Jaipur's Help in Suffering Shelter is the story of the kind daughter of an English colonel, a staffer who doubles as detective, Anna the cow who was caught in a mini bus accident, and a British vet tired of treating fat pets. The latest reason for their collective pride -- a Camel Rescue Center, the first of its kind in Asia
Jaipur's Help in Suffering Shelter is the story of the kind daughter of an English colonel, a staffer who doubles as detective, Anna the cow who was caught in a mini bus accident, and a British vet tired of treating fat pets. The latest reason for their collective prideu00a0-- a Camel Rescue Center, the first of its kind in Asia
It might prove tough to get Jaipur's locals to give you accurate directions to the nearest ATM. But ask them where Maharani Farm is, and they'll nod with knowledge.
It's the place where "people who adore animals live", they'll tell you simply. Jaipur's most famous animal shelter, without doubt, is Durgapura's Help in Suffering (HIS), a registered Indian charitable trust founded in 1980, committed to helping animals in distress. The shelter-hospital houses a staff of 35, three ambulances and two mobile clinic vehicles, all catering to six animal welfare projects, each headed by a vet. 
Like all legendsu00a0-- and HIS is nothing short of a legend among Jaipur's residentsu00a0--u00a0 this too has a humble backstory. In the 1980s, Crystal Rogers, daughter of an English colonel was on a stopover to New Zealand. Rogers spotted a lame horse being pecked at by crows on the street. Disturbed by the horrifying image, Mishy, as she was known among her friends, went ahead and set up an animal shelter in Delhi.
A series of hiccups later, she shifted base to Jaipur, thanks to the benevolence of the late Maharani Gayatri Devi, Maharani of Jaipur from 1939 to 1970. But then, legends they say are lies that have acquired dignity with age. Did Mishy really create a legacy that provides salvation to hundreds of animals today?
Inside a room housed beyond garden-like grounds at HIS, Anna, a 15 year-old cow rescued from a minibus accident and shares her quarters with a reticent buffalo, inquisitive donkeys and a temperamental mule, has lost the centre-of-attraction tag.
A new and special patient towers over her. A camel is getting a wound on his derriere treated. Dr JF Reece, who we think looks like a gentler version of Sting, patiently watches over his flock of merry compounders busy bringing the mighty animal down to its knees.
"I never met Mishy. I just responded to an advertisement calling for vets 13 years ago, and landed in this country," says the Britisher. What was a white man doing among street dogs, the locals often wondered back then. "Today, they understand."
The one-and-half acre refuge, which was once a wasteland, currently houses 170 street dogs, 15 kittens, a peahen and three monkeys, all rescued from different areas around Jaipur.
But HIS' latest feat stands a 45-minute drive away at Bassi on the Jaipur-Agra highway. A Camel Rescue Center, the first of its kind in Asia, hopes to treat and rehabilitate 'working' camels.
Since 2001, HIS has run a successful camel rescue project, helping marginalised locals who depend on the camels for survival. "Since 2001 we have treated 41,938 camels, and have fixed more than 12,000 reflectors on camel carts, bringing down the number of accidents caused by night time collision," says Dr Sudhir Swami.
The traditional camel cart ambles on highways, almost invisible after dark, leading to frequent death. Dr Pradeep Singhal and his camel rescue team move with their mobile clinic, visiting various sites around Jaipur where camels work and congregate.
Advice for camel owners on nutrition and management is coupled with providing support to the now marginalised nomadic Raika community that rears and sells camels for a living.
No two days are the same at the farm, says Dr Reece. One day, a buffalo is stolen and led to a slaughter house by thieves, giving HIS staffers like Rajender the chance to play detective before they whoop with joy on rescuing it.
The next, someone is chasing an injured, three legged Neelgai for three miles before they can treat it.u00a0
Funding, of course is the toughest to chase." The farm is funded by trusts from Switzerland and England, but it's strange that very little comes in from people of its home country," complains Dr Reece.
But it's the challenges that keep the team going. "I was a bored vet back home, treating pampered pets. I wanted to travel the world, I landed here and found my calling. This is good enough for me to call it a good life," he smiles before retiring for the evening. Mishy died in Bengaluru in 1996 when she was 80. But before she did, it seems she created an oasis in a desert.
3-point plan to be of help
1. His is short of funds. To donate online visit www.workingforanimals.org.au. You can also send a cheque or donate by bank transfer.
2. Buy a set of 15 postcards featuring the star attractions at HIS, for
Rs 150.
3. Adopt a pet. Log on to www.his-india.in/adoptapet
4. Join the team of vets. All you need is a BVSc degree, and compassion for animals. They are looking for experienced hands and freshers. Upload your CV on to the site.
Different sort of tourism
Help in suffering is happy to accommodate tourists visiting Jaipur, especially those interested in taking back something more than wooden puppets and leather jootis. How about a good night's sleep after helping the animals? For more details visit www.his-india.in
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