{"id":199928,"date":"2025-04-23T04:24:32","date_gmt":"2025-04-23T04:24:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/animal\/returning-from-us-this-engineer-rescued-65000-animals-in-15-years\/"},"modified":"2025-04-23T04:24:32","modified_gmt":"2025-04-23T04:24:32","slug":"returning-from-us-this-engineer-rescued-65000-animals-in-15-years","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=199928","title":{"rendered":"Returning From US, This Engineer Rescued 65,000 Animals in 15 Years"},"content":{"rendered":"


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M<\/span>ini Vasudevan was not going to be one of those Indians who merely complained about the plight of her home country while living abroad and earning in dollars.<\/p>\n

When she moved back from the United States to India after 13 years in 2004, she was disturbed by the conditions in which stray dogs were living in her colony in Coimbatore. The pet owner, who prefers calling herself a \u2018dog companion\u2019, also came across families that treated dogs as a commodity and believed in keeping the animal outside the house.<\/p>\n

Mini, who is an engineer, formed a group of like-minded individuals to help injured dogs, give food to strays, and conduct similar activities at a small scale.<\/p>\n

This was till a life-changing incident occurred two years later, in November 2006. Mini was volunteering at a compound where the Coimbatore Municipal Corporation (CMC) was carrying out the Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme. There, she saw that dogs were tied in chains, and some were inside the cage sitting in their own urine and feces. Appalled by these conditions, she wrote an email, attached some pictures, and sent them to animal welfare activist Maneka Gandhi.<\/p>\n

However, Gandhi reverted with a stern response upon learning that Mini had just returned from the US.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe didn\u2019t think I was serious about improving things. She told me to stop complaining and start working. Her words haunted me for a few days, so I decided to go back to the CMC, this time with a clear agenda,\u201d Mini recalls to The Better India.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Gandhi reprimanded the CMC for their actions and directed them to cooperate with Mini. A few days later, Mini\u2019s organisation Humane Animal Society (HAS) and CMC signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). HAS handled the programme and also established a shelter home on the land provided by the corporation.<\/p>\n

\"Mini
Mini Vasudevan with a cat<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Mini started fighting for the welfare of animals at a time when animal rights was not considered a pressing matter. Her efforts to rescue, vaccinate, and rehabilitate have impacted close to 65,000 animals, including dogs, cats, ponies and cows over the last 15 years.<\/p>\n

She quit her job only three years ago to dedicate all her time to HAS. Mini says the organisation spends close to Rs 1 crore annually \u2013 raised through donations \u2013 to run the shelter and a sanctuary located on the outskirts of Coimbatore in Vazhukkupparai.<\/p>\n

Establishing a wholesome shelter home<\/h2>\n
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Mini hired Vets to treat injured animals<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Mini was very clear on what she wanted her shelter home to look like. Volunteering at protection homes in the US was an eye-opening experience, she says.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile I have loved animals all my life, it was only when I was in the US that I learnt how an animal is supposed to be treated. But I also saw dogs being put down if they are not adopted after a certain age,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

To channel her helplessness and frustration in the right direction, Mini formed a shelter where the aim is not just to alleviate the sufferings of animals, but also introduce the concept of companionship and respect through awareness. Mini also hired a veterinarian and built an operation theatre for large and small surgeries.<\/p>\n

In the first year, Mini conducted several sessions with stakeholders like government officials, other shelter homes, and citizens to demonstrate how ABC should be done scientifically without torturing the animals.<\/p>\n

\"Vets
Vets in shelter home\u2019s Operation Theatre<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cFrom promoting Indian breeds to introducing the concept of fostering and adoption, we undertook several programmes to educate people. We hired vets who would provide consultations and treatments at low costs. This made a difference, as over time, rescue and adoption related calls increased. A few years later, we opened a sanctuary that now houses 70 animals,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

Changing attitudes, one person at a time<\/h2>\n

Two years ago, Alena, a citizen of Switzerland, adopted an Indian dog named \u2018Bailey\u2019 after reading a moving post on HAS\u2019 social media page. Due to her frail health and skinny body, Bailey was not being adopted. That\u2019s when Alena messaged Mini and agreed to adopt her.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was surprised she wanted to adopt. She had read about the animal tortuture cases in India and wanted her son to grow up realising the value of abandoned dogs like Bailey. After going there, Bailey looks so happy and healthy,\u201d says Mini. It took no time for this heartwarming adoption story to go viral.<\/p>\n