We are delighted to present the new Asswin Project Ambulance. Before the project was set up Jean & bob used their own small car to get to the many Brick kilns and construction sites. They even transported animals in it when needed. Towards the end of 2006 the chassis broke and it was irreparable. As far as the mobile clinic was concerned this was a catastrophe. To keep travel costs down they used rickshaws to get to local sites and only used taxis to reach urgent cases that were further away.
We started to raise money for a new vehicle / ambulance immediately. Following a letter to Lady Carole Bamford of JCB Excators Ltd, telling her of our work and the need of a vehicle, we received a very generous donation of £2000. In December 2006 we were also given $1000 from the Ford Foundation. Another generous supporter gave us £900, so along with the sums already raised we were able to buy the ambulance pictured.
The Asswin Project is not all about Donkeys and Equines, we also take care of many other animals including cows, camels, lizards and birds. This usually happens on separate days but one day in December our day turned out more like a day on 'Animal Park' than a Donkey project....
As it happens we were filming for a new Current Affairs TV programme. The Crew accompanied us to several work sites; they filmed us attending to the donkeys & interviewed a number of donkey owners. It was somewhat fortunate that on the day we were able to demonstrate our emergency call-out service, as we had to pick up an convey to the Jeevashram shelter a dog, a duck, a donkey...... and a piglet !
The call-out was to pick up a donkey that had been hit by a car. On the way our attention was drawn to a dog that had been left on the side of the road, it's back legs paralysed. As we were attending to the dog we spotted a duck, it's back leg injured and many feathers missing from one of it's wings. Once we treated their injuries we put both the dog and the duck in the ambulance. We then went to pick up the donkey; it had a broken thigh bone so we had to take it to Jeevashram, so he too was put in the back of the ambulance. We thought we had a full house but on the way back we found a tiny piglet in the street which had obviously been attacked by dogs.
So there we were, with the film crew and in the back of the ambulance, sitting comfortably together a dog, a duck, a donkey.... and of course the pig !
We came across Edwina, a donkey foal, on a construction site in October 2005. She had been abandoned by Rajastani nomadic shepherds. The lower part of her front right foot had been torn off so she was no further use to the shepherds !
Edwina has been found the construction workers' children who asked us to take care of her. The hoof was infested with maggots and coated with dried blood & mud. After some weeks of care at our residence enjoying the comfort of a bed and indeed the TV!! her wound healed & we placed Edwina into the care of the Jeevashram Foundation, with whom we are affiliated.
A few weeks later we came across Lily who together with another white horse, was pulling a wedding chariot. She was lame in all four legs and her hind legs had been fired. In fact she was in so much pain she could barely keep up with her companions. The owner was advised that he was in breach of the Indian Animal Cruelty Laws and, with the help of the local Police, was persuaded to hand her over to us. We put Lily into the care of the Jeevashram Foundation where she befriended Edwina and they soon became absolutely devoted to one another, in fact inseparable. At Jeevashram Lily was spotted by Martina & Alex, German Diplomats; they fell in love with the beautiful horse and asked if they could adopt her temporarily as they were likely to be staying in India for 5 years. They had previously rescued 2 street dogs in Greece, taken them back to Germany and then brought them in India and whilst in India they rescued a buffalo calf who had already become great friend with their dogs. We agreed to their kind offer of adopting Lily on the condition they also took Edwina. Martina & Alex jumped at the idea and Lily & Edwina are now living happily at the House with the calf, 2 dogs & a local peacock which drops in for some food. In fact they have all become good friends and are often seen walking in a line, one behind the other, around the grazing area !! Very Comical ! Lily and Edwina have both put on weight. Edwina's coat is now lovely and shiny. Lily still has a little difficulty standing on one hind leg, but both are improving and very happy.
