In just one year, the Animal Rahat camp, which was started in the Sangli market yard with the blessing of a local government official, spread to 25 stopping points covering an area of 60 square kilometres (which includes Miraj, Madhavnagar, Kupwad, and Sangli) where more than 1,500 working animals gather. In and around Miraj and Sangli, the group has installed concrete water tanks to provide water to thirsty, often overheated working animals. Other activities include educating cattle owners about the basic needs of their animals, including proper food, clean and sufficient water, shade, and adequate rest periods, as well as discussions of health management. The group has conducted vaccination camps for foot-and-mouth disease with, to date, more than 350 animals inoculated against this dreaded ailment. Animal Rahat was also able to vaccinate 100 horses against tetanus. The organization also provides stress-reducing kits of vitamins and minerals for cart drivers to administer to their tired animals after long stretches on the road.

Animal Rahat’s approach is to spread awareness of basic animal welfare among the locals, teaching them the benefits of adopting basic, practical measures, the importance of providing their animals with a nutritious diet and the benefits – to themselves as well as the animals – of reducing and balancing their animals’ loads.

Most of the first-aid treatment given to bullocks by Animal Rahat is necessitated by poor nutrition, dehydration caused by under-watering, ill-fitting yokes that leave wounds and lead to cancer and infection, and back, hump, and neck stress resulting from incorrect loading of the bullock carts, overwork, and improper driving of the carts. Many bullocks are depressed, suffering from poor appetite, diarrhea, and lethargy.

Animal Rahat’s guidance and support of the owners of these animals has already reduced practices such as leaving the bullocks out in extreme heat or unprotected through wet rainy seasons. As a result, there are lower incidences of heat stress, cough, and pneumonia in the animals. Animal Rahat has also designed a portable shade screen that can be attached to individual carts and used by owners as a shelter against the heat or do double duty as a bullock blanket during the cold winters.