Whilst Goa is a popular holiday and backpacker destination, it also has a large number of cattle freely roaming in the streets, which can often cause problems. Stray dogs also end up wandering the beaches due to the numerous beach shacks and restaurants open in the tourist season.
During the summer and monsoon season (May to mid-September), the restaurants along the beach close and the dogs no longer have access to food. During this time of year, volunteer from this program take cooked food to the beach to feed the dogs.
As for the cattle and other animals who get injured in road accidents, they are brought to the rescue centre. Here they are treated, given medication, and taken to the stable to regain their health, and then given away for adoption so that they do not end up on the roads again.
Volunteers will mainly be maintaining the rescue centre, taking care of the injured animals, going out to rescue injured animals when required, assisting the local veterinarian, and also feeding the dogs on the beaches during the months of May to September.
This project gives you the opportunity to make a real contribution to the rescue and rehabilitation of sick, injured, and orphaned animals. Tasks will vary throughout several rescue centres within the Northern Goa region. You will be directed by local rescue experts in daily rescue and rehabilitation tasks, which may include collecting and transporting injured, orphaned, and sick animals, animal care duties, basic first aid as well as the construction of animal enclosures.
You will play a major role in assisting the process of rehabilitation, recovery and release, especially for the orphaned animals that have had one or both parents killed in a road accident and would otherwise not survive.
As a general rule, we recommend never to look at an animal directly in the eye, when you first meet them, as this can be seen as a sign of aggression. Try to build trust before going near them.
Staff at the project will be able to give you more advice on how to interact with the animals, but below is a few basics…
Kittens and Cats
Wipe the eyes and body with warm salty water, and pat dry. Clean litter trays and cages.
Play and spend time stimulating them.
Puppies and Dogs
Wipe with warm salty water and pat dry. Groom and treat for ticks and fleas if any.
Give them lots of exercises and help with training lessons, giving them treats when well behaved. This can be a very important training when they go to their new homes.
Calves
Wipe with warm salty water.
Bottle-feeding. Make sure your head is away from theirs and your feet are away from the “kick distance”. Wipe the calf’s mouth and chin with a damp cloth after feeding.
Cows
Cows are gentle creatures, but always be aware of your surroundings, when you are with the cows.
Grooming: This is very important for calves and cows. Again, make sure you are not in the kick distance. Make deep sounds when grooming, this comforts them. Massage in circular strokes on the side of their face.
Goats
Love being groomed and are very friendly, but shy.
This project would be conducted in the mornings. If you wish, you can continue the program in the afternoon as well.
Location
Goa, Kerala
The beach goers destination with the right mix of infrastructure and order coupled with that crazy un-ordered Indian charm. Goa is a really fun destination, with plenty of party goers and a relaxed funky vibe great for the free spirited types who want a more ‘westernized’ taste of India!
Project Tasks
Provide care for orphaned, injured, and sick animals.
Assist in grooming, feeding, washing, and exercising the animals.
Help with transporting injured animals back to the shelter.
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