The first assistance center for homeless animals registered in Turkmenistan
"Island of Hope" is the name of the center for assisting homeless animals, which was recently registered by official bodies of Turkmenistan.
The public initiative was supported by the Ministry of Economy and Development, which helped formulating all the required documents, enabling the volunteer organization to gain the legal status, thus reaching a new level.
The "Island of Hope" Center was granted a patent for the opening of a private enterprise of canine profile, fixed its legal address and opened its own bank account. The State Committee for Environmental Protection and Land Resources has also joined the project, allocating land for the construction of crates and other related infrastructure in the selected suburban area near Ashgabat.
Today, when the World Day of Homeless Animals is celebrated, the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan has also contributed to the organization of the "Island of Hope" center by handing over humanitarian cargo to the founders of the shelter - boxes with essential medicines, vaccines, etc. Appropriate drugs and vaccines for the Center's pets come from the Sanitary and Epidemiological Service of the Ministry of Health and the State Veterinary Service of the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources of the country.
The Ministry of Public Utilities also responded, which sees the "Island of Hope" as a partner organization, declaring its intention to provide it with technical and advisory support.
In short, the new private shelter dealing with the problem of homeless animals received active state support, as well assistance of the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Turkmenistan.
Orient met with the head of the "Island of Hope" Tatyana Galberg, whose initiative received the most positive public response. As our correspondent learned, at the moment Tatyana's summer cottage in the suburbs of the capital contains more than 100 dogs and about 50 cats picked from the streets. All these animals got shelter, food and health care from Tanya.
- Tanya, what you are doing is a true act of humanity. 365 days a year, without holidays and weekends you are doing free hard work, how do you feel about your activities?
"It's my life, I can not pass by a suffering animal." My husband Nicholay and two daughters - Irisha and Katyusha - help me. I would not be physically capable of pulling this all alone. We consider ourselves responsible for the life and health of our minors. But our ultimate goal is to find them a good family. In many cases, it is possible, and it is very pleasing.
- And how did it all start?
- My father worked in the Scientific and Production Association "The Sun" and for the summer he took me with him to the campus for employees. Once we found a blind three-colored kitten there. To save him, we found a nursing cat, but it did not take the foundling well. Then we thought of a trick - we began to bait her with sausage. The cat succumbed, and while she was enjoying a delicacy, our kitten has fed on her milk. So we continued that way. Of course, when I went home, I took the foundling with me.
I brought home all the living things that needed help - a chick that jumped out of the nest, a lost kitten. Mom did not forbid it. And in time, familiar and unfamiliar people began to bring home puppies and kittens to us, knowing that we will accept all without refusal. The number of dogs increased, we were began to cramp with all our pets, and we moved to the country ...
In most cases, caring for homeless animals, we will deal with someone's guilt, callousness, criminal negligence or even barbarity. But if you knew how many good people we met, they help us by the power of their abilities. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their support! Special appreciation goes to the wonderful veterinarian Jennet Nurmuhammedova, who treats our pets for free.
And, of course, without such a grandiose amount of state support and attention that we felt, our undertaking would not have developed so quickly.
- And what are your plans now?
- In addition to our daily work with homeless cats and dogs, we have future plans to open a hotel for pets, the owners of which are leaving on a business trip or on vacation. We also plan to open a canine training ground and a veterinary care office. We also want to set up educational work. In general, there are plenty of ideas…
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Read about the development of the "Island of Hope" project, in our subsequent publications.
