News report by Ayushi Kedia:

Mumbai: Mumbai stray animal activist Sunita Shahani appeals to raise funds for animals dying of hunger.

Mumbai: While India is into lockdown since last 2 months to curb the spread of novel coronavirus disease, ever since then, animal activist Sunita is continuously highlighting the situation of stray animals and how the people have become selfish. The availability of food is the other criteria and the animals are further ostracized because of rumors linking them to be carriers of the coronavirus and people are kicking dogs out of their houses who are just between 20 to 200 days and are dying of accidents.

Aryaman Parpia has been raising funds, Manjulla Parpia is his mother. Sunita is the woman who used to feed the dogs, but she can’t feed them anymore because of lack of funds, which is the precise reason that Aryaman has started raising funds for her to continue feeding them.

So while Hello Mumbai News Team talked to Sunita Shahani on phone, she said even as the lockdown has certainly impacted on all of us, it has also a very big impact on the stray animals and birds, specifically near the markets and near corporate setups.

The strays have no means of feeding themselves as offices, restaurants, roadside eateries are shut down. The strays are starving. Eventually, they will die in a precarious scenario because animals have started eating papers, bricks and many more harmful wastes. These are sure to harm them or lead them to death.
And if this wasn’t enough, some section of people resort to beating from sticks and stones. But thanks to BMC and police team, as they are stretching their hands and shoulders to these animals beyond their limit.

Earlier, she had also specified, that she was completely dependent on her own, but after the announcement of lockdown, her earnings stopped. Currently she is left with not enough money to take care of strays because it not only includes feeding but the treatment of accidents, fever and many more. And all alone she was handling 400 stray cats and dogs, which is absolutely a great deal and she said that the only difference between human beings and animals is that animals can’t talk and express their views. Earlier she had also mentioned that she was getting chicken for 20 bucks but now it cost her 70 bucks just 4 times more than earlier, and rice cost double from the actual price.
But mighty God did a miracle and a “Zorabian chicken shop” helps her a lot by doing free home delivery of chickens at a lower price and thus it helped in saving transportation costs also (earlier she had to pay 200 bucks for traveling).

She highlighted one more concern that tumors and cancers are on the rise amongst stray animals and all the veternary doctors have closed their clinics. If some are open then they are charging huge money and they are not encouraging stray animals for treatment.

And while asking for support from other people criticizers are saying her’ we don’t have food to feed ourselves, then how will feed animals’ and of course any relatives or friends can help only once or twice.

Lastly, she told, animals don’t need them, she needs them because the love they shower is abundant and loyal as a mother of 400 animals she can’t let them die in front of her eyes and even she requests from the people of slums where activists can’t reach to PLEASE lend you the hand of support to such animals and after being traumatized of the situation she thought of giving up but her friend, Manjulla Parpia came ahead to help her in raising funds for strays.

Here is the PLEA detail for raising funds; even a small contribution will be appreciated and mean a lot for those voiceless creatures.

Dear Animal lovers,
There is Sunita Shahani living in Andheri who feeds around 400 strays every day in Mumbai. She has been doing it for more than 20 years now and can’t manage any longer as she is unable to financially sustain it, more so due to the Lockdown. She has been looking for people to help her in this. *UDAAN, A project by Manjulla Parpia with volunteers Aryaman Parpia & others, is helping her to generate funds for the lockdown. Feeding 400 strays collectively are a big expense. Every day around 30 kg rice is cooked with 50 kgs chicken being procured from ZORABIAN CHICKEN at discounted rates. Special thanks to Perizad Zorabian for the kindness. There are other overheads gas, labor, conveyance + IF ANY STRAY FALL SICK, or meets with an accident – the Vet bills our team is looking for financial help every month till the lockdown ends and everything normalizes. *If each family can contribute Rs.100/- per family member and collectively deposit the amount per family, in the account especially generated for this, it would be of great help. Please connect to me on personal chat to contribute to this noble cause every month.
Love & Light,
Team UDAAN
Please contact us: jaisinghandsons@gmail.com
To make direct donations:
Use the information below to make a direct bank transfer through NEFT/RTGS/IMPS.
– Account number: 700701707062760
– Account name: Manjulla
– IFSC code: YESB0CMSNOC
(The digit after B is Zero and the letter after N is O for Orange)
For UPI Transaction: supportmanjulla@yesbankltd
Donations via Yes Bank UPI and Account Transfers are safe with Impact Guru.

News Edit by K.V.Raman