Chennai is battling with the worst rainfalls in over 100 years and regular life has ceased to exist with schools, colleges and offices forced to shut down. Normal existence is being threatened by the continual rains. The submerged city is struggling to breathe at many places with water climbing up to 6 to 12 feet. Loss of lives, large scale destruction of property, lack of food, clean water, power outages and mobile phone connectivity issues have brought gloom to the vibrant city of Chennai. But the silver lining is emerging in the form of the people of Chennai, who have not let the state of misery dim the goodness of their hearts and the universal feeling of solidarity.

Without any expectations and without waiting for action from government authorities, people in Chennai are opening their homes, their kitchens and their hearts to anyone who needs help. Social media platforms are playing a major role as a dependable and effective medium to seek help, offer aid, facilitate rescue operations, and in allocation of resources, volunteers and funds, with facebook pages such as Chennai Rain Relief 2015 and trending hastags like #chennairainshelp, #chennaifloods, #chennaivolunteer and #chennairescue, in these desperate times.

Schools, hospitals, malls, theatres and restaurants are opening their doors to give shelter and food to the affected people. Fishermen are coming out to help with whatever they can find - fishing boats, kayaks, catamarans – to bring people to safer places. Moreover, at the time of such a disaster, the people of Chennai have not forgotten the speechless and helpless animals.

Help Pouring in for the Strays

Floods in Chennai have caused more misery to animals than humans. The stray cows, cats and dogs in Chennai have nowhere to go. The incessant rains have left them without food and shelter. Plenty of Good Samaritans are individually trying to do their best for the poor creatures. From feeding them, bringing them home to calling the concerned animal rescue groups, the people are aware of the helplessness of animals and taking action to ensure their wellbeing while their own life is going through uncertainty brought by heavy and unremitting rainfalls.

Organized Help for Animals in Chennai

Animal welfare groups like Blue Cross of India and PFCI are actively working to rescue, treat and provide a safe shelter to the animals of the flooded state. They are bringing together more people and resources to reach out to the suffering animals, mainly dogs, which form the majority of the stray population.

PFCI (People for Cattle in India) is a registered NGO formed by animal lovers for the promotion of animal welfare. Based on information received through phone calls or messages on social media, the volunteers are undertaking rescue operations and providing food to the starving animals. They are also organizing mass feeding programs for community animals in which they strive to reach as many animals as possible. In their feeding drives scores of animals are being fed with nutritious food. The Chennai based animal-loving group is in need for more volunteers and resources (rice, dry food, bread, biscuit, disposable feeding bowls, crates, sheets, medicines, raw materials for cooking etc.) to get enhanced support in rescue, feeding and rehabilitating maximum canines, felines and bovines.

Blue Cross of India is a registered society which was formed in 1959 to lessen the sufferings of animals. It is also using the help of social media to collect funds and resources, and to extend help to rescue the animals in major way.

Animal lovers and good human beings are working day and night to bring all flood-affected strays and pets in Chennai to safety. Dog shelters are being put up at various places to accommodate dogs at safe places. Even while sitting far away from the terrible floods, you can contribute towards animal welfare in Chennai by visiting the respective online platforms of the various welfare groups like Blue Cross and PFCI.

To commend the vigorous efforts of the Chennai people, we would like to modify Mahatma Gandhi’s quote a little and say that - The greatness of a city and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated. Keep going Chennai!