In rural Rajasthan, India, thousands of street animals depend on Tree of Life for Animals (TOLFA) for shelter, medical care, and compassion. The charity operates an animal hospital and sanctuary, sending out rescue vehicles from morning until late evening to help dogs, cows, cats, donkeys, and camels in need.
Beyond its rescue work, TOLFA also offers sterilizations and rabies vaccinations, educates children about rabies and animal welfare, and employs many locals from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Thanks to Lady Freethinker’s generous supporters, TOLFA received a $10,000 grant for its Rescue and Care Project, which helps over 1,000 animals each month.
Raj Kumari and Shruti (Courtesy of TOLFA)
One of those animals was Raj Kumari, a donkey who came to TOLFA needing treatment for leg injuries. Not long after she arrived, staff noticed her belly swelling and realized she might be pregnant. Their suspicions were confirmed one morning when they found her with her newborn, Shruti. Now, the beautiful foal will grow up safe and loved at TOLFA, where she’ll never be exploited for labor or go without food or water.
Dorothy (Courtesy of TOLFA)
Dorothy, a sweet older dog, was another of TOLFA’s patients. She was found with a large and painful maggot-infested wound on her shoulder, but remained gentle and trusting as staff cleaned and treated her daily. Although she will always carry a scar and a patch of missing hair, she’s made a remarkable recovery.
Bob (Courtesy of TOLFA)
Then there was Bob the donkey—likely once used for labor and abandoned when he could no longer work—who was rescued after a violent attack left him with deep wounds on his legs and face. Because of an infection, it took more than two months for his wounds to begin healing, and even longer for him to trust the people helping him. Today, he calls TOLFA’s Donkey Sanctuary yard home, where he will live out the rest of his life in peace.
Cows in new shelter (Courtesy of TOLFA)
In addition, TOLFA recently weathered the monsoon season, which flooded roads and made rescues even more challenging. Staff often had to abandon ambulances and wade through deep water on foot while carrying frightened animals to safety. To protect vulnerable street cows, the charity even secured a temporary shelter, where about 40 cows were cared for by a local family until the rains passed.
Thanks in part to the generosity of LFT’s supporters, these animals — and many others — have been able to receive the lifesaving care they needed. With your help, we can continue supporting organizations like TOLFA that are changing the lives of animals around the world.
