Please recall that after lots of effort and planning, our IDA India staff managed to start a spay/neuter program at Elephanta Caves Island in March of 2015. We held the first camp and sterilized 27 dogs that time. Thereafter, we were unable to hold any camps in April, as the surgeon was not available due to his other commitments. Thus, the second camp was held on the 8th & 9th of May 2015.  Our Ms. Goodicia Vaidya went to the Elephanta Caves Island the day before camp, along with two staff members, and transported plenty of food for the stray animals living on the island. The team could catch only 19 dogs that day, due to immense heat, because all the dogs seemed to have gone into hiding. Surgeries were performed over the course of two days, and the dogs were released thereafter.

During her visit, Goodicia got an opportunity to check out the dogs who were previously operated on in March, and found them all to be all well, hale and hearty.  This was indeed very satisfying. In fact, one dog with skin problems who was sterilized in March, was found to be healthier and with much better skin than before.

Working on the island is a big challenge. So many things we take for granted do not exist on this island. For example, electricity is sporadic so we have to work with the help of a generator. Also, there is no piped or continuous supply of water, so the vets themselves use a hand pump to fill water buckets first before the surgeries. Porters are also available sporadically, so you can see our vets taking things in their hands literally here; they hired a hand cart and pushed the luggage needed for the surgeries themselves in sweltering heat with close to 100% humidity all the way to the camp….with amazing commitment!

Mumbai is expecting heavy rains as the rainy season has been entered, and the rains here are something else. The island would not be easily accessible by sea, and it is therefore impossible to have a third camp until the rainy season is over. Thus, we plan to reopen the camps at the end of September. Until then, we hope at least the dogs we spayed/neutered and immunized will he healthy and happy.

We thank our IDA India team for their devotion and hard work!