How does the first animal shelter survive in Uzbekistan?

They are treated like toys, they are thrown into the streets where they daily fight for a chance to live, die because of the cold and hunger. Unfortunately, in the modern world the attitude to animals is not good. Thus, it is big and good news that there are people who care about animals and put them in the first place trying to save and protect those who cannot do it themselves. ASPCA waited for a long time when there will be the first animal shelter in Uzbekistan and it finally happened – a group of volunteers made the dream come true.

We have been talked with Iroda Matkarimova – a businesswoman who has been helping the stray dogs and cats for many years, and now she and some other caring people lead the shelter. How do its inhabitants live? How did they come there? What help is required and necessary? You will find out the answers on these and many other questions in this article.

How did it all start?

- How did the idea about shelter’s creation appear?

First of all we would like to thank media, which was interested in the delivery of the idea about good and polite attitude to the animals through its publications. Only in these cases people can find out about the problems, in particular about a cruel treatment of the animals.

The necessity of the shelter had been existed for a long time – before we were in not stable situation because we rented a land and in any moment we could be sent aways with all animals. During many years we were asking the government authority (khokimiyat) of Kibray region to provide us 3 hectares land for opening the shelter and only in 2018 we succeeded!

Now we are building and warming the aviaries. In the future we are planning to build here administration office so called “cats’ house”? separate field for walking, quarantine zone and vet clinic. Also, dogs handlers will be invited for working with the dogs.

- How advised to call shelter “Hayot”?

- The name was chosen by the voting on Facebook (now this group is called “Group of help to Mayskiy shelter “Hayot”). There was a variety of names – “Everything is in your hands”, “The chance” and others but the preference was given to the current name. “Hayot” sounds life affirming, does not it?

Found the house for 10, took 20…

- How many animals are there?

- Currently – there are 400 pets, most of them are dogs. Everybody has his own story but only there is a fact that all stories have the same detail – all of them were saved from the death: somebody was injured by the cars, somebody was dying because of the decease in the streets. Many cottagers leave in the village their dogs that are needed only in summer time. Witnesses write posts on Facebook, call to the volunteers and ask to take cat or dog. In the shelter animals find the roof over the heads, food, treatment, care and love.

For having the opportunity to rescue as many animals as possible we try to find a new house for dogs living in the shelter, choosing the responsible owner every day, and make the contract about transferring the dog. However, as you can understand we find new families for 10 dogs but take new 20-30 new dogs. We sterilize animals to decrease the quantity of stray dogs and cats. Then, pets will be chipped and information about them will be saved in electronic data base of Uzbekistan.

We have built the kitchen – covered area where it is easy now to cook. It was important as the shelter locates in the mountains and there is a lot of wind. We order water now but recently we bought and fixed the transformer.

- Do many people want you to take animals to the shelter?

- Yes! A lot of people ask (and sometimes demand) to take a dog or a cat to the shelter and even do not want to pay for zoo taxi that delivers pets to the shelter. We cannot refuse; we just want people to understand that the power and recourse of the volunteers are limited We want people to look at the work that volunteers do every day – they feed, treat, take care, sterilize, pay the salary of three employees working in the shelter, expenses for building…That’s why everybody should contribute in this project.

Every little bit helps

- What help does the shelter need?

- The most important for our animals is food. Daily on two times feeding we spend some hundreds of kilogram of meat products and a bag of groats (in 10 thousand liters cauldrons we boil grouts adding vegetables). Dry food is also necessary.

We also need the help of the volunteer: to clean the area, to play with dogs. In addition, we need warm clothes, blankets, medicine, building materials, transport – to deliver the food, animals to the clinic. The latest is the most required these days as we do sterilization. And the most important is the home for each dog and cat, the place they all dream about. Share the information about the shelter; help us please to find a new family for each animal where they will be loved.

- Does the shelter have sponsors?

- No, it doesn’t. We have some women who all their free time spend on taking care of animals. Volunteer Victoria Sabikova is the soul of the shelter. She looks after the animals, takes care of the animals after the operation, feeds them and does a lot of other tasks. She sacrifices a lot for the shelters’ inhabitants. The second mentor is Elena Turina, together with her we went through many things. Fortunately, there are kind people who also help. During the shelter’s work I have been faced with people’s not understanding – “Why do you need it? Help to people” I cannot imagine how it is possible to kind to the people and cruel to the animals. There are a lot of companies doing charity for children, disable people, old people and animals and it is totally fine – to support those who need it. Always think about what we show to our children. From the young age they should understand that dogs, cats and other animals need care and love.

It is required to do administrative or criminal liability for cruel animals’ owners that send their pets away into the streets, leave them going to another country or behave themselves bad to the animals.

Stories of some inhabitants

BETTY (photos BEFORE and AFTER arriving at the shelter)

The breeders used the dog until it got sick. Thin, emaciated, they brought her to the regional veterinary clinic for euthanasia. The vet was very sorry for Betty, he told us. We paid the fine and took her to the shelter, cured her and restored her faith in people, gave her love and care. We are currently looking for parents for this dog.

GRAPH

He lived at the organization, and when the director changed there, the dog was put out on the street, where he rushed around, not understanding what was happening. Kind people fed him, then called me. I sent a volunteer for him and brought him to the shelter.

JESSE

She guarded the house all her life, and the owners repaid with black ingratitude - they sold their homes and left. The neighbors fed the dog, then they found out about us and brought her to the shelter. Jesse was sick, shabby, weak. It took a long time to tidy up, but now she is such a beauty.

ALEXSA

She was recaptured in Yunusabad from dog-eaters. This was back at the time when we rented land in Yangiyul. Today we are looking for a mom and dad for this beauty.

Original Text in Russian prepared by Arina Barskikh, Tashkent, 17.01.2019

Source: http://darakchi.uz/ru/64356