Over 900 Animals Have Found Hope Thanks To Shiranee’s Relentless Efforts

Be it Meera and Meena- the two camels rescued from a moving circus- who were beaten with wooden rods day in and day out and purposefully starved or Olesia the little pup which was found in the garbage dump - Shiranee has made sure that not even a single animal is left uncared for. She has brought them into her shelter and transformed their lives for the better

A die-hard animal lover, Dr. Shiranee Periera has spent the last 30 years of her life tending to the sick, most vulnerable, and voiceless beings. Over the years, she has given numerous animals a second chance. She takes care of 900+ animals - dogs, cats, cows, buffaloes, camels, horses, etc - and gives them a safe home in the Ammambakkam village of Thiruvallur, Tamil Nadu. 

Away from the hustle and bustle of the city, this sprawling 18-acre land is a sanctuary for hundreds of animals 

Talking about her childhood, Shiranee recalls hearing stories of kindness and goodness of icons of history, kings, and saints from her father - which left an indelible impression on her. Her family also instilled in her a deep love for nature and a strong desire to help those who have no one to look after them. 

With years of experience in animal rescue and rehabilitation and multiple awards and recognitions to her name, we asked Shiranee if any of this gets easier with time.

“Of course not! We find them in terrible conditions and each time my heart breaks, as I see them suffer silently because of human-inflicted cruelty. I only find relief when I see them happy and well-fed in our cage-free, chain-free forever home,” - Shiranee Pereira. 

Besides being instrumental in stopping the 72-year-old brutal practice of electrocution of street dogs in Chennai in 1995, Shiranee, for the first time in India, introduced the science of using non-animal alternatives in research and education in 2000 and successfully worked to bring about the national ban on using animals in education saving 18 million animals annually.  A woman with an indomitable spirit, she has not only inspired momentous policy changes like the national guidelines in the use of equines and dogs in research but also risked her life, several times to apprehend trucks to stop the horrific interstate trafficking of cattle and sheep.

Hers is the only shelter in India that takes in retired police horses. Shiranee believes that these horses deserve to live a happy retired life after a lifetime of service. She fondly talks about King, a 13-year-old police horse, who retired from police patrolling and duties due to old age. King is now part of a family of 12 thoroughbred horses in Shiranee’s care and is living a life of happiness and comfort. Shiranee and her dedicated team have fed over 149 horses on the beaches of Marina and Mahabalipuram over the past few years and brought home the sick and the dying.

“People leave their pets outside our gates, some even throw them over the wall of our compound. They come to us scared, traumatised, hungry, and thirsty. All I want is to give them the life they deserve.” 

Shiranee is on a mission to save countless lives but she can’t do this on her own 

With more than 900 animals depending on her daily, Shiranee and her team do all they can to give them their best life. But it is not an easy task and between lack of regular donors, rising prices of food and medicines, dwindling freshwater resources in their area, and the scorching summer heat, Shiranee is struggling. She needs your help with food for the animals, medicine, and construction materials - your donations are sure to save many more innocent lives.