Sahana needs helping hand to help four-legged friends
Meet Sahana Ravishankar, the compassionate and sole driving force behind Purrs &Woofs, a non-profit organisation taking on the mammoth task of feeding, rescuing, fostering, rehoming, and providing medical treatment to neglected animals in need in the city of Colombo.
What started with a rescue of a single dog in Peliyagoda has turned into a weekly feeding routine for over 250 animals across Peliyagoda, Colombo 10, and areas along Baseline Road. Every Sunday evening, Sahana spends six to seven hours to ensure that these animals receive the nourishment they desperately require. She cooks 50 kilos of rice and 40 kilos of chicken, as well as fish, mixing it all together with the help of volunteers. She then loads the food into huge basins and proceeds on her rounds, sometimes with volunteers but mostly on her own, returning in the early hours of the morning. “Some friends suggest cutting short areas to save time, but I can’t bear the thought of an animal waiting for me,” she says. “Even if it means coming home late at night, I know they’re counting on me.”
Each day, she also ventures out to feed around 25 more animals in her vicinity, on top of caring for her own six rescue dogs, fostering nine lively puppies, and sheltering a litter of kittens awaiting loving homes. Sahana also ensures the animals she rescues receive the essential vaccines and sterilisations before they are rehomed.
“One of the biggest issues is finding fosters,” she shares. “Some friends are willing to foster, which I appreciate immensely, but the problem arises when some are unable to continue due to personal constraints. Each person has their own capability, but finding reliable fosters has become a significant challenge.” The need for fosters is crucial because, as Sahana explains, “boarding places are not always ideal. They can be costly, and some provide very basic care.” To ensure the animals receive the best care possible, Sahana prefers to bring them into her own home for fostering and eventual rehoming. However, this has become increasingly difficult due to the lack of available space and resources.
Despite her tireless efforts, Sahana faces a daunting challenge: financial strain. “I have exhausted my personal savings,” she admits. “Even with donations, I struggle to cover expenses. It has always been tough to find funds, but COVID and the economic crisis have made everything so expensive.” Sahana’s appeals for support often fall short, leaving her in a difficult position.
The challenges of operating alone also weigh heavily on Sahana. “The day I have no help, that’s when it hits me the hardest,” the lawyer turned animal rescuer says. “Maybe if I had some donations to pay someone, that would ease things a bit.”
Her next step is to register her charity as an NGO, hoping to enlist the help of volunteers and friends to form a dedicated team.
The second crisis Sahana is facing is the race against time to find a new home for herself and her rescues and fosters, as she has to vacate her current residence shortly. The search for a suitable home for herself and her rescued animals has hit a roadblock, as almost all turn her away when they find out about the rescues and fosters.
To help by donating, adopting, fostering, or volunteering, contact Sahana at 0777 567 122.
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