Vizag Central

Despite some of the best animal protection laws in the world and a renowned heritage of reverence for life, modern India is a country where millions of animals suffer severe neglect or abuse. Overpopulation, poverty, pollution, superstition, apathy and ignorance all contribute to their plight. In a country where human misery and impoverishment remain high, the welfare of destitute animals is a low priority.

Vizag on the other hand, hosts a sanctuary for the desperate and often abused animals through VSPCA. Visakha Society for Protection and Care of Animals, located in the heart of the city, is making an effective and positive difference for animals in the state of Andhra Pradesh. The facility has been judged as on the best in the world by Animal People Magazine, based in the USA.

Established in 1996, the shelter now provides refuge for over 1000 animals, including 700 cows and buffalos, dogs, cats, horses, turtles and even birds.

The shelter hosts a hospital which provides emergency and non-emergency veterinary care to domestic and wildlife animals, both small and large. The objective is to provide living comfort for displaced, distressed, injured, disabled, sick and suffering animals. They need and deserve our care and protection. The hospital is based on a policy to save lives. The VSPCA hospital has veterinarians with advanced training to treat pets.

For dogs in particular, the VSPCA has undertaken many initiatives. The most important of these is the Animal Birth Control Program. Since 1996, the shelter has engaged in a dedicated Animal Birth Control (ABC) program for the street dogs and cats in Andhra Pradesh. Since the program’s inception, VSPCA has treated more than 70,000 street dogs. In addition to sterilization, the ABC program also provides vaccinations to each animal, including the rabies vaccine, and observes each animal prior to release. The result has been an observable reduction in the numbers of street dogs in this area and a dramatic reduction in the number of cases of human rabies.

Furthermore, the ABC program has reduced the numbers of reports of dog biting or attempting to bite people, both provoked and unprovoked, and has dramatically reduced the size groups of dogs in the city.

Prior to the VSPCA becoming involved in the ABC program, the local municipalities engaged in extremely cruel and inhumane methods of killing street dogs. The city would round up many dogs every night and kill them en mass, often by spraying the dogs with water and then electrocuting them. After great pressure from the VSPCA and our advocates, the city has stopped these activities.

Our enclosed aviary where rescued birds practice their flying skills as they recover and are eventually released.

VSPCA's award-winning achievements include:

• Protecting endangered species, like the sea turtles of the Bay of Bengal.
• Rescuing farm animals during floods.
• Teaching everyone from school children to police cadets (over 3000 of them) the ABCs of humane animal treatment.
• Running a free ambulance service for injured and abused animals.
• Providing full-time sanctuary, on less than three beautiful acres, for some 700 cows and buffaloes rescued from India's illegal meat trade (and apprehending the criminals who perpetrate it) and 300 other rescued animals.
• Providing rewarding, well-paying jobs for over 40 Telugu-speaking workers from the surrounding villages.

The VSPCA has an eco-sanctuary that is a unique place to visit, known worldwide among animal advocates.

It is important that the residents of Vizag also grow in their understanding of protecting wildlife and see life as equal to animals and humans.

It is time to teach our children respect for all life, make them understand why is it is important to adopt native Indian dogs and cats instead of seeking out foreign purebreds.

VSPCA aims to help make Vizag a place where you do not see suffering animals on the streets, where every pet is well treated, where children grow up in confidence that their world will be kind to all that lives.

Please visit, learn about and join us. We cannot reach these goals without the interest and support of all Vizagites!

By Eileen Weintraub