Citizens, NGOs team up to rescue trapped & lost animals amid deluge

Pune: A heartwarming wave of compassion surged through the city since Thursday morning as citizens and animal welfare groups joined forces to launch rescue missions and save animals struggling to survive the deluge.In a hutment area near Pimpri market, a senior citizen trapped in chest-high water that flooded her home refused to be rescued without all her pets. It was only when rescuers evacuated her 14 dogs and one cat to safety that she followed.But her example is not an isolated one. The ResQ Charitable Trust, in collaboration with the city’s fire brigade, carried out over 30 rescue operations across areas such as Khadakwasla, Ravet, Pimpri Chinchwad, Koregaon Park, Kalyani Nagar, and more. Inundated with calls from worried citizens through the day, the teams navigated flooded streets to reach animals trapped in precarious situations during the incessant downpour.Nachiket Utpat, director of wildlife management at RESQ Charitable Trust, said, “We visited spots where citizens called us expressing concern about stray animals clinging to small patches of dry land to stay above the water level. Some dogs tied to gates, trees, etc. were also rescued.”Residents of some housing societies opened their hearts and common areas, providing makeshift shelters for stray animals seeking refuge from the rain. Tina Malkani, who runs animal welfare NGO Karmanye Foundation, set up three shelters with tarpaulin sheets in front of her housing society in Kharadi for community dogs. “We’ve put up a notice near these makeshift shelters for stray dogs, informing residents that this is a temporary setup to provide community dogs with dry space as refuge from the rain. We also provide them with food and water. We found one Labrador in the area, who seemed lost or abandoned, and are trying to rescue him too,” said Malkani.Many pets were reported as lost during the deluge, and local feeders are now trying to find their families. Social worker Shabaaz Khan from Katraj said, “A young Doberman wandered into a garage on Wednesday night, soaked in the rain, with a collar around his neck. Lost pets are often involved in accidents as they run around in panic trying to find their way home. So, we are keeping him in the garage till we find his family.”Munira Gangardiwala, a volunteer feeder from NIBM Road, took two injured stray dogs from Anandvan Forest area into her care during the rains on Thursday morning. “On my feeding round in the forest area, I could hear them crying in pain and brought them home with me to treat their injuries. I will care for them till the weather is dry enough to drop them back,” she said.