Our Story

Background

Varanasi or Banaras (also known as Kashi and the City of LIght) is one of the oldest living cities in the world. Mark Twain, who was inspired by the legend and sanctity of Banaras, once wrote:

"Banaras is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend and looks twice as old as all of them put together"

A popular destination for Hindu devotees and international tourists, this holy city’s streets are populated with countless cows, buffaloes, beautiful Pariah dogs, cats, donkeys, and monkeys.

With few animal welfare services, sick and injured animals are mostly left to fend for themselves. Injured bulls are rarely treated and injured dogs are often left to die by the side of the road. After a life of service, sick and injured donkeys are simply abandoned.

Our History

2010

In 2010, Eileen Weintraub, Founding Director of Help Animals India, a well respected USA-based NGO, visited Varanasi. She had received requests from India and around the world to help Varanasi’s suffering street animals, and she wanted to see the situation first-hand. During her visit, she saw many street animals suffering. Injured dogs and donkeys. Dead cows on the side of the road. Virtually nowhere to turn for help. Something had to be done!

Eileen teamed up with Praveen Ohal, Director of HOPE and Animal Trust, a successful animal welfare organization headquartered in Ranchi, to establish Varanasi for Animals that very same year! Together, they rescued a sweet pup during Eileen’s visit. Syam was eventually adopted by Sundalip Sengupta, who later became a Field Manager with Varanasi for Animals.

VfA members lovingly patting a rescued dog

VfA members lovingly petting a rescued dog

2011–2015

We started out with very few resources. Varanasi Railways generously provided us with a single room in an abandoned building, which we used as a small clinic space.

With community support, we continued working at various locations for another two years, then moved to the popular Assi Ghat. Rescue services continued, and we were able to offer monthly Animal Birth Control camps, where we spay and neuter dogs and provide rabies vaccinations.

Seeing the great need that we were filling, Help Animals India committed to help Varanasi for Animals build a dedicated clinic space. With generous donations from the local and international community of animal lovers, we were able to raise the funds for construction. And, with the help of community leaders, we were able to lease land and begin construction of a permanent clinic for Varanasi for Animals

2020

In 2015, we moved into our new clinic, which allowed us to increase our Animal Birth Control service to 200! We continued to rescue dogs, monkeys, cows, donkeys, and other street animals. We have two animal ambulances servicing street animal emergencies in Varanasi.

In 10 years, we have grown from a single donated room that served as a small recovery facility, using motorbikes fitted with cages to rescue animals, into one of Varanasi’s leading animal welfare providers and #1 Animal Birth Control provider.

Our Sponsors

Help Animals India

Help Animals India is a USA 501(c)3 charitable organization dedicated to improving the lives and welfare of animals in India. We accomplish our mission by raising money for dedicated Indian animal protection groups and advising them on how to improve their capacity to help the animals. We fund small to mid-sized charities that accomplish great things for the animals despite few resources, just as we strive to do.

Help Animals India has earned the Guidestar Exchange Seal signifying a commitment to transparency and has also achieved the highest rating on Great Nonprofits, where they were named a Top-Rated Charity

HOPE and Animal

HOPE and Animal is a registered nonprofit (Registration No. 9549/IV799) in Ranchi, India. Founded in 2000, we work to protect the environment and animals, control the increasing population of street dogs and end their suffering, and help the local communities by reducing poverty through farm animal welfare programs. Our reach includes a Rescue and Rehabilitation Shelter for Animals in Khunti and two Animal Birth Control Camps funded by the Ranchi Municipal Corporation. HOPE & Animal is the only organization of its kind in the entire Jharkhand state that is committed towards animal welfare with special emphasis on street dogs.