{"id":76912,"date":"2025-02-09T01:40:01","date_gmt":"2025-02-09T01:40:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/animal\/sold-house-to-build-sanctuary-for-animals-22-yo-fulfils-grandpas-dream\/"},"modified":"2025-02-09T01:40:01","modified_gmt":"2025-02-09T01:40:01","slug":"sold-house-to-build-sanctuary-for-animals-22-yo-fulfils-grandpas-dream","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=76912","title":{"rendered":"‘Sold House to Build Sanctuary for Animals’: 22-YO Fulfils Grandpa’s Dream"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Growing up in Chennai, Sai Vignesh\u2019s dearest early memory is of playing with his grandpa and their pet dog. This experience fostered his strong bond with animals from a young age.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was devastated when I lost my dog to cancer. To help me cope with the loss, my parents and especially my grandfather would encourage me to spend time with stray dogs and feed them,\u201d he recalls in a conversation with The Better India.<\/strong><\/p>\n

As he grew up, he learnt about the atrocities humans do to animals<\/a>. \u201cI found how they were beaten up and harassed, both physically and sexually, and left to fend for themselves. This made me realise that I wanted to make a safe haven for animals,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

At the age of 15, Sai had already begun assisting animals in his area. Now at 22 years old, he has built a sanctuary called Almighty Animal Care Trust in Tiruvallur, Tamil Nadu. It hosts a variety of rescued animals from houses cattle, disabled dogs and goats to pigs and horses.<\/p>\n

Charity begins at home<\/h2>\n

Growing up in Chennai, all the dogs in Sai\u2019s neighbourhood would come together around him, showing him affection as he petted them lovingly. \u201cThe love that one receives from nature and animals is one of a kind. It is something so pure and unconditional that it always gives me peace,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

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Sai cares for over 250 animals that currently live in the sanctuary; Picture credit: Sai Vignesh <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

In 2015, when Chennai was hit with a massive flood<\/a>. \u201cI was very worried about the stray animals in my area and started to let them in my house. This was the starting point that led me on this journey,\u201d he shares.<\/p>\n

While the flood receded, Sai was left even more determined to do something for animals.<\/p>\n

\u201cI began feeding stray animals on the street and assisting if any of them were hurt. I also posted about my work on social media, and people started to contact me whenever they found an injured dog on the streets,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

Soon, Sai\u2019s inbox started to fill up with requests from people all over the city. \u201cMy house\u2019s backyard was full of rescued and healing strays. It was becoming an inconvenience to my neighbours. So I started to wonder if I could have a place solely dedicated to the animals,\u201d he adds.<\/p>\n

Talking about how he managed to help strays at such a young age, he says, \u201cMy grandfather was my greatest cheerleader. He would give me Rs 30,000 every month to help the strays. It was his motivation that led me to believe that I can open a sanctuary for animals<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n

After the passing of his grandfather in 2018, Sai was set on fulling their combined dream.<\/p>\n

\u2018Grandpa\u2019s Dream, My Vision\u2019<\/h2>\n

\u201cWhile I was set to open up a sanctuary, I was only 18 and did not know how to proceed. With my grandfather gone, the financial support was also gone. While there were generous donations from people from time to time, I needed a concrete amount of money to purchase land and construct the sanctuary,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

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The daily cost of feeding the animals and maintaining the sanctuary is Rs 18,000; Picture credit: Sai Vignesh<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Looking for avenues and donations, Sai stumbled upon an ancestral home that belonged to his family. \u201cI was determined to convince my parents to sell the house and help me with the funds. While it was a big decision, they could see that it was my only passion,\u201d he recalls.<\/p>\n

Sai and his parents sold their ancestral home and purchased an eight-acre land near Poondi reservoir in Tiruvallur on the outskirts of Chennai. \u201cWith the help of some more donations, I was able to construct a safe haven for animals. The Almighty Animal Care Trust was inaugurated in 2019,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

While his cause started with taking care of stray dogs, his care soon expanded to other animals.<\/p>\n

\u201cI realised that in Chennai, there were sanctuaries for dogs, but when it came to farm animals, they had nowhere to go. Many bulls, buffaloes and calves are abandoned by their owners. They roam in the city, consume polluted water and food, and end up in difficult conditions,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

Sai continues, \u201cIf a dog gets hit by a car, there is a chance it will get some kind of help. However, with animals like sheep, cows and buffaloes, they are most likely to end up in slaughterhouses.\u201d<\/p>\n

This led Sai to open up the sanctuary to any animal <\/a>that needs help. Presently, he has around 250 animals under his care \u2014 which include around 80 dogs, 25 goats, 116 cows, buffaloes and bulls, 4 pigs, and 2 horses.<\/p>\n

Rescuing and fighting for animal rights<\/h2>\n

People reach out to Sai via his Facebook and Instagram pages to inform him about any animal in danger. Some volunteers usually accompany him to rescue the animals.<\/p>\n

\u201cOnce the animal is under our care, we immediately take it to a vet. After initial treatment, we take the animal to the sanctuary. There, we have a vet who visits every morning to check up on the animals,\u201d he explains.<\/p>\n

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Apart from taking care of the animals and giving them food and shelter<\/a>, Sai also works for their rights. \u201cWe check if the animal has been harassed, sexually molested, or was about to be slaughtered illegally. There are ways to fight against such atrocities,\u201d he notes.<\/p>\n

Over the past years, Sai has been reporting cases of violence against animals to the local police. Many of them violate rules under the Tamil Nadu Animal Preservation Act, IPC 429, Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, and Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA).<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have a lot of cases that are pending in lower courts including dog poisoning, cattle trafficking and animal abuse,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

Additionally, he also started sensitisation of police officers towards animal cruelty. \u201cI started conducting seminars in 2021 and have reached out to nearly 2,000 police offers. It is important because many officers in rural areas were not aware of the laws against animal abuse and the correct measures to take,\u201d he adds.<\/p>\n

Sai\u2019s inbox and phone are always buzzing with requests from people all around the city as well as the outskirts.<\/p>\n

\u201cThree years ago, we found a cow that had met with an accident and injured its leg. It was in deep pain and needed immediate attention. I had seen many of Sai\u2019s reels on Instagram and was aware of his work. So I called for his help, and he rescued the cow and took it to his sanctuary,\u201d says Kathir Selvan who has been in touch with Sai ever since. He now informs Sai of any animal in distress that he happens to encounter.<\/p>\n

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Sai also conducts seminars for the sensitisation of police officers towards animal cruelty; Picture credit: Sai Vignesh<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Talking about his motivations and reflecting on his journey, Sai says, \u201cWhen I see an animal in pain, it almost feels like I am experiencing it myself. They deserve to live as much as we do. There are days when the sanctuary is low on budget and hands, but we have somehow survived for all these years. At the end of the day, when I look back and see nature thriving in all its glory at the sanctuary, it fills me with indescribable joy and satisfaction.\u201d<\/p>\n

How you can help<\/h2>\n

Sai, who also works as a web developer, dedicates most of his income to the upkeep of the sanctuary.<\/p>\n

\u201cBesides my income, there are people who keep donating regularly in kind and money. The per-day expense for the sanctuary\u2019s upkeep and for feeding the animals comes to around Rs 18,000,\u201d he shares.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnyone who wants to contribute can do it in any form. You can volunteer here as we are always short of hands, or you can also donate money, food, or medicines,\u201d he says, adding that he regularly shares updates on the animals\u2019 health and well-being on social media.<\/p>\n

Currently, Sai is planning to build a quarantine centre in the sanctuary for animals with contagious diseases.<\/p>\n

If you wish to further his cause, you can reach Sai at 89393 20846.<\/em><\/p>\n

Edited by Pranita Bhat<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n