Animal lovers who run a charity helping street dogs and cats are celebrating reaching a huge milestone: the charity has sterilised 1,000 animals, and vaccinated the same number against rabies in Sri Lanka.
Alena Warburton first visited the country in 2019 on her honeymoon, but was left devastated at the plight of animals living on the streets. Following this, the 38-year-old set up a charity called Lucas Helps Dogs – named after her late pet – to support the millions of street dogs and cats in Sri Lanka. She was joined a few months later on her mission by journalist Laura Kearns. Together they work, alongside their full-time jobs, to run the charity.
To date it has sterilised 1,024 animals, vaccinated 1,000, carried out 126 emergency treatments and 576 skin treatments. The charity has also found homes in Sri Lanka and the UK for seven dogs and cats, provided some 20,000 meals on regular feeding rounds and also works to educate locals in animal welfare.
“We’re absolutely delighted to reach this milestone, which will save tens of thousands of puppies and kittens from being born into a life of misery on the streets”
Lucas Helps Dogs is currently focusing its efforts in an area on the south coast called Hikkaduwa, where it employs small team of locals along with working with local temples and schools.
Accountant Alena said: “We’re absolutely delighted to reach this milestone, which will save tens of thousands of puppies and kittens from being born into a life of misery on the streets. Every day animals in Sri Lanka face dangerous roads, disease, and a struggle to find food, water and a safe place to sleep.
“But this figure is just the start. In Hikkaduwa there has been a huge improvement in the health of dogs and cats. We have even had regular tourists and locals contact us to say how much better the situation in our area is.”
And now the team is looking to help even more animals in need by venturing to a second location, where Alena said the dogs are in the worst condition she had ever seen.
Alena and Laura – who between them have adopted two Sri Lankan cats and a former street dog – are self-funding a trip to Sri Lanka at the end of March to organise and help undertake the work.
Laura added: “The last time we were in Sri Lanka we visited a remote area called Udawalawe. We were absolutely devastated at the number of dogs at the side of the road, with horrendous injuries, severely underweight and completely bald due to a painful skin condition called mange.
“The nearest vets are more than two hours away, and no one is working in this area to care for the dogs and cats.
“We are continuing our work in Hikkaduwa, but plan to also visit this second location to carry out first aid and skin treatments, with a view to also establishing a sterilisation, vaccination and education programme here.”
“Please consider supporting us. Any amount goes a huge way and helps us to help the animals”
And while Alena and Laura raise as much money as possible by selling handmade leads, collars and treats at local fairs, they are also calling on others to show their support.
Alena added: “We completely fund transport, travel and all other costs ourselves and ensure all the money we raise goes to helping the dogs and cats. Funds are always tight and we spend nearly every weekend at festivals and fairs up and down the country raising awareness about what we do and the plight of street animals in Sri Lanka.
“Please consider supporting us. Any amount goes a huge way and helps us to help the animals.”
This is a guest post by Lucas Helps Dogs. Want to write for us? Visit www.dogstodaymagazine.co.uk/essay-submission or email editorial@dogstodaymagazine.co.uk.
