Anjali Sharma came to Chennai from Delhi to pursue her career 20 years ago. A lot of things happened during this time, but a special kind of love ensured she would not return to Delhi. Her love was awakened by a host of fuzzy creatures with adoring eyes. She found them wherever she went, on roadsides, by the garbage bins; sometimes injured, lost and hungry but always affectionate and with a wagging tail. Anjali took them under her wing and has them all in her home today. “The space is cramped. I had a room (on stilts) constructed for them. Another room like this one would make things quite manageable. Plus there are many dogs out there who’d like shelter and regular nourishment. I’d like to help them out as well,” she says.
She feeds and medicates all 65 of her dogs and does birth control surgery for at least three dogs every month. “It is important to control their population,” she says, adding that doctors from People for Animals (PFA) and private vets help with this.
Anjali (who is a freelance writer) is working on hiring a full-time veterinarian for birth control drives. “Besides another room, I need support staff to help with the work,” she says.
She recently registered her charity — The Animal Society of Chennai, with a goal of running this shelter for homeless dogs and sterilising street animals so that more litters do not get added to the locality. Anjali feels that caring for these animals and working towards a world with fewer puppies being born on the street is her calling.
To adopt a homeless pet, donate to the initiative or find out more information on how you can help, contact The Animal Society at anjalisharma@gmail.com
