Genevieve Samson reports on working in Goa
After daydreaming for years about doing something to make a difference in animal welfare, towards the end of 2002 I finally decided that there was no time like the present. As a tourist in Goa two years before I had stumbled across IAR’s clinic in Assagao. I had fed a number of stray dogs near my hotel (doesn’t everybody do that?) and had fallen in love with one young dog in particular. I knew that life would be hard for her when I left. Another seasoned visitor told me about the sterilisation clinic: the best thing I could do to try and secure the puppy’s future was to Donate in order to have her spayed. The memory of the clinic and the work that they do stayed with me. Once I had made the decision to do something positive, I contacted IAR to offer my services for four weeks at the beginning of 2003 when I would be on leave from my job as a Financial Analyst in Ford Financial. Fortunately Alan Knight accepted my offer! A copy of my CV and a flurry of emails later, I found myself agreeing to do some promotional work for IAR in Goa, helping to raise their profile and thus attract more visitors and desperately needed funds.
In preparation for the trip, I decided to raise some money for IAR,with great encouragement from Ford Financial and using photographs supplied by IAR. A vigorous campaign rapidly gained momentum, with posters, powerpoint presentations, constant updates, raffles, ’Dress Down’ days and many emails. In total I managed to raise a very satisfying £1,300. Once people realised I was actually going out to Goa to see the facilities and the work for myself, their generosity was amazing. One of my champions spent hours making her own spring rolls to sell to colleagues at work and donated all the proceeds to my cause!
I finally arrived in Goa, somewhat nervously, on 16 February this year. A little off (or up) the beaten track, a few signposts indicate the way to the clinic for visitors that seek it out. It occupies a small concentrated area, shielded by trees and beautiful shrubs. There are wrought iron gates and a decorative boundary wall through which the odd stray cow climbs to raid the water and supplies of greens that are bought in for the current inmates - two cows, two calves and a donkey! In three years the clinic has made significant progress - gone are the crude cages that had been in place in 2000, replacing them are three properly constructed kennel blocks, sheltered and cool and - more importantly - much more comfortable and secure for the dogs, and easier to maintain for the staff. Now there is the clinic and reception area, kennel blocks and cattery, with a surrounding compound that houses the clinic’s own dogs - all twenty of them in differing shapes, sizes and personalities - and half a dozen cats. Blackie, a particularly noisy favourite, has to have a special mention here.
I spent time with the office staff, helping them to realise the opportunities that visitors represent, devising leaflets and questionnaires to be distributed to the visitors. These are not only crucial in spreading the word when people return to their hotels, resorts, and favourite restaurants, they are also invaluable in helping IAR get to know its visitors and build upon these relationships. Among my favourite moments were walks with the volunteers, Karen, Tasha and John who are all highly dedicated individuals. We made regular excursions to Pascale’s shack for refreshments for the dog walkers and Tiger biscuits for all the dogs who devoured them at the rate of around twenty packets per day! We would each walk a dog, accompanied by at least half a dozen of the centre dogs, who saw it as their solemn duty to make sure that we all made it there and back intact, with the odd biscuit thrown in!
Every day I spent some time with each animal , tending to its various needs. I went out with the drivers, and I must make special mention here of Aggi, who was so adept at catching the dogs sympathetically, with the minimum of fuss. We collected puppies and injured dogs, some with the most horrific maggot wounds. I accompanied Kevin, one of the vets (he must have been a rally driver in a former life!) witnessing the difficulties of darting an animal as large as a bull!
While the PR work didn’t always go according to plan, (it was Goa after all!), I felt I made a lot of very positive contacts. There are some great people out there who really do care, the important thing is to get out there, talk to them and always acknowledge and thank people and businesses for their contribution.