Guest guest Posted July 24, 2007 Report Share Posted July 24, 2007 > *Rescuing animals has become an expensive affair for animal >lovers with fire department officials in Kalyan and Dombivli >charging Rs 150 as fees for their services* The surprising aspect of this article is not that the fire department in Mumbai is charging a small fee to do animal rescues, but rather that it does animal rescues in the first place. Despite the traditional image of firefighters rescuing animals, which was already in place when the first U.S. humane societies were formed in the mid-19th century, most fire departments in most places have long been under orders to refuse to do animal rescues. The reasons are multiple: the risk of firefighters being injured, the risk of firefighting equipment being occupied by an animal rescue when a fire breaks out, the expense of answering animal rescue calls, and political concern about a possible public perception that doing animal rescues might be wasting tax funds. I am a former firefighter--briefly in Alaska, and for several years in Quebec, where I fought fires with at least four different companies. None of them were officially allowed to do animal rescue other than in connection with fighting barn fires and searching buildings to rescue possible human victims. Unofficially, most of the fire captains could always think of a reason to handle an animal call, including as a training exercise in preparation for helping humans. Mostly this involved search-and-rescue activity, such as helping to collect strayed cattle and horses after a fence break. Sometimes, though, the rescues actually did involve fire. My most memorable involvement in animal rescue as a firefighter came during the very last fire I ever fought, in January 1989. A small house went up like a rocket just at dawn from an overheated stovepipe. I was jogging several miles away when I saw the smoke, and cut cross-country over frozen ditches and ponds to arrive just ahead of the first fire engine. It looked completely hopeless, not least because a power pole had also caught fire, and a live wire had fallen into the melted snow and ice around the burning house. We couldn't get within 50 yards until the power was cut off at the nearest junction box, because the line was visibly arcing. By the time we were able to do anything, we felt certain that anyone inside was long since dead. We were a very grim and silent lot of firefighters. Suddenly, as our hoses cleared flames away from a downstairs window that we thought might be a bedroom, a black cat came flying out, landed at my feet, and after skidding right up against me, went racing 100 yards to the next closest house and right inside. I had seen enough to know that although the cat's fur was singed, she was essentially okay. With a cheer, we charged forward right into that fire and did a room-to-room search on our hands and knees, looking for any other survivors. There were none, but that black cat reminded us that a firefighter never gives up. We saved the cat, at least, with a few blasts of water, and that made us all feel quite a bit better. -- Merritt Clifton Editor, ANIMAL PEOPLE P.O. Box 960 Clinton, WA 98236 Telephone: 360-579-2505 Fax: 360-579-2575 E-mail: anmlpepl Web: www.animalpeoplenews.org [ANIMAL PEOPLE is the leading independent newspaper providing original investigative coverage of animal protection worldwide, founded in 1992. Our readership of 30,000-plus includes the decision-makers at more than 10,000 animal protection organizations. We have no alignment or affiliation with any other entity. $24/year; for free sample, send address.] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 25, 2007 Report Share Posted July 25, 2007 > ³Despite the traditional image of firefighters rescuing > animals, which was already in place when the first U.S. humane > societies were formed in the mid-19th century, most fire departments > in most places have long been under orders to refuse to do animal > rescues.² > > Merritt, > > Thank you for the great story about saving the black cat‹and for your very > good point that in some countries fire departments are not expected to, or not > allowed to, rescue animals. > > People in India often have much higher expectations concerning the rightness > and duty to save animals. > > Living in a society like India, where there is at least a tradition of valuing > animals (even though that doesn¹t always carry through in practice to daily > life) is something to be grateful for. At least the concept of having a duty > towards animals is already understood. > > This is an interesting concept. In the U.S., we may speak of being kind to > animals, or of not being cruel or abusive, but how often do we phrase this in > terms of having a duty or an obligation towards animals? > > > Sharon St. Joan International Writer and Consultant Bird and Wildlife Specialist Best Friends Network Best Friends Animal Society http://network.bestfriends.org http://international.bestfriends.org http://india.bestfriends.org sharonsj Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 30, 2007 Report Share Posted July 30, 2007 Dear all, Thank you for your replied & sorry for my late reply. Merrit Nice write-up about your experiance. some 5 years ago I experienced same thing when PAWS Trustee Ms. Anjali Ekbote phoned me that one cat we she sterlised @ home was stuck up on pavment of window on 4th floor. Cat was so scared that she could not come out neither she could jump down. I called fire brigade, They put large rope tied to one fire fighter & send him on pavement. Then he softly picked-up the cat & thrown him down. Down other firefighters caught him in on big spreaded bedsheet. The cat was frightened @ entire episode but when he saw our trustee anjali, he just jumped in her hands. Our Fire brigade always helps animals. When I have to rescue a cow lying injured on rail track, I bring my ambulance, but always call firebrigade as they have huge ropes for the same. Animal welfare is not my profession & I do full time job in multinational corporation www.asbi.co.in So when myself on job & no other PAWS volunteer is available to attend the snake call, we forward the call to Fire brigade, surprisingly 2 of the fire fighters have professional training of rescuing snakes & wild birds. Not only this, but our fire brigade do have special designed Bird / Snake boxes where these rescued animals are kept. Police, Municipal offecials forward direct calls to them to rescue birds. Then after rescuing them, they hand it over to us. All these years we worked with them & suddenly they started charging money. It is small for us but people who calls from slums cannot afford 150/- also. So it might happen that the caller may not call fire brigde to rescue it. I just given to press so that they will re-think about their desision. As far as money is concern, the fire brigade is properly paid for all their annual set-up. There is no additional burden on them. As post treatment of rescued animals is taken by us (PAWS) since past half decade. Thank You All! @ end I am always grateful for their hard work, interest in animals & round-the-clock ready to help animals. Without their support, it would have been difficult for us to help animals. Hope they soon change the decesion. Regards, -- Nilesh Bhanage +91 9820161114 www.pawsasia.org On 7/25/07, Sharon St. Joan <sharonsj wrote: > > > ³Despite the traditional image of firefighters rescuing > > animals, which was already in place when the first U.S. humane > > societies were formed in the mid-19th century, most fire departments > > in most places have long been under orders to refuse to do animal > > rescues.² > > > > Merritt, > > > > Thank you for the great story about saving the black cat‹and for your > very > > good point that in some countries fire departments are not expected to, > or not > > allowed to, rescue animals. > > > > People in India often have much higher expectations concerning the > rightness > > and duty to save animals. > > > > Living in a society like India, where there is at least a tradition of > valuing > > animals (even though that doesn¹t always carry through in practice to > daily > > life) is something to be grateful for. At least the concept of having a > duty > > towards animals is already understood. > > > > This is an interesting concept. In the U.S., we may speak of being kind > to > > animals, or of not being cruel or abusive, but how often do we phrase > this in > > terms of having a duty or an obligation towards animals? > > > > > > Sharon St. Joan > International Writer and Consultant > Bird and Wildlife Specialist > Best Friends Network > Best Friends Animal Society > http://network.bestfriends.org > http://international.bestfriends.org > http://india.bestfriends.org > sharonsj <sharonsj%40bestfriends.org> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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