Arunachala Animal Sanctuary & Rescue Shelter

***To help an animal suffering a medical emergency in Tiruvannamalai, please call Arunachala Animal Sanctuary & Rescue Shelter at 944-224-6108 or 944-234-4108 or email arunachalashelter@yahoo.com

Arunachala Animal Sanctuary & Rescue Shelter treats sick and injured animals in Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu. This includes dogs, cows, donkeys, goats, sheep, pigs, monkeys, cats, rabbits, birds, and a variety of wildlife.

They run a clinic, hospital, sanctuary, hospice in Tiruvannamalai. They also provide Birth and Rabies Control, Emergency Services, and adoptions; both on the street and at their clinic and sanctuary.

They are located at Chengam Road (Next to the Government Art College) in Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu, South India.

Background and History

The founding of Arunachala is an amazing story. In 2006, a 70-year old American named Leslie Robinson decided to retire in the Himalayas. He planned to spend his time writing and contemplating. On the way, he stopped over for a few days in the city of Tiruvannamalai, one of the most sacred pilgrimage places in all of India.

Street Dog “Cullings”

There is no animal control organization in India. In 2006 there was no spay/neuter program in Tiruvannamalai. The city’s dog population was managed by periodic “cullings”, which is the reduction of a wild animal population by selective slaughter.

Cullings had been taking place in Tiruvannamalai for over 40 years. Sadly, they were done by clubbing and strangulation; among other methods. As fate would have it, the next “culling” of the city’s street dogs was scheduled to take place while Robinson was there. He made over 100 calls in the next several days.

Finally, the city agreed to cancel the culling if someone started a spay and neuter program. Since there was no one else to do it, Robinson volunteered and in 2007 Arunachala Animal Sanctuary & Rescue Shelter was botn.

Arunachala’s Mission

Arunachala’s original mission was to save street dogs from slaughter. Their mission has now expanded to prevent cruelty and neglect of all animals. They do this through sterilization and anti-rabies programs, advocating for fair treatment of work animals, and encouraging witnesses of abuse to speak up.

Want to learn more about dogs? Check out my Top 20 Amazing Dog Facts blog!

Animals Rescued

Arunachala has helped an amazing number of animals. They were founded in 2007. Incredibly, by 2020 they had achieved the following:

– Given inpatient treatment to 163,790 animals

– Performed 6,569 emergency rescues

– Sterilized 8,014 dogs

– Administered 17,328 anti-rabies injections

– Treated 58,203 animals in the clinic

– Found homes for 1,219 animals

Arunachala has treated 5,965 animals other than dogs (This includes cows, donkeys, goats, sheep, pigs, monkeys, cats, rabbits, birds, and a variety of wildlife). Check out these amazing Dog Rescue Stories!

Birth and Rabies Control

Arunachala has a large spay/neuter and rabies vaccination program. They currently do between 60 and 100 sterilizations/anti-rabies injections per month. This saves at least 7,000 puppies each year from being born into a life of suffering and neglect on the streets.

Homeless dogs are captured, vaccinated, sterilized, and returned to where they were picked up after they have healed. To reduce the dog’s stress, they are handled as gently as possible, reassured, and given lots of love during their stay.

Arunachala Animal Clinic

The clinic was established to treat homeless dogs, many of whom were suffering natural injuries, illnesses, or were victims of abuse. Although the clinic specializes in caring for small animals, they are willing to help any animal in need, even large animals like horses and bullocks.

Because there are no other small animal specialists within 47 miles of Tiruvannamalai, the clinic has also become a treatment center for dogs with owners. Each month, between 150-250 dogs receive care at the clinic, and some need to return for follow-up treatments. Almost all services are provided free of cost.

Arunachala Animal Hospital

Arunachala provides full hospital care as required. Anything from an overnight stay to creatures requiring or needing care for months. The intensive care ward at Arunachala’s hospital isolates severely ill or injured animals and provides meticulous, focused care for an extended period.

Arunachala Animal Sanctuary

Any animals that are unlikely to do well on the streets are offered solace in the sanctuary compound. They will be well-fed, properly cared for, and loved for the rest of their natural lives. The animals – including dogs, cows, and other livestock – are not caged. They are instead able to freely move about the compound as they please.

Donations

The U.S. dollar is strong in India. Look how far your donation will go:

– 50 cents provides rabies protection for one Precious Dog

– $25 covers the cost of catching, neutering, loving, and vaccinating a street dog

– $100 provides a month’s food for ten of our beloved puppies/dogs

– $500 covers cost of treating 150 Precious Outpatients in our clinic!

– $3,200 pays for the entire shelter for one full week

Current Needs

Arunachala currently has several needs. Their activities have expanded and they are running out of space. They need new land and a new building.

They also need more hospital facilities, individual intensive treatment spaces, large retaining cages, and another isolation area for infectious diseases. Lastly, the shelter needs a vehicle to serve as a mobile clinic so they can help animals on the street – and in the villages. And possibly treat larger animals that can’t be transported.

“Demonstrative Love”

Arunachala believes the power of demonstrative love will provide animals with deeper healing. They understand that to truly change the lives of these animals, they must change the relationship between people and animals. In Tiruvannamalai, they have successfully transformed the animal-human relationship by encouraging kind, humane treatment of animals, and preventing animal cruelty and neglect.

They show love and gentleness when capturing dogs, interacting with homeless animals, and caring for animals in the clinic. This is in fact a teachable moment. When they see the reassurance, care and love given to the dogs, it touches something inside of them. 

Follow Arunachala Animal Sanctuary on Social Media

Website: https://www.arunachalasanctuary.com/index.php

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/arunachalasanctuary/

$ Donate: https://www.arunachalasanctuary.com/to-donate-and-other-ways-of-helping/to-donate

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