Over 500 dogs rescued by woman in 7 years | Bhubaneswar News
Rourkela: A woman’s compassion is changing the lives of hundreds of street animals. Rashmi Dhar, 28, from Koel Nagar, has rescued and rehabilitated over 500 dogs in the past seven years.
Growing up surrounded by pets, Dhar’s journey as an animal rescuer started during her college days when she started feeding street animals with her pocket money. Today, her work encompasses rescue operations, medical treatment, vaccination drives, and mass feeding programmes across the city.
“Everything changed when I started spending time with street animals. I studied them, fed them, treated their wounds, and grieved for them as family,” said Dhar, who has transformed her home into a sanctuary for four rescued dogs.
What sets Dhar apart is her dedication to learning veterinary care. She has extensively studied veterinary literature, researched viral diseases, and mastered the administration of medicines. This self-taught knowledge has enabled her to handle various cases, from treating dogs with cancer to managing accident victims.
Her initiatives have evolved beyond individual rescue efforts. Through her recently formed organization, Stray Souls of Rourkela, Dhar has launched several community programmes. Among these are mass feeding drives reaching thousands of animals, reflective collar drives to prevent road accidents, anti-rabies vaccination campaigns, special holiday feeding programmes, including her signature Christmas-birthday celebration.
One of her most challenging cases involved Bloney, a street dog who survived severe burns from boiling water. “For two weeks, I dressed his wounds thrice daily. Watching him recover made every sleepless night worthwhile,” Dhar said.
Her work has inspired others to join the cause. “None of this would have been possible without my family’s blessings and support from friends like Biswajeeta, Biraj, Sanjay, and Soumik,” she said. Her sister, Kanchan, has been particularly instrumental in supporting her initiatives.
Despite facing numerous challenges and heartbreaks, including losing animals she’s cared for, Dhar remains committed to her mission. Her recent Holi Special Mass Feeding Drive promoted the message “Celebrate Holi with colours of compassion, not cruelty.”
As Dhar continues her work, she encourages others to join her cause: “The moment you see a hungry stray, don’t look away. Offer a meal, a shelter, a moment of kindness. Because, in the end, a little compassion can change their world.”
Growing up surrounded by pets, Dhar’s journey as an animal rescuer started during her college days when she started feeding street animals with her pocket money. Today, her work encompasses rescue operations, medical treatment, vaccination drives, and mass feeding programmes across the city.
“Everything changed when I started spending time with street animals. I studied them, fed them, treated their wounds, and grieved for them as family,” said Dhar, who has transformed her home into a sanctuary for four rescued dogs.
What sets Dhar apart is her dedication to learning veterinary care. She has extensively studied veterinary literature, researched viral diseases, and mastered the administration of medicines. This self-taught knowledge has enabled her to handle various cases, from treating dogs with cancer to managing accident victims.
Her initiatives have evolved beyond individual rescue efforts. Through her recently formed organization, Stray Souls of Rourkela, Dhar has launched several community programmes. Among these are mass feeding drives reaching thousands of animals, reflective collar drives to prevent road accidents, anti-rabies vaccination campaigns, special holiday feeding programmes, including her signature Christmas-birthday celebration.
One of her most challenging cases involved Bloney, a street dog who survived severe burns from boiling water. “For two weeks, I dressed his wounds thrice daily. Watching him recover made every sleepless night worthwhile,” Dhar said.
Her work has inspired others to join the cause. “None of this would have been possible without my family’s blessings and support from friends like Biswajeeta, Biraj, Sanjay, and Soumik,” she said. Her sister, Kanchan, has been particularly instrumental in supporting her initiatives.
Despite facing numerous challenges and heartbreaks, including losing animals she’s cared for, Dhar remains committed to her mission. Her recent Holi Special Mass Feeding Drive promoted the message “Celebrate Holi with colours of compassion, not cruelty.”
As Dhar continues her work, she encourages others to join her cause: “The moment you see a hungry stray, don’t look away. Offer a meal, a shelter, a moment of kindness. Because, in the end, a little compassion can change their world.”
