Flood Relief

We want to show you what we see and feel as we bring life-saving relief to Orissa, a beautiful region of rural India.

View our photo diary from the field as clickable thumbnails or view the full-screen slideshow (click on "info on" at the top to see captions).

In September  - October 2008, Visakha SPCA has been hard at work helping our neighbors to the north in the state of Orissa, site of the worst flooding in 50 years. Our team has entered areas where there is no culture of helping non-property animals - where animals matter strictly for their practical value to people.  This has afforded us a priceless opportunity to spread our message of compassion for all animals to the villagers whom we have helped to not only care for their animals but also the street dogs and cats.   Unlike other disaster efforts we are having a good coordination with the government and other NGO's for the best help to animals and also for the families that care for them by providing some basic necessities -- as the floods left them with nothing.

A note on our philosophy when doing natural disaster relief

Visakha SPCA believes that no animal should ever be used for food, profit or any other purpose detrimental to the animal's life and well-being. However, in situations such as those in Orissa, we believe the best ethical choice is to do as much as possible to prevent the death and relieve the suffering  of farmed animals and other "livestock." Unlike high-profile development agencies, we try to save every life-threatened farm animal when disaster strikes, not abandon and replace them. Through our interventions, we strive to set an example of compassion that will bring better conditions to animals today and in the years to come.