“Here, hold it like this”, “Touch it gently on its forehead with one finger or at the most two,” went the instructions as the two volunteers from Storytrails — Vinoth and Sandhya — showed the 11 kids how to handle kittens. Storytrails were on one of their walks and this time it was at the Blue Cross — the animal welfare centre in Velachery. The kids were told the story of the founder of Blue Cross, a pilot, who began his unique journey by saving two puppies that were caught in a flood. He was known for circling over stray animals that had wandered onto the runway and would land only after the animals were chased off. Once he carefully skimmed over a cobra's hood as it was sunbathing on the runway.
Divided into teams, named, hen, horse, cat and snake, the kids enacted the characteristics of each animal, which helped them to get to know the animal they represented. Clues were given to the next step on the trail. The code cracked, the kids were off to the aviary. With a crow with a sprained neck, two cockerels with the same problem, doves, parrots and pigeons on one hand, recued rabbits, dormouse and guinea pigs on the other, (while a baby guinea pig was trying to escape), the aviary was a hub of activity as it was lunch time for them. Chopped vegetables, grass and grain in individual plates were neatly laid out and the children watched quietly as the animals and birds nibbled daintily.
Before the kids handled the animals, a note of caution was sounded. They were asked to handle the animals gently as the guinea pigs and the rabbits were rescued from various laboratories that had used them for experiments. The cruel treatment had traumatised them so much that they were now terrified of humans. They only trusted the people who fed them.
They could stroke them only with a finger and only on their foreheads as a little more pressure could make them die of an heart attack. The animal care volunteer explained that hunters set dogs only to catch the rabbits and they would toss the rabbits in the hair, which resulted them dying of a heat attack.
“I'm not going to hold it”, said Samyuktha firmly as she backed off, declining to hold the rabbit as did some of the others.
The kids also gathered facts about these animals, that rabbits live in large groups, some as large as 200.
They multiply superfast like the guinea pigs and that was the reason why the males were separated from the females.
The ancestors of the guinea pigs were large as buffaloes, but due to climatic changes, food availability and environmental chages, they had to adapt themselves to their present size.
Their whiskers help them to measure the width of the hole they want to creep into.
The kids who had visited the centre before had named a guinea pig “Fester” who was no longer there, but they did name another one – “Nosey.”The kids peeped into a cage, interested how some nocturnal creatures, dived under sacks, to keep away from the light.
Moving on to the pigeons cage, the children heard the story of Sheroo, a pigeon who saved the lives of soldiers during World War I, even though it became blind in one eye and got shot in the chest. It was awarded a medal and continued going on war missions with the soldiers.
They also learnt what a “homing pigeon” was. “They don't need a map to get home,” laughed Anchit, of Chettinad Vidyashram.
Rams and goats, turkeys and geese, hurt calves being tended to, was the next stop for the children. They learnt that the red “thing” hanging from the turkeys neck was called a wattle and the young were called “Poults.” They guessed that the ram was the “male of something.”
They also learnt that goats have a marvellous digestive system and they could eat anything and everything – even metal.
It was time for another story and this time it was about Pari, a naughty goat who loved butting people especially when they were bending over to pick up something or talking to their plants in the garden. Finally it was the milkman who rescued the family from this naughty but lovable goat.
When the horses, cows and donkeys came in, they kids helped with the feeding – freshly cut grass and a feast of bananas.
The pig pen was not the “most favourite” places to be in but still the kids listened fascinated to the fact that pigs are intelligent, sensitive and clean creatures. They only wallow in the slushy mud to cool themselves. They also make loyal pets and can defend and protect their masters when the need arises. (Lulu the pig saved her mistress who had collapsed from a heart attack by going to the road and dragging strangers into the house.)
The final stop was at the puppy shelter — the kids were able to cuddle the pups and wonder whether they could take them home as pets.
With one-eyed Rocky the dog following them, the kids learned to feed the other dogs — Ducky, Rosy and Solo — biscuits the correct way – “never throw the biscuits down,” said the volunteers, “instead hold it in your hand and the dog will take it from you.” Rocky took his away to eat it quietly because of an injury he had.
The day ended with a short but exciting quiz.
For example:
Why do dogs eat grass a) they are mad b) their stomach is bad c)they have become vegetarians d) they are searching for worms
When a cats tail moves slowly from side to side, it means a) it is happy b) it is scared c) back off I'm going to attack you
From meeting the injured dogs who were recuperating, to getting to know that even though cats don't show their love and trust the way dogs do openly, to know that it's humans who can be unspeakably horrible to animals, the children walked out of Blu Cross, wiser and more sensitive to the issues of animals, specially to the one who are hurt and neglected.
“The puppies were keeping themselves warm because they were feeling cold and I carried one of them.” Esha, IV, Chettinad Vidyashram
“It's sad to see that animals are hurt by people.” Sanskar, IV, Bhavan's Rajaji Vidyashram
“I liked the dogs and the pigs.” Harshvardan, III, P.S.S.S.S., Mylapore
