As a subscriber to my page, you are donating to some extraordinary causes in the spheres of both Buddhism as well as animal rescue.
I am presently in Zimbabwe where I had the wonderful chance to visit Twala Trust Animal Sanctuary, one of the charities we support. Twala is just outside the capital city, Harare, near Goromonzi, a rural community area where about 50,000 people live – most of them being no or low-income families. There is no social support in Zimbabwe.
Twala provides a sanctuary for native animals including lions, ostriches, baboons, vervet monkeys, African Grey parrots and many others besides. Taking on all comers who find themselves homeless, this extensive and ever-expanding operation is run by Sarah Carter and her husband Vinay, a veterinarian with a practice in Harare.
Because of Twala’s location near Goromonzi, inevitably Vinay and Sarah have been drawn into helping the dogs from the villages nearby.
When we think of the poor in developing countries, our thoughts usually turn to the hardships faced by humans. But living among these people, who are often barely able to feed themselves, are dogs. How much more harsh and hopeless are their circumstances? Often, the Twala staff are faced by the most pitiable cases of starvation, neglect and abuse.
This is why Twala has evolved its Doggy Tuesday program to support over 600 dogs, providing weekly food packs to their owners, as well as a vet clinic, free of charge. And if owners choose to surrender their dogs, Twala takes them in, no questions asked.
Along with the lions and other native animals, there is now a pack of over 60 dogs living at Twala. “Waggly Tail Club” members are not only fed and loved, but taken on daily walks to a nearby dam by volunteers from around the world, who come to help at this extraordinary place of compassion.
It's truly humbling to see how Vinay and Sarah are dedicating their lives to helping poor, sick, starving and unwanted animals, irrespective of their species or circumstances.
