Why did we create the Animals Rescue Team?
My name is Ewa. I have been living in the Republic of Maldives for some time now. Animals have always been close to my heart. When I see them being harmed, I can’t pass by indifferently. This is also the case now.
Malé is a very crowded, noisy city, full of motorcycles and cars, with dark alleys where it is better not to venture at night. And everywhere on the streets, the few lawns, between buildings and under cars are sick cats that need urgent help.
Cats are not spayed or neutered here. Until a few years ago, there was not a single (!!!) veterinary clinic in the whole country. Now there are three, but veterinary care is so far very inaccessible, expensive and basically only for pets. That’s why no one here is spaying or neutering free-living cats, so their population continues to grow. Access to medication and to any treatment is very difficult. That’s why many kittens die in suffering right after birth or after a few months, living in conditions that no creature in the world deserves.
During heavy rains, cats lack shelter and tiny cat babies die because they simply drown. Those a little older get infected with various diseases from each other. Those that can’t find food also die of starvation. The drama of these cats makes me unable to pass by them indifferently. It’s not their fault that they were born right here.
Together with some local volunteers, we are doing what we can to improve the lot of these poor creatures. Unfortunately, we are not able to help all the suffering cats, because any treatment here involves huge costs.
I realized that in order to do something for these animals that will change their fate at least a little, we need to act more decisively. As part of the Coral Mission Foundation, run by my sister, I created the Animal Rescue Team and we do what we can for these poor creatures – we treat them, feed them, sterilize them and find them homes.