– Animal lover dedicates her life to their care

THE disappointments in Genevieve Beepat’s life could’ve had a crippling effect on her had it not been for the love and kindness shown by her dear grandmother, who, earlier in life, refused to place her and her two sisters in an orphanage.
Beepat, well known as Judy, believes that she inherited her grandmother’s caring spirit as she has chosen to dedicate her life to looking after animals in need.
The 40-year-old animal lover of Lusignan, East Coast Demerara, has turned her home into a shelter, providing housing and care to over 60 animals, mainly cats and dogs. “All are rescues, and I also take care of strays and neglected pets outside of my home; over three dozen,” she said in an interview with Pepperpot Magazine.

Judy has advocated for animals for nearly nine years, having always had pets while growing up. “After a lot of disappointing experiences in life, it kind of drew me to the animals and their suffering. I became very passionate about helping them,” she said, adding, “They have so much love to give; they’re pure little innocent souls that just need love like everyone else.”
Judy did not get an opportunity to grow up with her parents. In fact, when she was very young, her family encountered problems that resulted in her and her two sisters having one of two ways out: going to an orphanage or being taken in by her grandmother.

‘Rukmin’ or ‘Flutie Lady’, Judy’s grandmother, would not allow her grandchildren to go to an orphanage, hence making all of the necessary sacrifices to care for them, including one of the girls who has a disability. The grandmother was a well-known vendor at the Lusignan Primary School and was reportedly the only one to sell ‘flutie’ (ice block) at the time, something the children loved.
“She was very gentle, kind and loving,” Judy reflected, adding, “She was left with three of us. It was either her or the orphanage, and she decided to keep us. I think I may have inherited her kindness, but, in return, I show it to the animals. The animals give so much unconditional love, and they remain loyal to you.”

Judy has witnessed the cruelty that has been meted out to animals and feels sickened by it each time. “I am very disappointed in the way I see people treating animals and the cruelty; it’s heartbreaking. It affects you when you see these things.” This has motivated her even more to dedicate her time and resources to caring for the animals.
A typical day would see Judy feeding the cats first thing in the morning. Then, she’d open the kennels and let out the dogs for a bit so that they could run and play while she has a cup of coffee. Next, she would get the pot going for that day. She cooks every day. “It’s a big pot of rice and I do the meat separately,” she explained. “When it’s finished, I would separate it into three or four other pots so that it can get cold.”

But why does Judy insist on cooking every day when she can do so for multiple days at a time? “I can’t cook for two days because of the amount of food I have to cook,” was her simple, logical answer. This undoubtedly takes lots of work and dedication, but Judy would have it no other way.
“They know their time (for food); you see them waiting,” Judy said. Apart from feeding the animals in her home, every afternoon, she would circle her block and surrounding streets to feed the strays as well. Then she’d make one final go out on the public road around 19:00hrs to feed another set that would assemble there. “I know the number of dogs, so I know the amount of food to walk with. I put them in bowls and then make little heaps for whoever would come,” she shared.

Judy would even make her way into people’s yards to be able to feed their animals, but many times she feels scorned and looked down upon for the work she is doing. “Lots of times, people don’t see the value of it and are unappreciative. At times people look at you with scorn because of what you do for the animals as if you are below them and whatever you are doing is low,” she related.
“It can damage you emotionally, but at the end of the day, I find a lot of joy and contentment in helping the animals. Sometimes I rescue them from a very bad situation and bring them back to good health and seeing them happy, running and playing keeps me going.”

Another challenge that Judy faces is a lack of support in general. “In Guyana, animal welfare seems to be the least priority for many people. People hardly donate, even as prices are rising, and then we have groups that are registered whereas I am not, so people would prefer to donate to the registered organisation as compared to a layman like me.”
Nevertheless, Judy said she continues to do her best to care for the animals. She welcomes anyone who would like to offer assistance, even if it’s just to help with bathing the dogs. She can be contacted on 629-9081.