Animals in distress find young saviours

Nitish Sharma in Ambala

IT is around 7.30 pm and three youths are trying to control an angry bull who is suffering from an infection in its hind legs at Layalpur Basti in Ambala City. After nearly 35 minutes dint of hard work, they have controlled the bull and provided medical care to it. 

Members of the Vande Mataram Dal, the youths have been voluntarily providing medical care to ailing animals and birds for three years.

One of them is Davender Jassal, president of the Vande Mataram Dal. Dressed up in formals in scorching May and wiping sweat off his face, he says, “I got a call that a bull is infected. In no time, I reached here along with Bharat and Rajat.”

 In 2014 they joined the Vande Mataram Dal, which provides medical aid to injured animals in Patiala. They started doing the same in Ambala and got themselves registered here. Now, they have members in Kaithal, Cheeka, Pehowa, Ismailabad and Naraingarh too. Jassal said, “It all started from watching and sharing posts and videos on Facebook. We have now over 150 members in Ambala who contribute to the noble cause. Fifteen members are trained to catch and provide first aid to strays in distress.”

 Aakash, a member of the Dal, who works at a cloth shop, earns Rs 7,500 a month and contributes Rs 500. He says, in the beginning, family members would object that it’s wastage of time and money. Sharing his experience, he says once while treating the animals, we were injured. I and Jassal had also become victims of dog bites. It requires skills to tackle the animals in pain.

The same thing had happened with Bharat. An angry bull had hit him hard and fractured his hand when he was trying to control it.

 Jassal says, “We are in private jobs. Sometimes, it gets difficult to manage expenses. Fortunately, we have been able to come this long way. Private and government veterinary surgeons are helping us.”

But the youths are a little disappointed due to lack of government support. “There are no animal ambulances and special cranes to lift the injured or dead animals. Sometime, we find it difficult to arrange vehicles to carry animals. We had sought help from the local administration and state government but to no avail,” they say.

“The government must provide space to construct a shelter home for such animals. It must sterilise and vaccinate stray dogs and bulls.”

The youths have been tirelessly propagating the “ethical treatment” of animals. The locals are encouraged to seek their help to treat animals.

Ambala Deputy Commissioner Prabhjot Singh says the youngsters have been doing a good job and we will raise their demands to the government.