Written by: Hamad Ali
Posted on: July 19, 2018 | 
| 中文
Nimra with one of her dogs
Animals deserve consideration, regardless of whether they are endangered, “cute” or useful. We must recognize that animals are not ours to exploit for entertainment or carrying out experiments. These are the views of a couple in Karachi who aim to set up a ‘HOME – For the Better Animals.’ In a house in Darakhshan Villas, Clifton, Nimra and her husband Nabeel, are housing almost 50 cats and two dogs. Nimra always had a love for animals and has been rescuing them since she was a child.
In a conversation with us, Nimra talked about how she used to bring injured cats and weak kittens home, and how her parents had to deal with them. Initially, her mother showed reluctance, but now the whole family is working for animal welfare and rescue. She believes that as a nation we are not empathetic towards animals. However, it's a fine boundary which once crossed can bring a change in the state of street animals. Nimra is driven to help animals regardless of their type or breed, which is the true essence of animal welfare, since she cares about the living being and not the quality of their fur.
The couple has made separate well-ventilated rooms for kittens and cats, so that their diet can be monitored, and they can be kept safe from dogs. The cats have digestive issues; thus, their food portions are supposed to be calculated, as prescribed by their vet. Feeding is carried out by Nimra herself as each cat has specific dietary needs.
Cleanliness is another priority for the couple, because the animals are kept in the house and it’s not safe for the animals or the carers, to come in contact with any bacteria. Currently, they have two helpers for cleaning purposes and the place is cleaned twice a day. They’ve made sure that all the animals in their house are spayed and neutered. Nimra talked about the importance of this process, saying it’s safer than an injection, and leads to a controlled population of animals.
Nimra plans on registering her initiative as an NGO and not a shelter. She said that people hoard shelters with cats and dogs, which leads to the further deterioration of their condition. She aims to make a national level sanctuary, which would be a safe place for animals and where people can come and visit, to witness what is being done. This would ensure that the process remains transparent. She said, “I want to motivate people to become a little more open-minded and open hearted towards species other than human beings. Frankly, it’s much easier to adopt a cat and take care of it than a human baby, which comes with a lot more responsibility.” She emphasized that, at the very least, one should drive carefully and responsibly. If one can’t adopt an animal, one shouldn’t run over them either.
At present, their shelter is self-funded, and around eighty thousand rupees are spent per month on the maintenance, food, and vet. They have also reached out to corporations and schools to run campaigns on animal rights and management, which is a great initiative since schools can instill empathy in children towards animals, while corporations have the funds to bring about a greater social change. They are open for donations and you can reach out to them through their Facebook page, Home - For the Better Animals.
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