THE HIGH COURT has two dogs, one of which is three-legged, and they are being supported by animal activist Syaeda Manbodh.

She believes that no animal should suffer and has been caring for animals about 20 years.

The dogs residing in the compound of the High Court in Georgetown are Lulu, who is about 13 years old and Pumpkin, a three-legged animal around 12 years old.

According to Manbodh, she first encountered the dogs in 2007 at the High Court and it took her one year to gain the trust of Pumpkin, whose right paw was chopped.

Pumpkin had to get surgery and former Chief Justice Ian Chang after learning of her plight donated the money and her right leg was amputated.

Both dogs were part of a pack of strays that hid out in the compound of the High Court even as the administrator sought to have them removed.
Manbodh rescued more than 35 dogs from the compound and took them to the Guyana Society for Prevention and Cruelty to Animals (GSPCA). She has also found homes for several others.

Even in their twilight years, both Pumpkin and Lulu are active and alert dogs.
Manbodh would provide the dogs with their daily meals, fresh water and baths, de-flea and deworm the dogs on a monthly basis and take the dogs for their bi-annual vet check-up.

Pumpkin had a cough and was taken to a private vet for treatment and she has recovered fully.

Medications and food are provided by Manbodh through kind donations from friends …also she feeds dogs that live at schools, government buildings and the home of a senior who cannot look after his pets anymore.

Manbodh says all animals can live strong and healthy lives with good food, fresh water, vet care and lots of love. Animals (like humans) need companionship, she says.
She stated it would not take much for persons to take their animals to either the GSPCA or a private qualified vet if they are suffering.

Lulu and Pumpkin are inseparable and they seem to be very happy with their living arrangements at the High Court where they ensure no one enters the compound wearing slippers. They are also very wary of strangers wandering around.

The kind-hearted woman says, “You don’t have to put down your animals. With the proper care and treatment they can have healthy lives.” She is of the opinion that the stray population needs to be controlled by spaying and neutering all pets.

Manbodh spoke out against neglect and ill-treatment of animals whose owners have failed to care for them and often many of the sick animals are abandoned and left for dead.

She stated that it wouldn’t take much out of persons to take their sick animals to the GSPCA to be treated by the professionals.

Manbodh noted that there was more awareness through social media, especially Facebook where people have been reaching out to assist sick animals.
Lulu and Pumpkin are both spayed. It was the first thing that she did for the female dogs she has grown so attached to and they show her the same love and compassion whenever she visits them at the High Court. They would find the time to play with her.

Manbodh, who has a full time job running a B&B also spends most of her free time rescuing animals, taking animals to spay, answering questions pertaining to animal welfare via Facebook, emails and phone calls, helping animals owners who have fallen on hard times with food and medication for their pets. Manbodh says she likes nothing better than helping all animals.

She also rescues sloths, monkeys and other animals and recently she rescued eight parrots and one macaw from a wildlife trader. However the macaw died.

The parrots are being housed at the zoo and once their wings have healed they will be released back into their natural habitat.

Manbodh strongly believes that wildlife should not be caged but left to roam free.