In the absence of release of funds from the Government, the governing body of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), Kakinada, is looking to philanthropists who can come forward to provide fodder to the animals. As the number of animals is increasing by the day, the 110-year-old SPCA unit is facing acute shortage of funds to address the basic needs of the cows, oxen, buffalos and dogs in its possession.
As of now, there are 500 animals rescued by the SPCA and the number is increasing steadily due to the constant watch by the police on the transportation of animals for slaughter. Whenever the police caught the animals, they arrest the driver, seize the vehicle and hand over the animals to the SPCA. “On an average, the police rescue about 100 animals. The owners of the animals need to prove it in the court that the transportation is not meant for slaughter. If the court gets convinced, the animals will be freed. Otherwise, they will be with us forever,” explains S.S.R.K. Guru Prasad, secretary of the SPCA, which is the third oldest society for animal welfare in India. As the society is located on a sprawling premises of 2.61 acres donated by the Rajahs of Pithapuram and sheds have been constructed long back, there is no dearth of space for any number of animals. “But, the real challenge is providing fodder to the animals. As of now, the fodder charges are about Rs. 10,000 per day for all the 500 animals. The amount will increase if the number of animals goes up,” he says.
Adoption scheme
Some philanthropists have been supplying green fodder on day-to-day basis, but it is becoming a challenge for the society to collect paddy straw for the animals. Though it has announced ‘Animal Adoption Scheme,’ under which one can adopt one animal for a period of one year by paying Rs. 10,000 or for one month by paying Rs. 1,000, the response from the public is lukewarm. “People are evincing interest in adopting cows, as the religious scholars are popularising ‘Gopooja’ of late. But, we have other animals too in our rescue. In fact, the number of cows is less compared to the buffalos and oxen,” observes Mr. Guru Prasad. Despite sending several representations seeking release of funds for fodder, there is no response either from the district administration or from the Animal Welfare Board of India. “Now, we are purely depending on the individuals and corporate groups and looking forward for their help in rescuing the animals,” he says.
The 110-year-old unit is unable to cater to basic needs of animals under its care
