Article by Dr. Arun Rangasamy and Uthra

For many animal welfarists (and perhaps some vegans) in India, Karuna Society for Animals and Nature needs no introduction, thanks to the Plastic Cow Project(1). As one would expect, the Plastic Cow Project is one among the list of impressive projects implemented by Karuna Society. We were fortunate to get the chance to visit Karuna Society and interact with its President, Clementien Pauws and Vice-President, Romula DSilva. We believe that many vegans would be pleased to know more about the activities of Karuna Society. We are happy sharing about the visit on our blog.

It is common to find many differently-abled dogs and cats at veterinary hospitals-cum-shelters, but what makes Karuna Society special is that it hosts a variety of animal species dogs, cats, a large number of rescued cows, bulls, and buffaloes, and also a few equines, monkeys, and even a camel that was rescued from slaughter. We also got the chance to meet a couple of peacock and deer visitors at the hospital.

For many animals in the shelter (particularly the ones who have lost their limbs and the abandoned or rescued), Karuna Shelter is their home. Karuna Shelter hosts the rest of the animals (those admitted for ABC and treatment for particular injuries or diseases, with or without foster parents), until they recover, or sometimes even throughout their lives.

Vice President Romula DSilva took us on a tour of the shelter, providing us information about Karuna Society and introducing the inmates. These animals are brought in either by people (foster parents or public) or those involved with Karuna Society (including Romula and her daughter, Roshni) on receiving information about them. We were dumbfounded when Romula introduced us to a non-human visitor (a wild monkey engaging the permanent monkey-residents, who have lost most of their limbs)! Although the visitor monkey is very mischievous, he gets his share of goodies (including yummy organic mangoes) that his friends are treated to.

While seeing an isolated rabid dog who had arrived at the shelter a short while ago made our heart heavy, the selfless work Karuna Society is doing, the dedication of its employees, and a brief meeting with a foreign volunteer (a woman attending a dog with ticks) moved us deeply. Romula later informed us that sometimes young volunteers from different countries take time from their vacation in India to serve the animals at Karuna Society.

Puttaparthi is largely a vegetarian town and after our visit to the shelter, we had a sumptuous vegan meal at a vegetarian restaurant with Romula. Romula, who along with a healer friend, was originally interested in establishing a center that cares for aged and terminally ill humans, recollected how Sri Sathya Sai Baba influenced her to shift her focus to non-human animals, how she met Clementien and they came together to start Karuna Society for Animals.

Romula also informed us about the organic products for sale at the Karuna Organic Shop. The shop sells organic and fresh vegetables and seasonal fruits, as well as a host of other products including the single ingredient organic peanut butter (one of the sweetest foods we have ever had!), roasted organic sesame seeds, organic lemon grass, and more.

Going to Puttaparthi just to get hold of the sweet and flavorful organic mangoes is worth the effort. Romula, who is also involved in instilling compassion in local schoolchildren, runs the shop that also serves as an information center for Karuna Society.

After lunch, we visited Karuna Societys organic farm that produces raw materials, greens, herbs, seasonal vegetables, and fruits for Ahimsa Organic Products Pvt. Ltd., whose profit goes back into Karuna to serve the animals. We also got a chance to interact with Clementien, President of Karuna Society, who manages the farm.

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Vegan India!