Friends of GAWT

News Update

February 2011

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Bites . . . .

Bite: “We tip our hats off to Goa Animal Welfare Trust. Since 2003 they have vaccinated a total of 25,000 canines and felines.” Global Alliance for World Rabies Day, 2010).

Number of animals vaccinated against rabies by us in 2010 = 5000

Bite: Number of animals sterilized by us in 2010 = 2000

(Worth remembering that each one of these strays would have produced up to eight new puppies or kittens during the year, and these in turn would have started breeding during the year as well).

Bite: If you are thinking of walking, running, cycling or swimming a marathon, paragliding, holding a coffee morning, shaving your beard/head/mustache, or any other activity which could be associated with raising funds, and you are looking for a ‘good cause’ to hang it on, please, please, please, remember us.

Get in touch with us at friendsofgawt@gawt.org or info2010@gawt.org for ways in which we can help.

We urgently need funds, and your support.

Our Valentines Day card to our

GAWT Friends

with thanks to Guardian cartoonist Steve Appleby

Hello friends of GAWT

Since our last newsletter in November 2010, a lot has happened. So many things to tell you, I am not sure where to start!

Read on to find out more . . .

Clodagh

Editor

Email: friendsofgawt@gawt.org

Changes at GAWT Canacona

We were approached 18 months ago by Janie O’Connor and some friends in Chaudi, Canacona and asked if we could take their small project under the GAWT banner. After complex negotiations during which all our policies, procedures and accountability responsibilities were explained, and accepted, we welcomed the group into our organisation. We provided a full support team, including an onsite veterinary surgeon, a van and administrative help.

However, last November (2010), Janie advised us that they had decided to once more go out on their own, and wished to leave the GAWT ‘umbrella’. It was agreed that the period from 15th November to 31st December 2010 was an appropriate time for them to become independent of us, including setting up their own website, Facebook, and bank account. During this period we continued to support her with administrative and veterinary help and medicines. We also gave her a van, at a much reduced price, to help her in the future. Janie has now advised that she has found new premises which she will be moving to shortly. We are delighted for her and wish her all the best in this new endeavour.

Effective from January 1st 2011 the separation became official. However, we have continued to provide weekly veterinary services, as requested, and they are of course able to send any sick animals to Curchorem for treatment, for which GAWT will in future charge.

When Janie and her group joined us we signed a contract with Chaudi and Canacona District Council to collect and sterilise dogs from the area, and this is now implemented through our Animal Welfare Centre at Curchorem. This contract will run for at least the next five years.

“I'm back and I made it, 407km over 5 days!”

Facebook message at 15.58, 20th November 2010

Some said she couldn’t do it – the humidity alone would make it impossible; others sent her many, many messages of support. Some of you sponsored her, for which many thanks. We were a bit anxious about her safety and health. And then came the message above, flashing up on our Facebook site. This is Rebecca Dyball’s impressions of her ride through Rajasthan to raise funds for us.

“I rode through rivers which had burst their banks, crop fields, dusty tracks, desert terrain and very sticky mud, or at least that's what I like to think of it being - mud. The roads were mainly very poor, squeezing through tiny gaps, and narrowly missing potholes and buffalo is a skill, which is yet to be mastered elegantly. Over-excited children, women working the fields in beautiful saris, lorry horns, peacocks, temples, pigs dashing to the nearest puddle, brightly clad camels, working elephants, all helped lighten the mood when the sun, roads and rain had taken their toll. But, what really kept me going, was knowing that I was raising much needed funds for Goa Animal Welfare Centre at Curchorem which I love so much.

“It was a real struggle at times, I had an awful chest infection; but the truth is, my discomfort was of no comparison to the suffering our beautiful little creatures endure; this thought kept me strong. I loved every minute of it so much, I'll be doing it all over again next year. I'll keep you posted about my plans, and fun- raising events. Thank you so much for following my challenge”.

Beccy - a huge, huge “thank you” from everyone involved with Goa Animal Welfare Trust. You raised a wonderful £1,300 for us, and you know how much we need it.

By the time you read this, Rebecca will be back in Goa on holiday and spending time in the Shelter in Curchorem, taking photographs for our website and Facebook. A tiny little bird has whispered Cuba is the next country to be conquered by Rebecca and her trusty bike.

Our new community project

At the beginning of the New Year we extended our outreach services to three villages which do not have a surgery nearby. Our mobile veterinary clinic now visits between 4 and 6pm on the following days:

· Cavalossim on Tuesday

· Chinchinim on Wednesday

· Chandor on Thursday

In each village we are at the same church where our anti-rabies camps are held.

Dr Vishnu, one of our resident vets, is on hand to offer advice, carry out first aid, give vaccinations, and make arrangements for sterilisations. We also bring along our mobile shop, staffed by volunteers, so that owners can buy soaps, worm tablets, collars, leads and any medicines prescribed by the vet.

We are looking for volunteers to help us at these visits, so if you are interested, and have 2 or 3 hours available, please come along and meet us. The work is interesting, we meet of lot of very nice people and dogs, and we have a lot of fun.

Welcome to our new staff

Dr Vishnu, who joined us late last year, has a Master’s degree in veterinary surgery, and is experienced in working with large animals. He is the vet usually present at our weekly outreach visits in Chinchinim, Chandor and Cavallosim.

Sunil Korajjkar set up the wildlife organisation Green Cross-Goa fifteen years ago and was its Chairman until quite recently. He has joined us to set up our own Wildlife Department, and is already training our boys in wildlife rescue. Recently he has been asked by the forestry department to find ways to help farmers having problems with local monkeys in Canacona. He has also taken on our education project , and started a programme of visiting schools together with our Trustee Carmina, taking some snakes along (we currently have a boa, and two others at the shelter). There are photos of him at work on our Facebook site Goa Animal Welfare Trust (GAWT). Sunil and Carmina are also responding to animal cruelty cases reported to us, and have already been in action several times. .

An easy way to support us – Join the 100 Club today!

This Club has been making news since it started. It is the brainchild of Charmian Bryan, our co-founder, and is a fund raising arm of GAWT. There are currently members in Goa and across Europe.

The 100+ Club holds regular socials event at various locations in South Goa. There is also a monthly prize draw, which is run for the benefit of the shelter.

For just Rs.100/- per month (approximately £1.30p or €0.80), you will be given your own unique membership number and automatically be entered into the monthly draw.

The 100+ club has directly funded several items of equipment for the GAWT shelter, including an insect “zapper”, medicine fridge, puppy cages, operating theatre lamp, storage cupboards, plus general repairs & decorations.

Join Now for 12 months - get a further two months free.

1stPrize  Rs.750/- ● 2ndPrize Rs.500/- ● 3rdPrize Rs.300/-

European Members

Why not join the 100+ club and automatically donate any winnings back to the shelter? You can increase the value of your donation to GAWT without doing anything – and we all know you can’t take your winning rupees out of Goa – but for £1.30 / €0.80 per month – it’s loose change J and it would make so much difference!!

Go to our website www.gawt.org, click on Donations, and use the PayPal button.

When you are asked for any special instructions please state 100+ club membership.

If you prefer, and live in the UK, you can send a cheque for £20 direct to Friends of Goa Animal Welfare Trust, 68B Hadyn Park Road, London W12 9AG. We acknowledge every donation.

We will then give you a membership number.

If you live in India, please contact us: Waiting on info on this from Colin/Charmian

100+ Club - January 2011 Winners

3rd Prize	Sir Dennis Foreman	300/-	winning number 101
2nd Prize	Sheila Clay	500/-	winning number 280
1st Prize	Dr Usha Omprakash	750/-	winning number 104

Click here to see a short video

Check out our website: www.gawt.org

Designer: Linda Cree (Volunteer)