Dear Mark,   

Despite weeks of forewarning, saying farewell to animal protector Seema Mohanchandran was bitter-sweet.

After several years gracing Udaipur with her care for animals, Seema’s husband (and partner in kindness) Mohan was recently transferred to Calcutta.

The generous staff lunch she hosted–one of several over the years–ended in a tearful goodbye

Seema has fed 80 dogs in her neighborhood every day, and arranged for us to sterilize more than 200 dogs. And by “arranged” we don’t mean simply placed a request. She befriended, caught, contained, and often personally transported many of them. 

Ever resourceful, Seema has arranged for neighbors and friends to continue feeding and getting sterilized the four-legged friends she has protected for many years. They made an epic journey across India with their eight rescues, including Vayu, pictured here, who is paralysed in his hind legs.

We will miss Seema so much, but we take great joy knowing the dogs of Calcutta are in for a beautiful surprise

The beauty of a Blessing

Old, emaciated and dehydrated, this beautiful girl was admitted with a seriously infected wound on her face. When she arrived, we found that she had a twitching condition caused by the canine distemper virus. The virus was no longer infectious, but it left her with permanent neurological twitch. Her twitching was focalized to her mouth, and had caused one of her teeth to puncture through the roof of her mouth, leading to infection in her nasal passage.

The wound made it almost impossible for her to search for food or to eat. We started her on antibiotics and gave her IV fluids right away. With coaxing, she ate her first nutritious meal in a long time.

Day by day, she continued to gain weight and get stronger. But she was elderly and needed extra time, both to get strong on her feet and to beat the infection. She’ll never have complete control of her tongue, but in our eyes, she’s all the more beautiful for it. Meet Blessing today.

When a wound led to starvation, Animal Aid was her only chance. Make a donation today.

When Petey’s multiple problems were solved, what he wanted most was to be a good boy.

This elderly street dog seemed to know we were there to help. He sat right down and let us carefully carry him to our ambulance. Covered in scabs and wounds from mange, as well as a deep wound on his leg and a seriously infected eye, this poor gentle boy had almost reached the end of his life. With a deep maggot-filled wound on his leg, he could hardly walk.

His vision too was blurred by a wound near his eye that was probably caused by scratching. He was starving and even his toes were swollen and tender. When we reached our hospital we removed maggots from the deep wound on his leg, and began the series of creams, medicated baths and nutritious food that would change–and save!–his life. He’s not rambunctious or bouncy. Gentle Petey is one of those shining souls who just wants to be a good boy.

For the elderly who need a little extra help, make a donation today.

16 years later…welcome back to Animal Aid, brave lady.

When we rescued this elderly lady for a wound on her shoulder and trouble walking, she seemed hazily at ease. Her old crooked tail wagged peaceably and her eyes shone with sweetness behind blue cataracts.

While conducting her admission exam, we saw something curious in her ear: A tattoo, faded and illegible, but definitely made by our team from a much earlier era of Animal Aid, when we used to tattoo the dogs we sterilized. 

We know how old this lady is because we only tattooed the ears for a couple of years between 2005 and 2007, making this lady at least 16 years old–truly ancient for a street dog.

Hugs all around to gorgeous Lady, who may have sailed the seven seas for all we know. Her longevity is a testament to her neighbors who cared for her all these years, up until the point of calling us when she needed our help for the last time. We don’t think she will ever be mobile enough to be released, so Animal Aid will be her old-age home.

Achievements in July that you made possible

Looking good, Doing good.

Your purchase helps save a beauty.

100% of the proceeds go to our street animal rescues

Go shopping here

https://shop.animalaidunlimited.org/pages/jewelry

We thank you deeply for all you do, are, and inspire for animals.

Founding family Erika, Claire and Jim,

and the Animal Aid Unlimited team.

Regards Mark

Almost 500 cats and dogs were treated at a pop-up shelter in Athens in the course of one week as the wildfires raged (Photo: Dogs Voice)

How animal charities are racing to save dogs, deer, hedgehogs and tortoises from Greece wildfires

Volunteers have been working round the clock to rescue pets and wildlife – from cats to deer -caught up in the fierce blazes

Teams of volunteers from charity Anima have been going out to the areas where the wildfires have burnt to rescue and treat wildlife (Photo: Anima)

Among the vulnerable wildlife are chicks abandoned in nests as the fires take hold (Photo: Anima)

Greece’s wildfires have ravaged the landscape and taken their toll on the human population, but they have also been a disaster for animals – and animal charities are on the frontline of the scorched habitats.

Continue reading at:

How animal charities are racing to save dogs, deer, hedgehogs and tortoises from Greece wildfires (inews.co.uk)

Regards Mark

In one week, Dogs’ Voice treated 444 dogs, cats and one parrot at the shelter in the Greek capital (Photo: Dogs’ Voice)

Demand Justice for Six Kittens Brutally Tortured and Killed in Chicago

https://themessenger.com/news/girlfriend-turns-serial-kitten-killer-into-police-says-he-wouldnt-stop-buying-cats-to-torture-report

Girlfriend Turns Serial Kitten Killer Into Police, Says He Wouldn’t Stop Buying Cats to Torture: Report

He’s been arrested and charged with animal torture

Published 07/12/23

A 22-year-old Chicago man has been arrested and charged with aggravated animal cruelty after his girlfriend found videos and images on his phone of kittens being violently killed.

Thomas Martel is accused of killing at least six kittens in the past three months and buying lookalikes on Craigslist so his mother wouldn’t become suspicious, CWBCChicago reports.

Even more horrific details were revealed in a bail hearing this week reported by The Daily Beast, with prosecutors alleging he drowned and microwaved the kittens.

Judge Kelly McCarthy called it “a pattern” of “going back again and again.”

“Killing an animal, going out and get a replacement. Kill that one, get a replacement. Kill that one, get a replacement,” she said. “And, unfortunately, this was allowed to continue for a sustained period of time and numerous animals lost their lives.”

Martel’s girlfriend, who remains unnamed, says he told her “he enjoyed killing cats and he had been like that since he was eight years old.”

She alleges Martel bought at least five different, but similar-looking, kittens named Shelly over a few week period — each time the previous Shelly disappeared or died.

According to The Daily Beast, when she tried to tell him to stop buying cats he immediately called asking for money to buy another kitten.

She also told authorities he admitted to killing three cats in the microwave, which led them to discover a black, foul-smelling bag in the pantry with parts of “multiple” kittens.

Martel faces four counts of animal torture and two counts of aggravated animal cruelty.

He turned himself in to the police on Monday and is undergoing a week-long mental health evaluation, CWBCChicago reports.

The FBI’s Law Enforcement Bulletin in a post from 2021 discusses animal cruelty and its link to violence against humans. Studies suggest violence against animals is a predictor of future offenses, including domestic violence, arson and weapons charges.

Officials encourage those experiencing or witnessing domestic violence or violence against animals to contact The Humane Society of the United States or the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800.799.SAFE(7233).

***************************************************************

https://www.thedailybeast.com/chicago-man-accused-of-brutally-killing-cats-and-replacing-them-with-lookalikes?ref=scroll

Chicago Man Accused of Brutally Killing Cats and Replacing Them With Lookalikes

HORRIFIC

Some of the kittens may have been microwaved, a prosecutor said.

Dan Ladden-Hall

A Chicago man has been accused of killing at least six kittens since May and buying lookalike replacements of the animals so that his mother wouldn’t become suspicious.

Prosecutors have charged Thomas Martel, 22, with four counts of animal torture as well as two counts of aggravated animal cruelty, according to CWBChicago.

At a bail hearing Tuesday, Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney Sarah Dale-Schmidt detailed horrific allegations of brutality in which she claimed Martel drowned and possibly microwaved the kittens.

Police reportedly became aware of the alleged cruelty last month when Martel’s girlfriend gave authorities disturbing images and videos she found on his phone, including one picture of a living kitten captioned “just before I murdered her.”

Prosecutors claim he also recently told his partner that “he enjoyed killing cats and he had been like that since he was eight years old.”

At one point during his alleged spree, Martel’s girlfriend said he kicked her out after she told him he had to stop buying cats—only to immediately call asking for more money to buy another kitten.

Martel’s girlfriend also said he later told her he had microwaved three cats and put them in the pantry of his apartment, where police subsequently found a bag containing what looked like parts of “‘multiple’ kittens,” according to Dale-Schmidt.

Martel turned himself into police on Monday.

Regards Mark and Diana

Dear Mark,   

When we consider the quality of life of animals who are other-abled, it’s joyous to see how much love and play are core elements that make a life worth living. 

Although first-time visitors may express sadness in seeing dogs with physical impairments, our volunteers almost always express finding, after even just a few days, that it’s not the number of legs that measure happiness.

Instead, the dogs’ happiness is expressed in their play, curiosity, mischief and in the friendships they form with other dogs and people.

Thank you for helping us provide not only a safety net for the healing, the blind, the 2-and-3-leggers, the oldies and youngies, but also place where every bed can become a trampoline when the mood strikes! 

Transformed by trust, Cheeto won’t stop playing!

Cheeto was in excruciating pain from a laceration to the side of his face, and cried out in fear when we approached. We gently placed a blanket over his eyes to calm him down enough to let us carry him to our ambulance.

He was so forlorn during his first treatment and we found the wounds were very deep. But within just days the swelling had reduced, his pain was subsiding and suddenly he became a whirlwind of love! Meet Cheeto now!

Help put the life back in the party for someone hurting. Make a donation today.

Trapped in a sewer, a paralysed dog needed our help to get out.

We’d received a call that a dog was lying in a sewage drain, unable to move. We found him forlorn and worried, sitting perfectly still as the cold sewage water rushed past him. 

We found that his hind legs were not responding when we checked for sensation, indicating spinal injury. Spinal injuries have different rates of recovery depending on the severity, and we were very worried by the lack of sensation in his toes. But we gave him a chance, and began his bedrest and physical therapy in hopes that the sensation and movement would come back to his legs.

After several weeks working with him daily and helping him stand, Hopper surprised us all!

For someone in desperate need of help: Make a donation today.

More shade and shelter for our biggest boys and girls.

Preparing for this year’s monsoon season which began a few weeks ago, we have built more shade throughout the shelter including an addition in the large animal hospital, giving more space where the biggest boys and girls can go for a nap or night’s sleep without getting wet or muddy. 

Thank you for giving us the means to continually improve Animal Aid’s shelter each year.

Your wonderful donations at work!

Our June statistics reflect an increased number of spay-neuter surgeries thanks to the re-opening of our Animal Birth Control (ABC) Center, and we thank our donors for enabling this wonderful boost

Lovely ways to help animals.

100% of the proceeds go to our street animal rescues

https://shop.animalaidunlimited.org/

We thank you deeply for all you do, are, and inspire for animals.

Founding family Erika, Claire and Jim,

and the Animal Aid Unlimited team.

I am attempting to get more about this years Yulin dog meat festival; Julia de Cadenet, founder of NoToDogMeat, said the controversial Yulin Dog Meat Festival in China could be the biggest for years as organisers try to make a spectacle for tourists.

We are expecting this year’s festival to be even bigger than in the pandemic years, as covid restrictions have now been lifted.

Lychee and Dog Meat Festival – Wikipedia

Read a lot more here:

Chinese dog meat festival to be biggest for years as organisers ‘put on show’ for tourists | UK | News | Express.co.uk

Appeal – we need a war chest – TotalGiving™ – Yulin 2023, We Need A ‘War Chest’ – NoToDogMeat Foundation – Fundraising Page

Yulin Dog Meat Festival 2023 in China – Dates (rove.me)

More to be published as info is obtained.

Regards Mark