Sterilise
Adopt
Vaccinate
Educate
Activities
Working with feeders on the streets, capture street animals, sterilise them, vaccinate them against disease, in particular rabies, set them back onto the streets but provide basic food and water in conjunction with their feeders.
Run adoption drives using proper contracts with potential adopters, with information sheets in all appropriate languages and where possible home checks and follow ups.
Provide separate spacious outside accommodation in rural setting for the unadoptables, the nursing mothers and the disabled.
Encourage veterinary volunteers, support veterinary students.
Ensure that all funds donated to the charity are used correctly, legally and frugally. No administration or salary expenses will be paid from charity funds to staff or trustees in the UK. There may be such expenses at the shelter in India when it is built and working. A vet and veterinary nurse will be employed. We will also need to employ a caretaker who will maintain and clean the premises. He will also provide security for the animals.
Teach animal welfare and husbandry
Mission Objectives
Our History
Laura Bierer-Nielsen found a puppy in very poor condition on the streets of Pudhukottai district in Tamil Nadu in April 2022. She called various organisations that referred to themselves as charities and asked them to come and collect the puppy. She offered to pay for the treatment etc. None responded except one exceptional young man, Raja Shahul Hameedh from Madurai.
Raja travelled 150 kms on a scooter and took back a puppy that he then cared for in his home. Laura only paid the expenses. Raja had already decided to dedicate his life to stray animals in his hometown of Madurai and had applied for non governmental (NGO) status for his small organisation, since granted in 2022.
In January 2023 Laura’s parents, Sharon Bierer and Henrik Overgaard-Nielsen travelled to Madurai to meet Raja and his family. They met the animals living in his home, all of which were rescued. During their visit, they visited land for purchase which could potentially be suitable for the shelter and clinic.
Sharon and Henrik started AWI (Animal Welfare India) as a vehicle that could work with Raja and his NGO by fundraising to provide a properly built and equipped sterilisation clinic in the outskirts of Madurai with a large plot of land for a shelter for unadoptable animals that have been sterilised.
Our Team
Raja Shahul Hamdeeh
Trustee. No salary. Previous experience, founder and manager of The Seeshah’s Kennel Foundation (TSKF) in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India (registration number 272/BKIV/2022). Indian citizen.
Sharon Bierer
Co-Founder. Trustee. Administration, media, fundraising, supervision of projects. No salary. Previous experience, founder of Burmadent a charity providing dental care to orphans and the poor in Burma. Practice manager of NHS Dentist with husband, treating 250 NHS patients daily for 14 years. Magistrate and charity volunteer for prisoners, families with young children and animal rescuer. British citizen.
Henrik Overgaard-Nielsen
Trustee. Finance. No salary. Previous experience co founder of Burmadent (see above). NHS Dentist. Negotiated on behalf of 30,000 UK dentists with Department of Health, ex MEP, Wine tutor, trustee of British Dental Association Benevolent Fund. Danish and British citizen.
Victoria Hogg
Trustee. No salary. Veterinarian with own practice in London, UK. British citizen.
Nivash Lallo
Trustee. No salary. Dentist. Previous experience carer, dog carer. Irish citizen.
Our Partners
IPAN is registered under the Indian Trust Act (Reg. no: 09/2002) – recognized by the Animal Welfare Board of India (TN 108/2003)
recognized under 80G(5)(VI) of the Indian Income Tax Act. [C.No. (17)/CIT-II/2005-06/CBE/80G] –
accepts foreign contributions under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act. (FCRA No. 075970104)
India Project for Animals and Nature Hill View Farm Animal Refuge Mavanalla, Masinagudi 643223 Nilgiris Tamil Nadu India
+91 944 36 99 376 ipannilgiris@gmail.com www.hillviewfarmanimalrefuge.com Fundraising Regulator number is FRID 292991
About Us
We are a charity run entirely by unpaid volunteers
AWI is registered with the following organisations:
Funding
• Seed money of £5000.00 was provided by Sharon Bierer and Henrik Overgaard-Nielsen.
• Future fundraising will include applications to trust funds, corporations and philanthropic organisations.
• Gift Aid has been granted so AWi can take advantage of the 25% Government rebate for relevant charity donations from individuals.
Future
Expand operations beyond Madurai, work with other charities with similar aims, support existing NGO and charity work.
Contact Us
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It costs us £16.00 to sterilise a dog or cat including post operative care. In Madurai alone there are up to 38,000 free roaming dogs.
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