A few weeks ago, I learned about a formidable woman named Zeba Masood who has been tirelessly fighting for the rights of stray animals in Peshawar, Pakistan. In a country where the rights of individuals are yet to be safeguarded completely, protecting animals from abuse has been an problem long overlooked – until recently.
“We cannot sit around quietly and wait for the issue of animal abuse to go away,” insisted Masood when we spoke last month. “We need to work together and educate the public about animal rights. We need a permanent shelter for dogs and other injured stray animals in this city without wasting another moment.”
Miss Masood founded a nonprofit organization named Lucky Animal Protection Shelter (LAPS) to provide a temporary respite for injured and abandoned stray animals. It is the first and only dog rescue and animal protection shelter in Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa (KPK).
“I sensed a strong need for a formal platform through which we could not only raise a collective voice in support of animal rights but to actually create a physical space where we could roll up our sleeves and get to work. At LAPS, we vaccinate and care for these animals. Once the animals are neutered and have healed completely, we prepare them for adoption.”
The folks at LAPS plan to administer CNVR (collect neuter vaccinate return) in the near future. The process will allow them to properly tag and clip animals in order to register them in their database.
Zeba’s husband was one of the first people to get on board with the idea. “He had no choice,” she laughed before adding somberly. “This cause is very dear to our hearts. There are a lot of Non-Governmental Organizations in our city but none of them shares our vision of preventing animal abuse.”
She was also fortunate to garner further support from loved ones. “My family and friends were very forthcoming and so were a few others who were appalled by the fact that Peshawar is yet to catch up when it comes to protecting the rights of animals.”
It is not enough, however, to rely on the enlightened few.
“Between January and March of this year, there have been over 17,000 dog bites and related cases reported in hospitals throughout KPK,” stated Miss Masood. “Lady Reading Hospital, which happens to be the largest health facility in KPK, receives about thirty cases of dog bites every single day. In fact, rabies as a result of dog bites ranks 23rdin the list of 43 top diseases. Keep in mind that a good number of cases go unreported.”
Stray dogs, who are rapidly growing in number, are known to frequent residential areas and loiter around open garbage dumps in search of food.
The general public tends to respond to this problem by shooting down animals which is wrong on so many levels. The personnel at LAPS hope to change this very dire situation by educating the masses.
Miss Masood and her team visit area schools to bring much-needed awareness. “We take along the dogs we have rescued and the kids get to meet them. We also work with schools to arrange field trips to LAPS. My hope is that change will stem from introducing folks directly to the animals. So far, every visit has resulted in a renewed compassion from the public and that really keeps us going.”
LAPS has seen an increased number of visits from people who choose to bring strays over to the organization instead of ending the matter with a bullet. It is at once endearing and heartbreaking.
“We get so many requests from people to help injured and abused animals but we have come to realize that it is impossible to do it all without help,” stated Miss Masood. “As much as it breaks our hearts, we’ve had to turn people away.”
LAPS currently houses thirteen puppy dogs and forty-one grown dogs. One of the animals is a female dog who was hit by a car. The lower portion of her body is crushed. The staff at LAPS is doing their best to care for her.
“It costs approximately eighty-six cents per day to look after the needs of each dog,” explained Miss Masood. “My family and friends donate heavily to cover the cost of food, medical care, and related expenses. Essentially, you could help provide an entire month’s sustenance for an animal in need if you forego a soda or a cup of coffee per day!”
Miss Masood frequently encounters resistance when she appeals for donations. “Many people think I am mad. They ask me why I don’t focus, instead, on improving the lives of human beings. Little do they realize that my organization will ultimately lead to the improvement that these people so desire by reducing the incidence of dog bites.”
Despite the pushback from the community, Zeba Masood remains hopeful.
“I have a proper plan in place for these animals,” she shared. “The idea is to have a separate fund that will be spent on the monthly care. The rest of the amount will be spent on building a proper structure to house the animals. Pakistan is notorious for its hot summers.”
Miss Masood has been on a lookout for land that can be purchased for this specific purpose. At present, the shelter is located on land leased by the Gandhara Institute of Science and Technology (GIST).
“If we have funds set aside for the entire year then it frees us up to concentrate on improving the shelter,” she added. “One of my dear friends was kind enough to donate fans to help keep the premises cool for our dogs but it is important to understand that a lot more needs to be done.”
Currently, the shelter operates under very difficult circumstances. There is no running water. Power failure is a frequent occurrence in Peshawar which only aggravates the situation. Vaccines and related medical supplies are expensive and not being able to maintain a set budget has its fair share of challenges.
“Our resources are very limited,” insisted Zeba. “We have a veterinarian who volunteers a few hours of his time daily. He routinely examines and treats the animals. Once in a while, young girls come by to help care for the animals. But no one has officially stepped up to help on a full-time basis. The culture here is very different. No one wants to get down and dirty.”
The facility provides one warm meal a day to the animals. It typically consists of meat, bones, and vegetables that are generously donated by Zeba’s family and friends. Dry food is available to the dogs throughout the course of the day.
A major issue that Miss Masood and her team frequently encounter is that of mentality. People tend to regard dogs as a symbol of security, and nothing more. In a country where homes are guarded by AK-47’s, dogs are relied upon for further keeping attacks on the home-front at bay. In fact, when Pearl Continental Hotel, Peshawar, organized the first-ever Pet Show, the event was met with an expected level of bewilderment by the uneducated masses. That being said, however, the show overall symbolized progress in a city plagued with acts of terrorism.
“There might be a slow change coming,” agreed Miss Masood. “However, we are talking about stray dogs here. Nobody really cares about them.”
Perhaps people need to return to the basics of religion. Our faith clearly states that we need to extend kindness to all creatures, animals included. Although I run the danger of oversimplifying a complex issue with my statement, I strongly believe that it is necessary to speak to the masses in a language they’ll understand better. Maybe a generation from now we will have a more enlightened audience that will wholeheartedly welcome the need to support animal rights.
“People should realize that this is not just my problem,” emphasized Zeba. “This is a community problem. We need your help in order to find an immediate and permanent solution to better serve the community so that we can collectively work towards making Peshawar a better, safer, and cleaner place to live in.”
To donate, please bookmark the following information:
A/C 60 424 20311 714 103485
IBAN pk24 MPBL 0424 0271 4010 33485
SWIFT Code: MPBLPKKA003
Beneficiary: Zeba Masood
Habib Metropolitan Bank, University Road, Peshawar, Pakistan
Easy Paisa: 17301-7758382-8
Go Fund me
https://www.gofundme.com/8q8nc-save-the-animals
Tel: 0303 259 2131
FB: https://web.facebook.com/LAPSkpk/
Susan Peck/Call To Excellence says
What an inspirational woman and a great cause! As Mahatma Ghandi said, “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way in which its animals are treated.” Although there are certainly humanitarian needs in Pakistan, animal welfare is closely related and also important – the common denominator is compassion for other living beings. As it increases in one area, it increases in others. Thanks for sharing this story!
Seema Khan says
I completely agree with you. When I heard about Zeba, I also heard hushed whispers that she could do more for human beings. “That’s where the need really is,” they’d insist. What baffled me was that they were unable to see that there is a direct correlation between animal welfare and the benefit of society as a whole. This woman is saving lives and has selflessly devoted herself to a great cause.
Jiselle says
Wow. We need more people like her! She is truly amazing!
Seema Khan says
Yes! In the face of all sorts of obstacles, she’s relentlessly paving a way towards solidarity.