New Sanctuary for Street Dogs in Sri Lanka!
Bridging Lanka is Animal Aid Abroad’s partner group in Sri Lanka. They currently run several donkey management and welfare programs in Mannar, including a Donkey Clinic and Sanctuary, a Donkey Assisted Therapy Centre and a Donkey Adoption Program. The overall purpose behind these programs is to rescue and care for abandoned donkeys, raise the status of these animals in Sri Lanka and create positive connections between people and donkeys via school and community awareness campaigns.
A couple of rescue cases recently stood out, including a donkey in Pallimunai Village who had fallen into a deep drain and become stuck. Helpful locals had managed to lift the donkey out but she could not stand or walk. The team at Donkey Clinic and Education Centre (DCEC) were called and, when they arrived, they noticed substantial wounds on the donkey’s legs that required emergency care. Back at the clinic, the donkey was placed in the isolation ward to recover. The wounds are healing quickly and the donkey is recovering well.
In another case, the DCEC received a call from the Special Task Force regarding a young foal they had rescued from a dog attack. The dog had ripped off one of the poor foal’s ears and viciously gouged his neck and leg. Although the Special Task Force had done their best to provide treatment, the wounds had become infected. Once the foal was brought to the Donkey Clinic and Education Centre, intensive treatment was provided and the team also went on a mission to find the foal’s mother. She was found and brought to the centre to feed her offspring. Thankfully, the foal is now recovering well and even received a visit from the Special Task Force Officer in Charge!
Recently, Bridging Lanka held a donkey awareness session for the parents of their staff team. There is a culture in Mannar of loathing donkeys so, unfortunately, staff members at Bridging Lanka often find themselves being mocked for working with and helping these animals. However, the educational session held at the DCEC was a great success! The parents of Bridging Lanka’s staff members attended the session reluctantly but left full of pride for the important, humane work their children are doing at the centre. In another positive development, the Donkey Clinic and Education Centre have also begun providing educational services for local children, including English, Sinhala and computer classes. Children in remote villages often have limited access to education but their future prospects are looking brighter thanks to the DCEC. The bray of Kavi, the resident donkey ‘opera singer’, can often be heard while the children study!
Animal Aid Abroad's support for Bridging Lanka has recently doubled as we are funding an exciting new sanctuary named the Hendro Animal Rescue Centre (HARC). The idea for HARC came about during Animal Aid Abroad’s last trip to Sri Lanka, when the crew noticed street dogs around Mannar in dreadful conditions. Some dogs were so ill with mange and scabies they could hardly move. Once the AAA team recognised this immense need for a dog rescue centre in the area, they spoke with Bridging Lanka and discovered there was a two-acre piece of land available very close to the Donkey Clinic and Education Centre. Following purchase of this land 8 months ago, an architect has finally been found to design the Hendro Animal Rescue Centre pro bono. Ms Wathmi Fernando is currently working on the design brief in liaison with Bridging Lanka’s vet and it is hoped that construction work can commence soon.
The team at Bridging Lanka have been hard at work preparing the site for construction by:
· Clearing the land of weeds and debris
· Completing 300 feet of new fencing work
· Making 3000 concrete blocks for the new building
· Purchasing 1200 black stones for use in the building’s foundation
· Sinking a tube well to provide water for the building and gardens
· Installing a water pump, associated plumbing and sprinkler system
· Cleaning the existing well to make it productive again
· Connecting electricity to the site
Since Bridging Lanka also aim to provide opportunities for vulnerable young people, they employed Jawsan, who has been their groundsman since June. Jawsan was struggling at school and had dropped out but helping to establish the new sanctuary has seen him thrive as a dedicated, productive worker. Along with construction works, there are also plans to grow moringa trees within the sanctuary, which possess multiple medicinal properties. It is hoped that, over time, superfood products from the trees can act as an income source and assist with the sanctuary’s overall running costs.
There are approximately 3000 street dogs in Mannar, so this new sanctuary will provide much-needed shelter, veterinary treatment, sterilisation and re-homing programs for many of these animals. Animal Aid Abroad are pleased to be funding the Hendro Animal Rescue Centre, which will no doubt improve quality of life for many stray dogs and other animals in Mannar.