ANIMALS HAVE NO NATIONALITY

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

  • To provide sterilisation, adoption, services, vaccination and education
  • Shelter unadoptable or disabled animals
  • Support veterinary learning
  • There are 27 to 38 thousand free roaming dogs in Madurai according to recent survey
  • Dogs come into season twice a year and can produce up to twelve puppies
  • Approximately 88% unneutered dogs in Madurai
    • Cats can come into season all year long, particularly in hot climates
    • 4-6 kittens per pregnancy is the average but each pregnancy can produce up to 12 kittens
    • So a queen (female cat) can produce up to 36 kittens per year

    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

    • +44 (0) 208 871 4859
    • +44 (0) 7956 171311
    • AWIanimalwelfareindia@gmail.com