asked the residents to keep an eye out for him and to inform us immediately if they saw him again.
Shoorvir during his visit from Braj Animal Care
To our relief, we received a call on 19th January 2023 informing us that the dog had returned and that the caller was keeping him until we arrived. When we got there, we were told that a tractor carrying grass had caused his injury. This was heartbreaking to us but we were finally able to give him the treatment he needed. The dog’s bone had been broken and his leg, which was producing pus, had become further swollen from being dragged on the ground. If the wound was not able to heal, it would have left the dog open to maggot infestation and infections. So we cleaned it up with disinfectant spray and administered antibiotics as well as anti-inflammatory medication. Then we bandaged him up to keep his leg protected.
We checked on him five days later and cleaned the wound again but in order to create a plan for his longer-term care, we will need to assess how we can further stabilise his leg with medical aids. The Braj Animal Care team have affectionately named the dog Shoorvir, Warrior, because he withstood so much and didn’t give up on himself.
Winter Season in Vrindavan ...
The winter season is approaching but our team is still responding to calls and cases. We are aware that stray animals with wounds are at risk of being infected with maggots, medically known as myiasis. Flies lay their eggs on the draining wounds and maggots hatch. The maggots will eat dead or dying tissue, sometimes even healthy tissue. These street animals cannot keep their own wounds clean and dry which makes them susceptible to myiasis. If the animal’s coat is covered in faecal matter or urine, it will make them even more prone to infection.
Treatment involves:
Antiparasite injection
Antibiotic injection to treat bacterial infections in the body
Pain killer injection to prevent symptoms such as swelling, irritation, pain, and redness
A fly repellent spray which also heals the wound
Solution to clean up any type of wound
Doses are administered according to the type of animal and its weight.
Bahaadur’s Story
We were called to check on a monkey near the ISKCON Temple who had boiling liquid poured on him. We don’t know if it was an accident or deliberate. When we reached, we found him just sitting there, obviously in a great amount of pain but unable to voice it or ask for help. He was known to us as Bahaadur. The incident had melted his skin and exposed the bones. The affected areas were his right hand and left leg.
Bahaadur during his visit from Braj Animal Care
Bahaadur also has an old injury to the back of his leg so he is unable to move the joint normally. We gently restrained him and gave him pain medication and injections to prevent infection. We sprayed the wounds to prevent maggot infestation and to promote healing. We also sprayed the wounds to prevent maggot infestation and to promote healing.
Local devotees were keeping an eye on Bahaadur for us. They called us back again to check on him two days later. He hadn’t eaten any food, nor had he drank any water. With his injuries and the cold nights, Bahaadur died before we could resume our follow-up treatment. The ISKCON devotees wanted to bury him themselves the same day.
Braj Animal Care encounters Bhora
“In order to resume our medical services again, we have made some infrastructure changes. Our feedings have temporarily dropped from twice a day to once a day and we have started taking calls for the treatment of injured, neglected or abused animals in Vrindavan.
We have been extremely busy with cases and they are horrific. We will share some of the stories with you in the coming editions and they will highlight the need for animal medical services in Vrindavan. We cannot prevent the cases of abuse and neglect, as much as we wish we could, but we can care for these animals and provide the treatment and love that they need.
Bhora’s Story
We had a dog, Bhora, who was beaten badly with an iron rod for “intruding” on the perpetrator’s land. To our knowledge, Bhora did not attack the landowner nor did he cause any damage, yet both his front left leg and lower jaw were fractured by the incident. Bhora’s face had cuts and bruises to it and there is substantial damage to his right eye. The person who found him contacted Braj Animal Care and we arrived to give muchneeded treatment. We administered painrelief spray on Bhora and gave him pain killers and antibiotics. We injected him to prevent maggot infestation, which is prevalent during this season.
Bhora during his 2nd visit from Braj Animal Care
The informer of this case is looking after Bhora until he recovers. We did a follow-up check and he is doing much better. The damage on his body is still visible, some of it irreversible, mainly the right eye. We have given Bhora all the treatment that we can and will check on him once more.
Braj Animal Care in the holy month of Kartik ...
The auspicious month of Kartik began in October and is continuing until early November. During this period, many guests came to visit us and we had a wonderful time feeding the animals together. We are also happy to report that soon, our medical services will restart after a short break. During this hiatus, we continued to receive hundreds of emergency calls, which highlights the importance of this seva. We hope that with sufficient support we will be able to continue our medical services permanently.
A team member feeding street animals
The spiritual side of Braj Animal Care
Braj Animal Care serves the animals of Braj not just because they are animals, but because they are a very special part of this divine land. The Brajbhasha poet Nagari Dasji has written many songs in their praise, three of which are included here:
धनधन वृनावन की गैयां। वृनावन मेचरत हरेतृण वृनावन की छैयां" वृनावन गोपाल फिरेसंग जिनकी जगत पसंश । ए सुरभी वृनावन की सो हैउनही को अंश " वृनावन मेबसत निरनर वृनावन जन छीवै। नागर बडभागी सो इनको दधू पसादी पीवै
“dhan dhan vrindavan ki gaiyaan | vrindavan mein charat hare trin vrindavan ki chaiyaan " vrindavan gopal phire sang jinki jagat prashans | e surabhi vrindavan ki so hain unhi ko ansh " vrindavan mein basat nirantar vrindavan jan cheevain | naagar badabhaagi so inko doodh prasaadi peevai"
Blessed are the cows of Braj, who sustain their lives on the grass of Vrindavan’s groves. Everyone knows that Krishn himself walks by their side and guides them through the pasturelands. In fact, every single cow here is Krishn’s ansh (a partial form of him). Eternal Vrindavan is their home and Krishn’s divine Brajwasis always caress them with love. The poet Nagari Das feels supremely fortunate just to receive a drop of their milk as prasad.
A Brajwasi cow enjoys a Braj Animal Care feeding
धनधन वृनावन केसान । संत सीत की करैजीविका जमुना जलको पान " कुं ज दार चौकी मेचौकस इिहं रज करत सनान । नागिरया जे विमुख मनुष हैतेइनके न समान
"dhan dhan vrindavan ke swaan | sant seet ki karain jeevikaa jamunaa jalko paan kunj dwaar chauki mein chaukas inhen raj karat sanaan | naagariyaa je vimukh manush hain te inke na samaan"
Blessed are the dogs of Vrindavan, who live on Yamuna water and the leftover food of the saints. They always roll in Braj dust, and guard the entryway of Shri Radha and Krishn’s kunj with greatest care. The poet Nagari Das says, only someone who has turned away from Krishn would neglect to offer them all respect and praise.
धनधन वृनावन के बांदर । अपनैभुजबल भोजन करहीमांगत निहं पायन पर " गोपिन केघर बालके लि मे लियैकरैगोपाल । माखन चोर खवायो माखन अर पकवान रसाल " तिनकौ वंश बसत ए कुं जन कुंजकलपदमु धावै। नागिरया नित अनायास ही मनवंछित फल पावै
"dhan dhan vrindavan ke baanar | apanain bhujbal bhojan karahin maangat nahin paayan par " gopin ke ghar baalkeli mein liyain karain gopaal | maakhan chor khawaayo maakhan aru pakwaan rasaal " tinkau vansh basat e kunjan kunj kalapadrum dhyavain | naagariyaa nit anaayaas hi man vanchit phal paavai"
Blessed are the monkeys of Braj, who maintain themselves by their own strength and never ask anyone for anything. When Krishn was a small child, he used to feed the monkeys butter and other tasty snacks with his own hands. Know for certain that the descendants of those very monkeys still live in the wish-fulfilling trees of this land. The poet Nagari Das says, even today these monkeys easily attain the supreme fruits of Krishn’s eternal lila.
Lumpy Virus Outbreak in India ...
In September, an outbreak of lumpy spread throughout India. As of the date of publication, over 50,000 cattle have died in the country because to the virus. Lumpy causes painful lesions all over the skin that can easily get infected. It is also characterised by severe fever and secondary infections that contribute to the high death rate. Unfortunately, there is no treatment for the disease, which is spread either via parasites or through contaminated food or water. In collaboration with other local residents, Braj Animal Care is helping maintain a quarantine centre for more than 50 lumpy-affected cows and bulls on the Yamuna Riverbank. We are very grateful to be able to provide some relief to them.
A team member feeding the cows
We are also very excited to announce that soon, our medical treatment program will begin again. During the months when we were unable to provide this service due to financial reasons, we received hundreds if not thousands of calls for all kinds of cases ranging from road accidents to gruesome wounds infested with maggots and various diseases. If you would like to help support our daily feedings or medical program, either financially or by volunteering, please contact us at…
Rainy Season in Vrindavan ...
The rainy season is a beautiful time in Vrindavan, but it can present some unique challenges. Due to improper drainage facilities, the streets quickly fill with rainwater mixed with sewage overflow. Further, the numerous deep potholes in the road become invisible under the water, making driving itself quite hazardous. This season is especially difficult for the animals, with increased rates of disease, parasite infestation and general discomfort due to being wet most of the time. This makes it all the more important for us to serve them despite the inclement weather.
Several days ago, our street animal feeding team was doing their rounds when they were caught in a sudden storm. Earlier that morning there had been no signs of rain, so the team was caught off guard without protective equipment. In addition to being completely soaked and covered with mud, they had to carry the extra weight of damp cow fodder bags. But despite all the difficulties, they continued on with determination and completed their service without complaints. Similarly, in the hottest part of summer, when temperatures approached the midforties Celsius, they continued serving in the same way. Their hard work and dedication is greatly appreciated.
Important Announcement Regarding Parrots
September to December marks the breeding season for parrots here in Vrindavan. During this period, people often report finding parrots that cannot fly. Assuming they are injured, they take them home or call us asking for help.
A Brajwasi parrot
However, in most cases, these parrots are fledgelings, meaning they have just left the nest and are still learning to fly. Fledgelings are unable to eat independently, so it is very important to leave them alone; their mothers are still coming by regularly to feed them. While it is true that being on the ground all the time makes fledgelings vulnerable to predators, this is simply nature’s design and cannot be avoided.
Many other bird species exhibit similar behaviour. If you are not sure whether a bird is injured or just a fledgeling, we encourage you to watch them from a distance for some time to see if the mother comes to feed them. If she does, you can feel confident that the bird can be left alone.
The Parking Lot Puppies ...
For the last year and a half, Braj Animal Care has been looking after a litter of puppies who live in a parking lot in front of the Shri Madanmohan Temple. When they were born, their mother, Safedi, had trouble producing enough milk, so we purchased special puppy formula to supplement their diet. For several months, a sadhu who lived nearby helped us administer the formula to the puppies several times a day. We also vaccinated them and checked in with them regularly. As a result of all these efforts, four out of five puppies survived.
The parking lot puppies with members of the team
Our team member, Gaurhari says, “Whenever the puppies see me, they come running and jump all over me. They are so happy knowing we are there to take care of them. To this day, we still feed them along with their mother. Safedi is a very fearful dog; she hides in the sewer most of the time, but comes out with tail wagging when she hears our voices. She had more puppies after this particular litter, but unfortunately, they were all killed by negligent drivers.”
The Pros and Cons of Traffic Control
Recently, the local government issued new guidelines regulating traffic in Vrindavan. While this is a welcome move, changes in the rules regarding e-rickshaws have caused some unintended consequences. E-rickshaw drivers are now required to obtain a permit, which allows them to operate in the boundaries of a specific zone of Vrindavan. However, our Braj Animal Care e-rickshaw moves all over the town feeding dogs, cows and other animals.
So far, the local government has said they are unable to issue us a permit for this, and asked us to approach the District Magistrate personally. While this process is ongoing, we have had to alter our times and routes in order to avoid fines. However, we are committed to ensuring the animals are fed no matter what, and confident things will be sorted out very soon.
Pet Abandonment ...
Pet abandonment is a growing problem, especially in villages and small towns like Vrindavan where the practice of adopting or purchasing dogs is just starting to gain popularity. Individuals and families are often unprepared for the responsibility and cost that comes with owning an animal, and this results in pets being neglected in ways that can cause lasting and complex health and behavioural issues. Here we detail two unfortunate cases that were completely avoidable, but which ultimately had a positive outcome.
Rambo the Pomeranian
In a particularly heartbreaking case, the Braj Animal Care team was called to help an adult Pomeranian dog who was found in a pile of rubbish under a highway overpass. He was severely malnourished, weak and in an overall poor condition. The long, fluffy hair typical of his breed had become matted and filthy. After preliminary care was administered, he was adopted by one of our own team members, Abhijeet, who named him Rambo.
Rambo with Gaurhari (left) and Abhijeet (right)
Rambo is blind and very fearful, which makes him aggressive in nature. Without knowing Rambo’s history, we can’t be sure whether this aggression is a result of abuse by previous owners or a pre-existing physical condition. However, with street dogs of this breed being nonexistent in Vrindavan, we are certain that Rambo is an abandoned pet.
Abhijeet and his mother have shown Rambo endless love and patience, and with time, he has allowed them to pet him. Unfortunately, Rambo still bites when startled, and Abhijeet has been bitten a total of eight times! Despite these challenges, Abhijeet remains selflessly dedicated to taking care of Rambo and says, “If I were to abandon him, I would be no different than the others who throw their pets out into the street.”
Jimmy the Golden Retriever
On another occasion, we received a call from a family who claimed to have found a golden retriever puppy on the street, and asked that we come and collect him. The caller was insistent, and with our first priority being the welfare of the animal, we obliged and took the dog into our care.
Jimmy and Babaji
With the dog showing no obvious signs of illness or injury, we were keen to find him a home. We posted a picture of the golden retriever on social media and were immediately contacted by a sadhu who wanted to adopt him. Arrangements were made the very same day, and the sadhu took his new companion, who he named Jimmy, to his home in Mathura.
The next day, we were contacted by the original family again. This time, they claimed that the dog in fact belonged to them and insisted on taking him back. However, knowing that Jimmy was now in a safe home with a caring owner, we explained that the dog had been adopted and could not be returned.
Braj Animal Care continues to receive updates from the sadhu who adopted Jimmy. His most recent message reads, “Jimmy is such a good dog and I am very happy to have him in my life!” He also reports that Jimmy enjoys going for rides in the car and that they take walks together every day.
Rapid Urbanisation and Deforestation is Harming Vrindavan's Animals . . .
In April 2022, the Braj Animal Care administrative team met with Vrindavan’s Municipal Commissioner, Shri Anunay Jha, at a tree-plantation drive on the occasion of Yamuna Shashthi. We also networked with other key players working on Vrindavan’s environmental issues, and discussed the impact of the increasing traffic on the animals of Braj.
During our discussions, we highlighted the devastating effects of deforestation and urbanisation in Vrindavan, and suggested ways to mitigate these challenges. All of Vrindavan’s stray and wild animals suffer from a lack of natural food sources and space to roam. They are also often injured in traffic accidents and, in the case of monkeys who like to play on the power lines, electrocution. Other domestic animals, whether they be livestock or pets, are often abandoned, mistreated or neglected. Both the reforestation of Vrindavan and daily street feedings are crucial to these animals’ wellbeing.
Recently, we told you about a bright young man named Adi who interviewed Braj Animal Care’s team for his vlog. This month, Adi created a powerpoint presentation about Braj Animal Care to share with his class. Both his teachers and schoolmates were extremely inspired to help the animals too. We are very thankful to Adi for caring so much about the animals and for spreading awareness about our cause.
Braj Animal Care: An Overview
The following article was recently published in Vrindavan Today magazine.
The rapid urbanisation of Vrindavan has been destructive in many ways, and the suffering of Braj’s animals is one of its most devastating effects. To address the complex and widespread problems these animals face, Braj Animal Care has bravely stepped forward to provide them with much-needed food and medical care.
Braj Animal Care was founded by Shri Chandan Goswami Maharaj of the Shri Radharaman Temple. Growing up in Vrindavan, Chandan Maharaj often witnessed cows eating garbage and dogs drinking black water directly from the sewers. As Shri Krishn’s beloved gaucharan bhumi was systematically replaced with concrete, the animals’ health condition continued to decline, and incidents of animals being hit by cars increased sharply with the worsening traffic. Their unbearable pain became the driving force that inspired Chandan Maharaj to start Braj Animal Care.
Chandan Maharaj and his team began feeding and providing medical care to animals on a small scale in late 2018, but during the first COVID-19 lockdown, the plight of the animals became all the more dire. Suddenly, the very meagre veterinary services in Braj became nonexistent. Even the veterinary college in Mathura closed and repurposed their lab as a COVID testing centre. Further, with restaurants closed and families rationing food, the garbage itself became devoid of scraps for the animals to eat.
It was at this time that Braj Animal Care took on the responsibility of feeding and caring for every stray animal in Braj. While everyone else was locked down, Braj Animal Care’s team was out in the streets facing harsh challenges from the police and administration as they executed this essential service. This experience emboldened them to help Braj’s animals on a large scale. After registering as an NGO in 2020, Braj Animal Care was able to serve many more animals, eventually hiring a full-time licensed veterinarian and a sizeable support staff.
Over the last two years, Braj Animal Care has provided medical treatment to approximately 12,000 dogs, cows, bulls and other animals throughout Braj. And through their daily feedings, they have distributed around 300,000 animal meals.
This month, Braj Animal Care has been forced to temporarily suspend its medical services until they attain a more sustainable model through fundraising. They are also focussing their efforts on the development and opening of their much-needed animal hospital and shelter. Simultaneously, they continue to serve 17,000 animal meals per month through their twice-daily feedings.
Joy of Feeding . . .
We are happy to report that our Braj Animal Care feeding program is doing very well. Twice a day, we go around Vrindavan in our erickshaw feeding the animals along the parikrama marg and nearby areas. In addition to the staples like milk and chaara, we often add special treats to the animals’ meals according to the season. For example, while gur is a favourite of cows in the winter due to its sweetness and heating properties, watermelon is a big hit in summer. It is so satisfying to treat them to their favourite foods.
Our feeding program also helps us connect more intimately with our community and learn more about the local animals and their needs. In the Raman Reti area of Vrindavan, there is an unusual colony where 50 to 60 dogs live together peacefully. Usually, our local dogs are very territorial and distribute themselves over a wide area in small packs of five to seven. Whenever we go to this special “dog colony” to distribute food, we are also pleasantly surprised to see how the neighbours also contribute towards the dogs’ care. They often feed them food scraps from their houses, and they always let us know when any one of them is sick or injured. There is even a paralysed puppy that receives lots of love and care from the colony residents. When performing animal care seva, you will see many cases of animal cruelty, which can lead you to question humanity itself. But situations like these give us hope and remind us that many people do care.
Although our medical services are temporarily closed, we hope to continue as soon as possible.
Services Suspended but Feedings go on . . .
Recently, Braj Animal Care had to put a temporary pause on its street animal medical services until we attain a more sustainable model through fundraising.
Simultaneously, the feeding program was expanded to two feedings per day. We hope to inaugurate our shelter and resume our medical care services within the next six months.
We also had a visit from a very special animal lover, Adidev, and his family on the occasion of his 8th birthday. He decided to celebrate his birthday with us as an extension of a school project on community services, and his family sponsored the day’s feeding. Adidev brought his own cameraman and interviewed our coordinator, Vishakha, for his vlog. He was also very happy to participate in our daily feeding programme.
We are very proud of Adidev’s dedication and for the way his parents support his interest in helping animals.
Shrikishor's Experience With Our Team . . .
Braj Animal Care welcomes volunteers who wish to come and serve our animal friends with us out on the streets of Vrindavan. Here, Chandan Atreya (Shrikishor Anuragi), a dear devotee of Radharamanji and a passionate photographer, shares his experience of volunteering with the team:
During my recent stay in Vrindavan, I had the wonderful opportunity to volunteer with Braj Animal Care on two separate occasions. The first was to join the early morning animal feeding program. As I followed the team taking pictures, their zeal and drive to serve despite the bitter cold left me feeling humbled. It was so heartening to see the animals come running as soon as they heard the team’s voices calling out for them, whether it was the dogs and puppies that came to lap up the milk they served, or the cattle that came to eat their share of fodder with lumps of jaggery. Even the monkeys gathered to take the chickpeas straight from the team’s palms. I was more than happy to help capture these moments with my camera. I noticed that the Braj Animal Care team in their distinctive red jackets were well-received by the local people as we moved about Parikrama Marg, with some even offering us hot cups of chai in the cold, wintery morning! Some even told us of new litters of puppies or injured animals that needed help, which made me realise the impact Braj Animal Care has on the community. I was even shown some puppies that had been rescued and nursed back to health some months ago, and their happiness on seeing the team is a sight I will never forget.
Beyond the feeding, I also had the privilege to observe the team’s treatment of a parvovirus-infected puppy. I was inspired by the care the doctor and the team provided to ensure its survival and wellbeing. Their seriousness and love for this work on a daily basis was reflected by the tender manner in which the procedure was carried out. My heart will always cherish their extraordinary drive to serve, regardless of the conditions, for the sake of patients who cannot verbalise their gratitude, but still express their love in their own way. I am truly grateful for this opportunity and hope that I can join the team and have the fortune to serve again in the near future.
Rabbits at Keshi Ghat . . .
Yesterday we came across two very sick rabbits in a tiny, filthy cage. They had been abandoned by an anonymous person behind a popular chai shop near Keshi Ghat.
We are treating them for severe skin disease and other ailments. Happily, the chai shop owner has agreed to feed them until they get better, and then help find them new homes. We expect them to make a full recovery.
Drive Responsibly . . .
When you spend all day, every day taking care of street animals, it’s inevitable that you will face some emotionally difficult situations. One such moment came yesterday when a puppy we’ve known for a long time was run over by a motorbike.
This puppy and his siblings had all the support they needed to thrive – we fed them every day and vaccinated against the most common diseases. And an elderly monk had even offered them a warm and safe corner at the shrine where he takes care of the worship.
Unfortunately, the rash driving of irresponsible people was enough to wipe away all their good luck. One by one, cars and trucks sent the puppies to their graves. Luckily, the sole surviving puppy’s broken leg is treatable. Our veterinarian and many caring team members are fully committed to ensuring his recovery.
Treatment at Radhakund . . .
For the last several days, we have been traveling to the village of Radhakund for a very special case. We've had to make the long trip by motorcycle, as our van recently went for a deep cleaning and the seats are still drying out. It's a cold but necessary journey, as our patient's condition is dire.
The sweet dog we have been treating has maggot wounds all over his body. The most obvious is a huge gaping wound on his face, but the nasty parasites have also burrowed deep into his urethra, making the task of extracting them extremely challenging.
Any time maggots penetrate a head wound, the situation should be considered serious. This is because the maggots may enter the eyes, causing blindness, or the brain, which almost always causes death. We will continue treating this dear soul through all the difficulties, in hopes that he can make a full recovery.
Deworming Drive in the Winters . . .
In December, Braj Animal Care held vaccination and deworming drives in various parts of Braj Mandal. Most street animals suffer from parasites like maggots and intestinal worms. Without veterinary intervention, the animals have no choice but to suffer through it. In severe cases, animals do not survive such infestations. We are very happy to say that we provided deworming treatments to over 500 animals in the urban and rural areas of Braj during December alone.
A puppy receives treatment from our team
The process of seeking out animals for deworming helped us find many sick and injured animals we may not have known about otherwise. For example, whilst feeding deworming pills to street bulls in Vrindavan’s Chaitanya Vihar Phase 2, a local Brajwasi brought us to another alleyway where some severely ill puppies were hiding. Several of them were emaciated and flea-ridden, and two of them had dangerous maggot infestations in their heads. We were able to provide preliminary treatment for all of them and we are continuing to follow up on their cases.
A Volunteer’s Experience
Braj Animal Care welcomes volunteers who wish to come and serve our animal friends with us out on the streets of Vrindavan. Here, Kirtida Anuragini, a dear devotee of Radharamanji and a microbiologist from New Delhi, shares her experience of volunteering with the team:
“I finally got the opportunity to volunteer with Braj Animal Care, a longtime wish of mine. The case involved five very sick puppies living in the Radharaman Temple campus. We received calls about them late in the night, and by all accounts, these puppies were not well at all. When we arrived at the scene, one had already died, two were really struggling to survive, and the other two were in a better condition than their siblings.
“The Braj Animal Care vet, Dr. Shrivastav, confirmed what we suspected already. The puppies had parvovirus, a deadly disease which kills them very quickly. The puppies were administered medication and saline, but I could see that their condition was deteriorating rapidly. We kept fighting to give the puppies any possible chance of survival, unwilling to leave them in their time of need.
Kirtida with another puppy patient
of need. While our emotions were swinging between a flicker of hope and fear of the eventual outcome, we asked the children who had gathered around to sing kirtan with us and bless the puppies’ souls. We also got some prasadi tulsi of Shri Radharamanji from the temple and placed it in the mouths of the dead and dying.
“By morning, only the strongest puppy remained with us, and despite having already been exposed to parvovirus, he was vaccinated against the disease. More than a week later, that puppy is still alive and doing well. The Braj Animal Care team said that given the seriousness of the situation, the survival of even one puppy is a positive outcome.
“This experience will remain with me for the rest of my life. The most important lesson I learned is to always try my best, no matter how difficult the situation is and without fearing the outcome. I thank Braj Animal Care for this wonderful opportunity and hope to do more seva with this amazing team in the future.”
Since Kirtida came to volunteer with us in Vrindavan, the team has continued to visit the remaining puppy in Radharaman Ghera to treat him. At present, the puppy is doing well and we will continue to look after him the best we can.