Lewis

Some of the 500 dogs

Tricky..How could you not love all theses doggies

 

Lunch at work. Dual and rice

Mandy

Saturday 29th April..
Sri Lankians have a bit of a sweet tooth. First thing I noticed big boxes of biscuits for sale in local shops and boxes of cakes like Madera cake.It was a Dutch colony..
Sos where Im working is amazing ..
Started up  by a English lady about 10 years ago with mainly donations from English/Europe  people and was just for the disabled dogs in Sri Lanka....
Now there are 1080 odd dogs there. I'm working with the disabled dogs think there are about 80 of them Im with about 40 odd...still counting???and they have 90 cats...
All the other dogs  are all together outside in big compounds. Two groups of 500 dogs. I must admit with all the animals I have worked with I did feel quiet intimidated entering the compound for first time with most of the 500 dogs barking and running towards you.. AND you have to walk through them to go to the toilet and get water to drink and to go out for lunch. THEN you have to walk through the other group of 500 dogs to get your lunch. Only had one trip to the vet for bite cleaning and dressing. First day someone walks with you and the guys are good if you having trouble getting through they will come and walk with you. So all I have to do is make friends with all of them...Only one that I have to watch out for so far..
I love working with the disabled dogs. Didn't no I could fall in love every day with so many..
The best  part of the day is when we get the dogs out to run around in there carts with wheels. They go out everyday. Walking them through the 500 dogs to a grass area.. ...The first day I cried happy tears for them. Even tho they are disabled they get to be dogs ..most don't have any back working legs or no back legs some just have one working leg. The were running. Digging holes socialising with the other dogs and playing. I don't think  I have seen anything so touching to see what at can be done..
Its like another doggies world here and now the Norm.

 

Our Buddha at work has a colourful flashing light

Road to SOS work

After the rain on my way to work.

On my way to work.Saw a big monitor lizard swimming in here one day

Coconut trees are growing everywhere here.

The sticks like crosses the men sit on them and fish when the tide is in

On my way to work stalks birds in the paddock

The crow's come in to get food digging in the sand.

Theses are very small  crabs seen huge ones come up to look for food.

Buddha at hotel where people take offerings to

View from balcony

Friday 28th April..
Wi Fi not been good this week will try to download photos have quiet  a few and videos..
OMG it rained twice this week really hard and thunder and lighting not seen rain for quiet a while was wonderful ..
Sri lankaians  are funny..In India it was what country you  from and for me some times you boy or girl..which I can understand....
In Sri Lanka it is HOW OLD ARE YOU first time you meet some of them...The people are quiet lovely all Buddhists..
Have seen some really cool local animals really huge monitor lizard's..Mongoose's around the hotel like meerkats but bigger. Some people I work with don't talk English..so sign language and some sort of broken language is working better and better ..and madam thats me don't say name...same as India on that one....
Animal SOS Sri Lanka Im working at is amazing...it feels like there that they have got it right in some ways;

This is how I'm going to work now....

Fishing boats next door to my hotel 

My hotel

My hotel with a amazing view

5 min walk to this area down the road

View from the small beach down the road looking towards where Im staying..But not the big flash one. In picture,

Main form of taxi here are Tuk Tuk

Weligama Beach

Weligama just 10 mins drive from where Im staying. Is a bigger town

Weligama

Wednesday 19th..
I flew from Goa to Chennai basically across the middle of India from one side to the other flying to Sri Lanka from there only a hour and 20mins away. Landed in Colombo then went by road 2 and half hours to Ahangama just out from the main town of Galle this is closer to the dog rescue centre animals SOS  Sri Lanka..
Sri Lanka is quiet beautiful felt like I got abit of a culture shock after being in India I was like WOW..Sri Lanka is like a Island really, surrounded by the Indian ocean. So many beaches and lots of opportunities to stay by the sea.
My trip here I felt quiet amazed I saw green grass. Hills, mountains. Rocks on the hills. And couldn't believe it cows in a green lush paddock with a FENCE..and only a few at a time so much FOOD for them. Even went into like a mall fill of food shops..
Saw cinnamon growing, coconuts and tea planation, they grow liptons tea here.Quess what Im drinking them????????
People are quiet lovely looking..
I'm staying right near the sea and can hear waves lapping..but people at he hotel don't speak much English and in the shops its a small village so sometimes bit difficult.. Saw some very good seize monitor lizards and the cockroaches are the seize of a mice  in the hotel at least they run away from you when walking towards them so far....And all the crabs come up from the sea in low tide looking for food and are lots of them. Getting my bearings and will venture out o see the close towns following the sea around the road. Surfing seems what tourist come o do also. Will visit dog rescue on Friday and probably start there on Monday.  Had very early flights to get here and needing bit of rest time before starting again. Its quiet hot here to but they have had rain and will get rain. Cant wait to see, hear and smell rain... sorry no you guys in NZ have had a bit of that and storms also and hope all is okay with you all.

Tuesday18th April.
Arrived Sri Lanka....😍
Wanted to start off with my last day at the centre in Goa.. What a day, maybe quiet fitting and a reminder of all you go through on a daily basis there feeling all the emotions of a roller coaster and that was just the animals stuff......and very touching moments and wonderful feedback with the very special people I shared alot of my time with each day( didn't have time to take any photo's of these people which I would of liked to of done)..I felt I left a piece of my heart there, and suppose now it can only get bigger.
A lot of staff were off on my last day so worked in with the puppies and kittens/cats.
Adopted a kitten. A older puppy was brought back that had been adopted wasn't getting on with her dog. A man who didn't speak English herd the conversation at the office and watched me take the puppy out for a walk and feed  was watching all this for quiet a while then he said he will adopt the puppy he had one same age who was going to the clinic...was wonderful for the two who got adopted. The last puppy who had contact with the parvo puppies were waiting to see her PHOO and it was normal was such a relief  after losing the other two...
A black puppy just wondered in to the centre who had  been dumped there by someone. Many many puppies have been dumped at the centre down the road from the centre in bags boxes etc.. .I have lost count on the amount of puppies dumped at the centre TO MANY..I no it even happens in NZ..
The puppies black body was just moving full of fleas and ticks. Bathed her deflea/tick treatment, got her vet checked which we have to do with every puppy/kitten// that comes in and do paper work for them,.. Spent some lovely time with the other puppies and walked some. Had Bathed 6 puppies that were dumped also that week who all had skin problem's, they were looking alot better after afew more baths..
This second dog that was dumped at the centre on my last day just broke my heart. He was a older dog with a limp who had been into the clinic a few days earlier ...The disappear in his eyes trying to attached to someone gave him some food and he stuck to anyone who showed him some affection. We thought he could just stay there as many dogs just hang put at the centre and get feed. Left him outside to see of he got on with he other dogs, and he just screamed and hollowed being put outside just broke your heart. Karen came in to stay goodbye and got me to do a survey with a lady doing them around Goa rescue centres with local staff and volunteers. Asked if we could put him in a kennel and keep him to see if someone would take care of him. We decided to do this Karen spent  abit of time with him and just before I were going to put him in a kennel Karen left and he chased the car he wanted to be with her  with her it was so sad to see. All I could do was watch...Feeling in disappear myself I got my driver to take me down to find him and he was there down he road he got brought back to be in a kennel and then I left there for maybe the last time. Saying my good byes to the people and doggies took me a while..............
And that was a pretty usual sort of day at the centre, a day in the life of a roller coast rider....wanted to just let you all no that is what it is.....but the good and positive outcomes made a difference for each of them. And that happened daily for many others also.
Sorry about long post but though it a good opportunity to share the sufficiency of my last day.
Thought to all at home in NZ.

 

🐶🐶🐵You no your HOT (stuff) when you get in a cold shower and the water gets warm as soon as it hits your body. Just incase anyone needed to no that.......

Sunday 9th April.
Now I understand the meaning of don't let the bed bugs bite. Because they do and Ive been sleeping with them..Had  abit of a cold and garda this week so hard week but all good now..
The beautiful girl on my cover page got adopted this week YAY she had been there for the longest and captured my heart.Took her out into the big wide world for walks shared some wonderful moments after being very sick and not sure if she would make it. Parvo strikes again amongst new puppies in to the centre always so heart breaking they don't get a opportunity of life. Brownies doing well after having his leg removed. He will go back when ready and a lady will keep an eye on him and feed him. Doing two more treatments on dogs with mange on Tuesday and Thursday, thses dogs are so trusting and forgiving and are mazing to work with as they progress through the treatments and trust in you such a special connection. Doing tours at the monkey rescue centre and just love watching the peoples faces when they get such a unique experience and have been so generous with giving extra money for the centre.
It was Hindu new year 29-29 of last month and remember it well after the loudest and biggest fire works were let off.
I leave Goa on Friday and fly to Chennai and next day fly to Colombo Sri Lanka and travel down to Galle a few hours away where I do a months work at animals sos  Sri Lanka they have a great website.
This week I have seen the worse cases of distemper,and rabies. There was  three cases of Rabbis a few weeks ago and three people bitten by this dog who will die as weren't also vaccinated and was to late they have been removed and put in a room away from others and family can only visit through glass window. The results have been devasting for many.
On reflection what has effected me the most has been dogs/puppies not being vaccinated for 9 in one we call it here and rabies the impact is huge for other animals and people, and the loss of innocent lives..I no I have been the last person that has comforted spoken with love empathy and compassion to many dogs/puppies  before there life had to be taken away. My only message I can give is  please take responsibility for your pet and vaccinate. I have embraced all my new experiences and had such a opportunity to see all the good that is being done and given to many  dogs and puppies lives.Karen adopted 22 puppies last week at a free sterilising expo such a wonderful effort.
The whether is getting hotter and hotter as it heads towards monsoon here on the 1st of June..Monsoon is starting in Srk Lanka when I get there. Looking forward to visiting a new  country and rescue centre they do things a bit different there where all the dogs are all together outside.
Thoughts to all..Jo
 

Flowers woven together that people buy to give when visiting temples. Have seen amazing beautiful colourful ones with whole shops at the markets just selling them. Takes' hours to stitch them all together. . 

Sugar cane machines on the streets so you can buy it to eat and coconut milk 

Main street

Just opened PIZZA



ladies working who do a lot of the hard manual labour alongside the men  here.

Jack fruit tree. Most locals don't use the fruit and you see it still on the trees.

Raz having a rest he comes out and sits with all the visitor's loves cuddles. Oldest monkey at centre 28 years old. Been at the centre for 3 years. Spent 25 years confined to a very small cage as a pet. Couldn't hardy walk as never came out ..

Katharina Raz girlfriend. Pretty good for him after never being with a monkey for 25 years.

Doing Mange treatment on this doggie

She is so good for me with bathing and treatments. Skin is so sore and irritating  for her.

Another mange doggie for baths and treatments

Brownie got his leg amputated wasn't working for him and was hindering his walking abilities. Not awake yet. Had him walking next day doing so well.

Saturday 1st April.
The weather has really got a lot hotter in the last two weeks which is early before monsoon..Even the locals are saying this. Humidity is up to about 80 percent and temps mid to high 30. Have just fans in a little place sometimes okay other times bit hot..Having to be careful with water in take and replace salt etc...as sweat just drips off you ..in fact the dog I walk for physio was catching my sweaty drips the other day..finishing my work days abit earlier needing time to recover..some days energy levels go to 0 quickly and feet get quiet swollen...But maintain work okay still and doing well..Back at the centre two days a week doing physio and have another three dogs with mange doing baths and treatments.
Went to the market again with Jo getting a van load of free  again for the monkeys. doing enrichment projects for the monkeys Did a tour at the treehouse with 10 people and got some good donations for the monkeys. Visited WAG again this weekend and they have more cows being left and needing treatment visited there clinic which had 10 dogs needing treatment and picked up. There feeding programme starts soon of dogs on the beaches practically over monsoon when no tourist around for usually feed a lot of them. These guys are doing so much only on donations honestly don't no how the manage..govt doesn't help in any way in fact hinder by trying to obtain there donations so have to do things differently...They have all there products from the cows for sale and have many other things on the go to make a change trying to get rid of plastic bags and have such  a amazing vision ahead can only hope they get a lot more financial help that is so needed and would benefit so many animals.Im finding along my way so many people making  such a difference for many animals with very very little money.
Couple of weeks left here before heading to Sri Lanka..Days and time is going quiet fast really.
My thoughts to you all.

Cow at WAG left has another leg and hoove grown out of its neck 

Cow at WAG rescue centre needing eye treatment and was left

Sweetie only monkey macaque at WAG rescue centre out for her daily walk on a long line 

Sweetie is12 years old  and been someone's pet kept in a very small cage..up til 6 months ago when they brought her in to WAG 

Enjoying some browsing on the trees. Lost her arm after being attacked by a dog when she was a pet.

Tansy enjoying the enrichment tray with treats amongst the sawdust I put in this morning..

she spent quiet a few hours sorting all through it

 

Physio walking with dog who got hit by car..Hes doing great walking fast on three legs.Other leg hasn't started working yet.
(in case you forget what I look like got someone else to take photo)

Relaxing at monkey rescue centre

Tansy