International Animal Rescue - Bear rescue and rehabilitation

Some months back, I had posted about bear dances being illegal and the reasons why. I recently came across this website about an animal help agency where they talk about the same topic. Despite it being made illegal decades ago, the practice still continues in the country.

How can we put an end to it when people don't know why it's wrong! We can spread the word about how savage the whole idea is, and why it was made illegal in the first place. You can read more on the topic on International Animal Rescue - Bear rescue and rehabilitation.

YOU have to START!!

How many times have you said to yourself "it's not my job, xyz is supposed to do it?"

We have all said it one time or another! I myself have said it on countless occasions! But then I realised how if I just did a little, I could help in a big way. There's a quote in Hindi, 'boond boond se sagar banta hai' (the sea is made of many drops).

I realised this when I saw how just a small piece of bread that I gave the dog in my street made his day! He was neutered. But sadly, he was not going to survive alone. A lady in the community used to feed all the stray dogs in the area. I used to think that was enough food for them. But then I thought to myself. Why only her? We are more than a 100 people living here; each rich enough to blow up money in coffee shops and clubs!So why can't we spend a few bucks and give some bread and milk to the dogs in the area?

This simple idea, led me to start taking food down for the dog. I must admit, I wasn't regular. My  mom was far more active in this area. The bottom-line is, despite not being a big help, it helped him a little, or so I think it did!

If each of us does a little bit, we can make a big difference! There is no point in always blaming the government or people around you! It all starts with you! YOU have to make the start! Will you?

The Strike!

For years man has made profits out of animals. Without realising it, we have trampled over every aspect of their lives. People have forever taken animals for granted. But now, during the recession, it is the animals that face the brunt for somehting they have never done! I don't think any of us can remember an animal coming up to us and saying 'put me in the circus' or 'put me in your stable and I will win races for you!' This was what we people did! But now, when we don't have the money to feed the animals, we just shun them away! Is that fair? Would you do that to your child?

No! Never! Then why do it to your pets? This 'they will survive' attitude must come to an end. The next episode of 'The Takeover' shows how animals are going to take back what is theirs and how they will show us the way out of the recession!

Share it! Let people know what will happen if they don't change their attitude towards animals! 

Learn to Smile, and maybe skip 1 coffee a month!

So I was wondering, how do animals feel when they see us... here's a little glimpse about what they think we do...

What do you think? How often do you smile?

On the other hand, in 'Every Little Bit Helps', Chris and Meg are talking about how people have enough money for clubs and discos, but they can't take out a few bucks to help animals!

So can you spare change for getting animals in your area neutered?

Using the Power of People

Being a Digital Marketing student and an animal lover, I was trying to use the power of social media to promote international collaboration to tackle problems faced by animals in various countries. Unfortunately, I have been a bit busy off-late with course work, and therefore the network has been having to grow and feed itself. However, I realised that people need some way of sharing information and understanding one another's problems. This is why I started the series 'Every Little Bit Helps'. This series highlights the problems faced by people who are trying to help animals.

Since I have lived in India, I am well aware of the problems faced in the cities there, but I am still unaware of the difficulties in other parts of the world. Some places might be similar, while others quite different. This is why I asked my network for help!

I need to first be able to understand the problems faced and then show it to the rest of the world. NOAH will also launch a campaign on the same lines. The idea of the network is to share problems and use the concept of 6 degrees of separation to promote animal welfare!

Using social media for a social cause is what this world needs to start doing! And not just to follow local organizations, but to collaborate and understand problems world over! 

A Challenge - Every Little Bit Helps

The new episode of 'Every Little Bit Helps' presents Chris with a challenge. He has to somehow manage to get 50 people to support his cause. The story is now in the hands of the viewers. His boss has given him upto 1 month to get his support. Will you support him?

If you want to show your support, like the video here: http://bit.ly/zVkJQv

What's with the different web-series?

I have been thinking about how to spread the word about problems faced by people who try to help animals. Considering that I have absolutely no budget for this cause, I have to always find ways that will spread the word, but will not cost me a penny!

While thinking about it, I decided to use something I thought might work - YouTube's creator tools! It is amazing how a simple video can spread the word like fire on oil!

As soon as I posted the pilot episode of 'Every little bit helps', followers on Facebook went up. That was when it struck me, why not do something to promote the point of view of animals? That was when I came up with the next series - "The Take Over - Is it True?"

While ELBH focuses on how people are trying to help animals, the second one shifts the radar to how animals feel we are ruining their lives! Being an animal helper, you cannot ignore either aspect!

The animals in 'The Take Over' have decided to take over the way man runs the world. Can you imagine what it would be like if that really happens? Of course you can rejoice that there will be no office or school, but what will you be made to do instead? and if you don't do anything, will you survive?

Will the rule of the jungle ensue?

In the show 'Every Little Bit Helps', 4 young adults attempt to draw in a crowd to help animals. But sadly, as many of you might have seen (or probably faced yourself), it is difficult telling people to work with no pay! But where there is a will, there is a way. How will they manage to get a group to help animals?

You just might get ideas of how to involve your community people in animal welfare (even if it is indirectly)!

If pictures say a 1000 words, then a movie says a 1000 pictures! Let me know what you think, and I will try and meet expectations!

Every Little Helps - Making the Pitch

The pilot episode of the series titled "Every Little Helps".

The story line revolves around a bunch of young adults who are trying to change the society and help animals through various means. But in our world, it is not an easy task to help people out. The series follows the ups and downs, success and failure of 4 friends who have sworn to make a difference in the world.

Chris: Working for a boss who has nothing but company profits on his mind, he thinks of starting some CSR activities in his office so that he can get a larger number of people involved in helping animals...

Meg: Trying to get people from her society involved with getting the street dogs get treated for illnesses, get sprayed and neutered, etc. is frustrated at the fact that nobody can spare a few bucks to help their society...

Nikhil: Working in a media and PR company, he tries to convince his colleagues to cover a story about a series of dognappings going on in town; but there are other things that need the media coverage such as celeb gossip, and political scandals...

Muskaan: An animal activist trying to make sure that the dognapping is checked by the police faces severe hostility and is unable get any work done...

If you have any suggestions on how they should address the matter, leave a comment below! Feel free to email your suggestions/feedback to networkofanimalhelpers@gmail.com

The Bear Dance

Bear dance is something many kids enjoy. A cute furry little bear dancing around to a drum, one of the most popular things I saw back in my home country. There were also monkeys that were brought around on cycles and made to dance. I used to enjoy it when I was a kid, because at that time I thought the monkey and bear were having fun, just like when people dance and have fun!

However, as I grew up, I learnt of how cruel and horrible such practices were! The torture the bears and monkeys go through is incomparable! Can you imagine a thick rope being pierced through the roof of your mouth and and then through your nose? And then can you imagine the pain felt when someone yanked the rope to make you do something?

It gives me goose bumps to just type this, and those babies go through this every minute! When dancing, if a bear does not make the right move, the rope is yanked. This pains him and he continues. It is the same with the monkey.

In fact at times, camels and horses are also treated the same way. They are not meant to dance, but the rope through their nose gives the rider power to 'navigate' the animal.

The sad thing is that most people are unaware of such horrible things that happen right in front of their eyes! They tend to think that animals are having fun when they are doing what they are supposed to do. True, at times they do have fun, but not always. Most of the times, bears and monkeys do not have a choice. They are inducted into this 'industry' right since birth.

Another problem that these animals face is that the people who own them are not very well-off. They are therefore unable to provide the right medical attention when needed. In fact people who take the bears don't realise that it would pain the bear! It often becomes a family business and hence people just continue in their parent's footsteps.

Awareness and education about the reality of the situation is the only weapon against this! If you have seen something like this, share your story below!

(Image Source: http://www.looking-glass.co.uk/news/library2006/2006-1-wildlifesos-story.htm)