Arunachala Animal Shelter marks 5th anniversary - Tiruvannamalai

01/08

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Vishwa, director of operations at the animal shelter, (center) smiles happily while being garlanded by Leslie Robinson, (off camera) founder of the project.

02/08

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Brahmin priest performs 'arati' (waving of lights) at the conclusion of the ritual worship (puja) conducted in the treatment room of the animal shelter, while staff and well-wishers look on.

03/08

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Scoobie, the animal shelter mascot receives a kiss from Leslie Robinson, the founder and director of the project.

04/08

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Dr. R. Rajasekaran, veterinary surgeon, prays before the altar set up for the anniversary ceremonies, which includes a garlanded photo of Sri Ramana Maharshi (1879 - 1950).

05/08

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Brahmin priest sprinkles consecrated water upon the assembled staff and well-wishers after the end of the ritual ceremonies. Dr. Uma (center, right, in green sari) is the president-trustee-designate of the project.

06/08

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Shanti (center, in blue sari) who cooks all the food every day for the animals in the shelter, receives some of the consecrated water from the Brahmin priest at the end of the ritual ceremonies.

07/08

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Dr. R. Rajasekaran, veterinary surgeon, (left) operates on a severely brutalized dog who was rescued from the street, having suffered a skull fracture and other injuries, on the evening of the 5th anniversary ceremonies at the animal shelter.

08/08

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An animal shelter staffer waves a pumpkin gourd in a clockwise and then anti-clockwise circle, a lump of burning camphor atop the football-sized vegetable, to draw away the evil eye, and then smashes it upon the earth outside the premises.

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Arunachala Animal Sanctuary and Rescue Shelter marks five outstanding years of privately-funded public service by a small team, having performed 70,000 treatments, anti-rabies injections and sterilizations since January 2007. India. 10th January 2012

It's all in the numbers, and whether or not British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli actually said, "There are lies, damn lies and statistics!" the plain facts are that since January 2007 till September 2011, the project has recorded:

--4,438 ABC sterilizations

--14, 564 out-patient visits

--45,388 in-patient treatments

--found homes for 433 dogs and puppies, 11 cats and kittens, 2 donkeys, 1 horse, 2 calves and 2 cows.

--treated 1,382 animals other than dogs, including 249 cats, 377 birds, 305 cows and calves, 238 goats, lambs and sheep, 60 monkeys, 67 rabbits, 9 squirrels, 27 donkeys, 2 pigs, 20 peacocks, 9 parrots, 2 eagles, 7 horses, 2 bullocks, 4 deer, 2 snakes, 1 turkey and 1 owl!

In my humble opinion, for animals and pet owners, Tiruvannamalai is the best place to be in India.

In other words, here is compassion in action.