Our canine welfare centre at Bhamlada |
Jeev Raksha Kendra

When stray dogs
are given a home, where they are loved, and they love back in return, it is an experience
that reaches out of the crude dimensions of life.
When neither for money or for any financial gain, animals are cared for with love and due
respect, the person involved forms a direct link with something beyond the material world.
This feeling is not enjoyed by an employee of an animal welfare centre, as he or she would
be doing the job for money like any other job, but for a person who is giving his time,
energy and resources to care for animals that have no other place to go and need care, the
experience creates a spiritual opportunity, an opportunity to link directly with a greater
consciousness.
From my experience I also know that though many people may talk a lot about animal welfare
as it is fashionable to portray oneself as an "animal lover", very few are
actually willing to go through the trouble and expense of looking after stray and homeless
animals in reality.
I never like to associate with such people and shun the company of such people. Reality is
a day by day situation with a lot of hard work and constant care.
Our Jeev Raksha Kendra does not have servants as I find that reliable servants are
impossible to get for this kind of job in this part of India.
Arup and I do the work ourselves. When I am unable to do so or Arup is not here one person
has to do the entire job in addition to other work. Vaccination is also important.
Each dog has his or her own temperament and own character. Each dog requires personal
attention and care. Problems come up every now and then and the problems can vary from
tick infestation to the treatment of diseases. Proper feeding is necessary for each dog
and the feeding bowls have to be really clean. Water has to be changed regularly for
drinking purposes.
Cleaning has to be done twice a day, so it is all hard work. Yet, it is a rewarding work
and the love, genuine and pure, that the canaine friends give us is worth all the pain and
labour that we have to take to run this canaine welfare centre presently having fourteen
inmates.
They have their own run about time in the garden and feel very much at home with us. Love
creates a relationship that is without social hypocrisy or pretensions.
It is of no use to tell other people to adopt stray dogs as in northern India people are
not interested in such work unless they get paid for it or gain a lot of social milage out
of it.
In any way no one will care of stray dogs by doing the work himself or herself in this
region of India. My own world free from the compulsions of social hypocrisies and
pressures, accommodates the canine welfare centre with love and consideration within my
limited resources and abilities.
by Prabal Pramanik




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Dog Vaccination Camp
Organized by
Prabal Pramanik's Academy of Arts
To view click here
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Every civilized society should take care of stray animals.
Considerate attitude and compassion towards stray animals is one of the important signs of
civilization.
Even in the times of Mourya Emperor Ashoka, we find from the edicts of emperor Ashoka that
many centers to look after and treat animals existed.
A society where most individuals think only of gratifying selfish self interests is a low
grade society, even if that society is wealthy in financial aspects.
The philosophy to taking care of animals with compassion is found in Buddhas
teachings and Chitanya Mahaprabhu the great Vaishnav Saint said that one who renders
"seva" or service for "Jiva", (that includes humans and animals)
serves God.
Taking care of stray animals in a sincere and regular way is one of the best ways of
earning good Karma.
No one can do all the good in the world, but every one has the ability to do a great
amount of good if he or she wants to do so. The will to take care of stray animals is a
positive attitude that should be appreciated and nurtured.
A huge amount of wealth and resources are wasted for ego satisfaction through perverted
ostentatious life style in human society by people who call themselves wealthy, yet
without the development of compassion or "karuna" for the sake of compassion, in
their characters, such wealthy but unfeeling people are perverts only.
Perverts without compassion can not be called successful by any true standard as they are
deprived of one of the most important and basic human qualities.
Taking care personally of stray animals on a regular basis not only builds a better and
safer social atmosphere, but also develops the mental faculties of the person rendering
such positive and dedicated service.
The cultivation of patience and compassion is important for the development of human
nature. I have found that love is the greatest universal quality, and stray animals when
looked after will show overflowing love, for the person who really cares for them.
Our canine welfare center is based on this philosophy.
My mother Dr. Kalyani Pramanik and I had been caring for stray and
helpless dogs since 1968 in Calcutta. I was a school student at that time and my love for
animals was encouraged by my kind hearted mother who was an animal lover herself.
A stray dog in a city or in any village lead an uncaredfor miserable life, and is a social
problem if not taken care of in a proper way.
Understanding the basic truth of life, that it is proper to maintain programmes to care
for and check the breeding of stray dogs, is necessary in any civilized society.
From the Mesolithic age, man has domesticated dogs. The canine species are the first
amongst all domesticated animals. They had been man's companions and friends for thousands
of years and have remained with human habitats as their evolution into present forms have
been caused by man.
It is healthy for any environment to have stray animals properly cared for. There are
institutions such as Indian Society for Prevention of cruelly to Animals, but judging from
their track record in the context of reality, I can not place much or any faith on them.
Only when sensitive and understanding people take up the work of looking after helpless
stray dogs voluntarily, this problem is tackled in a humane way.
My mother Dr. Kalyani Pramanik and I had been doing just that in addition to our other
work for decades. When I came to Bhamlada I brought seventeen dogs in dog boxes on truck
with me. In West Bengal, the concept of caring for stray dogs is not uncommon and may
people love and care for stray dogs. There are quite a few animal welfare societies that
work without the thought of making money from this labour of love.
Yet in Northern India it is rare to find anyone with enough sensitivity or love for
animals to care for stray dogs. The concept of sincere labour of love for helpless animals
in a serious and selfless manner is new here, so many people here may not understand the
need of such service.
At present we have fifteen inmates at canine care centre at Bhamlada. This is the first
and only canine care centre in Dhar Block. Mr. Arup Chandra and myself feed, clean and
care for the dogs. When one thinks of the immense work load we have already, it seems
nearly an impossible task, but as it is a labour of love, we never grudge it.
Moreover, we are amply rewarded by the real love shown to us by grateful canine
companions, here in Bhamlada.
by Prabal Pramanik

by Prabal Pramanik
(Transalated by Surjit Thakur)
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