M'luru: Animal Care Trust shelter faces severe waterlogging issues

Mangaluru: The Animal Care Trust (ACT) located in Shakthi Nagar is currently grappling with a devastating situation as heavy rainfall and overflowing drainage systems have left the shelter and its inhabitants in a state of distress. The dire conditions have prompted an urgent plea for assistance.

The shelter, home to approximately 240 animals, including 170 dogs (consisting of adult sick dogs and puppies), 30 kittens, and various other birds and animals, is now facing a catastrophe. The continuous downpour has caused the shelter and its surroundings to become submerged, exacerbating an already challenging situation.

Under normal circumstances, ACT handles a significant number of rescue cases daily, but the relentless rainfall has resulted in a surge of rescue operations, overwhelming the shelter’s capacity. The wards housing sick and injured animals, as well as the permanent resident dogs, puppies, and kittens, are now subjected to adverse effects due to the flooding.

The crisis deepened when the drainage systems installed by the UGD department and the Municipal Corporation Council (MCC), responsible for handling shelter waste, and nearby drainage, overflowed. The drainage water infiltrated critical areas of the shelter, including the Mathrachaya (ward for sick animals) and other wards, necessitating the immediate relocation of the animals. This displacement further compounds the already distressing situation.

In response to the crisis, the local corporator visited the shelter on July 7 morning to assess the situation. Concrete slabs covering the storm drain, fixed by the MCC, were removed to facilitate water clearance. Although the water is currently draining, the persisting heavy rainfall poses a constant threat, continuously filling up the drainage system.