This is our report on our work and trip to DHARMA DONKEY SANCTUARY located on 15 acres next to the S.S. Mandal School and the 600 Acres of protected national forest land (The school itself protects it from poachers and destroyers of forest) by the school.

Our report is specifically on the donkey medical and health care camp organized by us, the school, and with the help of BlueCross of Hyderbad, an animal help group without whom this could not have been possible. We are indebted to them, Dr. Rao and his staff, for donating their time, vaccines and medicines and most important their interest, concern and unbelievable patience with both donkey patients and their human caretakers. The health camp for donkeys took place on December 22 2001. We had had our first preliminary such camp for the same donkey owners, men and their sons who make their living using the donkeys to carry goods to market or from one factory to another. goods transportation, 6 months earlier. Again done the same way - the school who provides health care programs and farming programs for the surrounding 30 or so villages spread the word about the camp - the first ever done anywhere in the area. 700 donkeys and their human caretakers came to the very first ever…we were not present at that one, this is our first one to participate in person.

How we got to the SS Mandal school and DDS (Dharma Donkey Sanctuary) - About 500-600 miles from Bombay in the same state, Maharashtra, they are in the small village of Sagroli, which borders the southern state of Andra Pradesh. One can easily take a train from Bombay, but since we have a great car and driver, we prefer to drive. We usually, like this trip, drive from Bombay to Nasik - to Aurangabad sleeping overnight in Aurangabad, and then on the return coming via Pune instead of Nasik. If you choose to fly must fly to the city of Hyderbad and then travel 4 hrs to the school by bus or taxi. Driving takes 8 hours the first day and 6 hours the second. If you want to see the school and the donkey sanctuary we would love to have you come, email us ahimsatx@aol.com for details and advise. Mid to end December is definitely the best time to go as it is the best weather, we are always here then.

The night before the organized health camp the donkey owners and their sons started arriving- camping out to get ready for the medical camp and Dr. the next day … By the morning on December 22, 125 families (only men and boys of all ages) had arrived. The DVM, Dr. Rao of Blue Cross Animal Help in Hyderbad, and his vet tech staff came in their well supplied jeep that was donated to them by the Brooke Animal Hospital of UK. They not only donated their time, but the vaccines and medicines and other medical supplies. Several teachers from the school volunteered to assist the vet techs. School kids came to visit the donkeys and see how they were being cared for.

Each donkey and its human family was visited by me Bonny and Dr. Rao… they were paste wormed by the techs, annual vaccines to prevent diseases were given, hooves, legs were checked, wounds, tumors, any and all problems of each donkey was discussed and answers and/or medicines were given. Luckily I was thrilled to find no major feet or hoof problems - those that needed their feet trimmed were. On the next trip I have to bring samples of brushes and have them made so the families can clean and remove burrs from the donkeys. Again these will have to be provided free. Donkey owners and their kids kept telling me their donkeys problems thinking I was the doctor. They were very concerned about why they were thin (needed worming which they got), concerned about bad eyesight (they needed vitamin A supplements on a regular basis (which they received to give) - donkeys rarely get green grass-deficiency of vitamin A that effects their eyes. Also wound creams, antibiotic meds were given out, how and when to use them was explained. We learned that the donkeys are tied at their feet tightly when they do not want them wandering such as at this health camp. We are now designing a donkey halter and will see who can make the halters and teach the owners to use them instead of tying the feet which is not only cruel, but causes cuts on their feet … if possible the school vocational dept will make the halters and distribute them free at every camp with instructions on how to use it, otherwise we will get them made somewhere else. We also learned they often have back and joint problems and often the donkeys are treated with hot irons to alleviate the pain … they are willing to use anti inflammatory and pain killing pastes and drugs if (the big IF) the meds are donated. The donkeys, many of them, had horrible scars. Happily they were not due to accidents nor from whips, cruelty, but from the hot irons used to alleviate their joint pain. We will be requesting pharmaceutical companies both in India, and USA to donate meds, but at this time we do not know how much will be donated and how often. Any of you who have potential donor sources of such meds please contact us At the next camp we will also have to supply our own vaccines, our own antibiotics for wounds, Vitamin A supplements, and worming pastes… this time Blue Cross of Hyderbad again donated these meds but have warned us that from now on we have to provide them to the Dr. and his staff ourselves. Again all help and donations will be greatly appreciated.

After every donkey was done, and every family talked to the Dr, a mass meeting was held for all where we discussed kindness and care - details on how and why not to overload a donkey were explained. Again I found the enthusiasm and gratitude of the donkey families and their real interest in improving the lives and health of their donkeys very gratifying. They really take great pride in their donkeys - all the kids followed me around and constantly were telling me 'oh I take the better care of my donkeys than so and so' - very competitive very keen on having the 'best' donkeys as compared to another villager. Competition between themselves as families and between different villages can be useful to benefiting the donkeys next time. We can give awards & prizes for the healthiest and best cared for donkeys, etc. NOW our next goal is what we are presently working on … we now have engaged the retired government vet who has been in the area for 26 years to stay on and supervise an emergency first aid and help clinic - open daily and available to anyone. The school is providing him with permanent housing and DDS will provide him with a salary, he will in turn be available to help donkeys daily. This will be starting in March. Again we need help with donations of money and pharmaceuticals to stock the dispensary this first aid station for donkeys. Visit Ahimsatx.org to keep up to date on our progress as we continue to work on the dispensary and also to work on the necessary fencing and enclosures for permanent residents of the sanctuary. We presently have 7 - 8 males and one female, abandoned unwanted donkeys- once we have the funds for enclosures and fencing around the 15 acres, we will be able to take on many more sick, permanently disabled & abandoned, permanent lifetime care donkey residents. Any other questions or problems write us at ahimsatx@aol.com.