"Happiness doesn't result from what we get, but from what we give," a quote by Ben Carson, is the closest thing to explaining the great work that Kasturi and her team at Vatika Animal Sanctuary are doing for the homeless animals on the street.
Established in 2015, this NGO has been working tirelessly to fulfil the needs of vulnerable and special-needs animals. This venture focuses on rescuing and rehabilitating injured, paralysed, and traumatised stray dogs alongside other animals and sometimes even birds.
The sanctuary provides medical care, nourishment, and shelter while tackling critical issues like rabies treatment and birth control. Beyond rescue, the organisation engages communities through educational programs, creating awareness about animal welfare and inspiring compassion.
In an exclusive interview with HFM, Kasturi Ballal, the founder of this NGO, shared insights into her institute's operations. So, without further delay, let's dive into it.
What is there in name?
At a time when everyone wants to be associated with the fluent English world, a name such as Vatika makes one stop for a moment and ponder what it really might mean in the context of animals. Hence, we threw an obvious question in Kasturi's direction.
In reply, she said, "Vatika means a beautiful garden, which symbolises nature as a rightful home for animals." She added that the place's name reflects their sanctuary's mission, which is to "ensure animals remain connected to nature, fostering a safe and nurturing environment for them. The name encapsulates the organisation's philosophy of providing care and tranquillity to the most vulnerable animals, akin to a garden offering life and serenity."
This shows that a lot of thought has gone into everything they do at Vatika Animal Sanctuary. From thinking of a perfect name that captures the essence of their mission to provide for needy animals, they have it all covered. But how did it all start? Let's find out.
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A pivotal moment
Kasturi's journey of rescuing stray dogs started when she was a student. While travelling to her exam centre during her college days, she witnessed a severely injured dog being cruelly discarded in a dustbin.
Being a dog lover from a very young age, she couldn't help but try to help the poor soul. Despite being pressed for time, she decided to take the dog to the hospital. Tragically, the dog couldn't survive, but this heartbreaking encounter changed her perspective forever.
This incident ignited a fire deep inside her, which propelled her to dedicate herself to saving the lives of stray dogs and eventually establishing what we know today as the Vatika Animal Sanctuary.
Vatika Animal Sanctuary: A New Beginning
Fast-forward a few years, and Kasturi and her friends found themselves rescuing a massive number of strays. She recounts, "There was a time when 70-80 dogs were in my house. We helped a total of 4000 from the home setting." However, as you can guess, this was a massive number, and things started getting out of hand.
Following this, they decided to rent out basements and even garages where they could shelter and treat injured animals. Soon, they found themselves pestered by the locals, which led to her decision to find a place of their own that would act as a shelter, a hospital, and a birth control centre for dogs.
Later, they found a waste ground, which they turned into their new home. Over the years, the sanctuary has become a beacon of hope, having helped over 10,000 animals and still counting. Today, it shelters over 200 animals, ranging from stray dogs to donkeys, camels, and sometimes even wild animals.
Kasturi and her team offer comprehensive services, including rescue, medical treatment, and a birth control program. However, they also ensure that the animals are not displaced from their home territory. They go to great lengths to ensure that an animal, especially a dog, is dropped off at the same place where it was picked up to ensure that it doesn't lose its food sources and other familiar things.
When asked about why they go to these extensive lengths for dogs, Kasturi said, "People are fearful of dogs and cats; they fear getting bitten or scratched by them. Furthermore, people are not interested in dogs' problems, but I do. Their problems are solvable, at least through sterilisation and population control." Keeping these things in mind, Vatika Animal Sanctuary works to reduce rabies by sterilising and vaccinating street dogs.
Challenges on the way
Nothing comes easily in life, but caring for helpless animals shouldn't be on this list. Yet, here it is. Even the most benevolent work is not free of challenges, and Kasturi has had many of them. Let's take a look at what they have been:
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Operational Hurdles: Kasturi and her team have struggled to manage funds and resources as a non-government organisation. They also hail from rural areas, which makes explaining and convincing people around them even harder.
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Comprehensive responsibility: Unlike metro cities, where different organisations run different and specialised services, Kasturi and her team had to handle all aspects of animal rescue, care, and hosteling independently.
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Personal Resilience: no matter how strong you are, there are days when you don't want to do something. Kasturi and her team also experience this phase of lack of motivation. However, they always find the inner strength to dedicate themselves to this noble cause.
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Community Opposition: Fighting oneself is one thing, but fighting an entire community of people unwilling to understand your motive is completely different. The volunteers of Vatika Animal Sanctuary are often subjected to hatred and even physical attacks by locals. Yet, they don't deter and keep going, day in and day out.
"Reducing someone's pain should never be about profit," Kasturi tells people who question her motive in helping street animals. Yet the challenges remain, and so does her unwavering commitment to animal welfare in her region.
Ambitions for the future
Kasturi has been in this field for nearly 10 years and has made some great inroads, but she is not done yet. She has big plans for the future, and one of them is opening a dedicated animal hospital in her locality.
Apart from that, she also aims to enhance the education of the new generation by partnering with schools to teach kids the compassion and responsibility we humans have towards animals. Through these initiatives, she thrives in creating a safer community for both animals and humans.
Vatika Animal Sanctuary's unwavering dedication to rescuing and rehabilitating vulnerable animals exemplifies the profound impact that compassion and community support can achieve. Their journey from a modest initiative to a beacon of hope for countless strays underscores the transformative power of empathy in action.
If you're an animal lover, consider visiting their sanctuary to witness their noble work firsthand. For those unable to visit, your contributions can make a significant difference in sustaining their mission.
