After the August deluge in 2018 and the landslides in 2019 ravaged Kerala beyond repair, several tales of heroic survival and rescue missions were reported from all corners of the state. But a Thrissur-based woman, Sally Varma, had no time to spare for people devastated by the floods. Because, she was too busy with animals caught in the floods and landslides. In the mad rush to rescue people, nobody had time to think about the animals and they were left to die at several calamity-hit spots in the state.
Sally, the outreach coordinator for Humane Society International/India (HSI/India), was the one woman army which took care of scores of animals affected by the floods and landslides in Kerala.
Sally worked in various parts of Nilambur and Malappuram for 12 days doing animal rescue and feeding starving animals.
She distributed around 600 kg of dog feed, 2,500 kg of cattle fodder and 100 kg of goat fodder for the starving animals in Nilambur even as their owners stayed in relief camps. She also rescued a cat and relocated four dogs to safer places from Kavalappara, where a deadly landslide killed scores of people and buried several houses.
She visited Nedungayam, Mundakadavu, Mathilmoola, Kavalappara, Pothukallu and Chungathara finding and feeding animals with the help of Vinod, a local jeep driver from Karulai.
For Sally and her organisation animal rescue in Kerala is not a new affair. HSI/India had worked in Malappuram district for two years doing vaccination and sterilisation for street dogs. During the floods in 2018, the HSI/India team helped save more than 1,000 animals from different parts of Malappuram, Thrissur, Alappuzha and Pathanamthitta.
"Last year, floods occurred when an eight-member team of HSI/India was working on an animal birth control programme in Nilambur. Then we took part in animal rescue operations. This time it was easier for me to work in Nilambur as I was familiar with the areas," Sally told Onmanorama.
"Whenever a disaster strikes there are always a lot of people involved for rescue and relief work for humans but animals are mostly neglected and die. Last year, many animals died inside cages. This time a lot of awareness was given to untie and un-cage the animals during disasters but still there were several instances where animals died confined," Sally said.
She said she was happy to work in the Adivasi colonies in Mundakkadavu where she fed over 50 dogs. "The tribes people don't chain their dogs. Hence these animals can run to safety without the help of their owners," she said.
Sally was also moved by the affection showed by some people who knew her from her works in the areas last year. So when some people in the relief camps in and around Kavalappara saw her with the animal fodder, they knew the animals they had left back at homes wouldn't starve and die.
HSI/India work in calamity-hit areas with the help of the state government and the National Disaster Response Force. The veterinary clinic at Chunkathara in Nilambur was used as the animal relief centre this time.
Asked about the challenges she faced during the rescue efforts this time, Sally pointed out the difficulties in coordinating with the state departments. She said cattle feed was not released to the affected areas even days after the calamity.
"We need to have a proper plan for animal rescue before the next calamity strikes the state," Sally said, calling for a separate department for animal disaster management.
Sally, whose love and affection for animals from her early years, was voted as one of the 100 Women Achievers of India in the category of Animal Welfare, initiated by the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
HSI responds to natural disasters around the world to assist animals and communities in need. In June, HSI stepped in to provide emergency treatment to dogs, cats, poultry, horses and other animals affected by the Volcan de Fuego eruptions in Guatemala. In 2017, HSI helped more than 6,200 animals affected by deadly earthquakes in Mexico.
