World | India
Expatriate couple puts animals first
The two-bedroom semi-detached rented house of the Harrisons comprises a makeshift shelter for donkeys as they feel strongly for the animals, which toil hard at construction sites across the city.
- By Nilima Pathak, Correspondent
- Published: 00:00 July 10, 2010
- Image Credit: Nilima Pathak/Gulf News
- British couple Jean and Bob Harrison work together to treat a mistreated donkey. The couple have become well known for their efforts, but their neighbours have asked the municipality to close their make-shift animal sanctuary.
New Delhi: Few people consider helping animals when they are themselves in their late 60s. But British couple Jean and Bob Harrison feel differently. Residents of an upmarket colony in Gurgaon, Haryana, a state bordering New Delhi, they have dedicated their lives to the cause of donkey welfare.
The two-bedroom semi-detached rented house of the Harrisons comprises a makeshift shelter for donkeys as they feel strongly for the animals, which toil hard at construction sites across the city.
"The well-located house enables us to respond quickly to calls for help from animal owners in the nearby villages, on the worksites and donkey encampments," Bob says.
Since 1994, the Harrisons have been associated with Jeevashram, an animal hospital and shelter home located in Rajokri village, about 13 kilometres from Delhi on National Highway 8 between Delhi and Jaipur.
"In Delhi and Gurgaon, owners of pets have very little knowledge about animal care. It's not just the donkeys that are uncared for; people in rural areas wish to be rid of even the cow and the street dog," Bob says.
Lack of compassion
"Most vets are under-trained and have no affection for animals. Some do not even want to touch an animal. A great deal of enthusiasm and patience is required to solve the several problems that animals face. Even the public need to be educated to understand that in many cases euthanasia is pertinent."
The Harrisons have set up a trust named The Asswin Project in the UK to raise funds for their endeavour in India.
"We keep getting phone calls to rescue animals at odd hours. And many a time with no ambulance at hand, the animals have to be loaded onto the back seat of our vehicle and taken to the hospital. It is unfortunate to find people keeping pets to make a fashion statement, but they abandon the animals once they are of no use," Jean says.
"For the past few years there's been a lot of construction activity in Gurgaon and donkeys are a major source of carrying building material," she says. "People should understand that it is because of these animals that swank malls and soaring apartments come up in the city."
Jean and Bob not only provide first aid to the animals, but also educate the owners on how to tend to them. They impart knowledge on the healthy diet that's vital for animals to remain strong.
Jean first visited Delhi in 1993 as a tourist and was appalled by the condition of animals. A year later, Bob was posted to the British High Commission in Delhi for three years (1994-1997) as a visa officer.
The couple assisted the Brooke Hospital for Animals mobile clinics, which visited horse-cart stands, brick kilns and stone quarries in and around Delhi.
In 1998, Bob visited the UK and took early retirement. But before returning to India, he underwent training at the Donkey Sanctuary's headquarters in Sidmouth.
Existing only on Bob's pension and with financial assistance from some like-minded animal-lovers in the UK, the couple is determined to continue providing the best possible care for animals. But their neighbours are not too happy and have urged the municipality to close the shelter.
This forced the couple to approach the municipal commissioner and request a plot of land on which they can continue to care for the stray donkeys.
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