Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Jan 6: When 12-year-old Abhinav Rao came across a Facebook post on a paraplegic dog struggling to move in Bengaluru, he decided to break his piggy-bank to use his money to buy the dog a wheel cart. Today, the mongrel 'Moana' runs faster than any other dog in its locality.
Behind this active and happy dog are four humans whose kindness will restore one’s faith in humanity. On December 17, 2016 Ankur Bhatnagar, a 3D animator came across a 45-day-old mongrel in Whitefield whose hind legs were crushed, probably due to an accident.
Bhatnagar took the dog to a vet who after treating her said that she can never walk on fours. He suggested treatments and also a wheel cart so that she can be mobile. Bhatnagar took the dog home and named her 'Moana' after a famous animation character. However, as he stayed alone and the dog needed constant care, he put up a post asking if anyone was willing to foster her.
Abhinav Rao with Mahesh Nayak
Ankur Bhatnagar (L) and Rekha Vijaykumar
Rekha Vijayakumar who came across Bhatnagar’s post decided to adopt Moana. She put up some pictures of Moana and her condition, which was noticed by her brother Mahesh Nayak, a media professional and Abhinav Rao, a class VII student of Lourdes Central School in Mangaluru.
Touched by the activeness of the dog, in spite of its condition, Mahesh and Abhinav wanted to help it. Mahesh used to maintain a piggy-bank in his office, so that he could dispose loose change and Abhinav loved to drop change in this piggy-bank and hence it was famously called ‘Abhi’s Dabhi’.
When Mahesh asked if Abhinav wanted to break his ‘dabhi’ to help a dog, he happily agreed. The collection was Rs 3,800 odd and Abhinav’s father Rohit pitched in and rounded the sum to Rs 4,000.
Mahesh then sent the money to his sister Rekha, who could purchase a second-hand wheel cart for Moana.
The dog thrived under Rekha’s care and was featured on the 2018 cover of a calendar of ‘Precious Paws Foundation’, a charity that caters to homeless animals.
When Mahesh and Abhinav received copies, they were overjoyed to see the dog’s progress and happy that they were a part of its journey.
"My entire family is into caring for pets," says Mahesh speaking to Daijiworld. He reveals that he has twin sisters Rekha and Roopa who are active animal rescuers in Bengaluru.
"The piggy-bank was just kept to amuse kids, but I am very happy that the collection went towards a wonderful purpose," he says.
Mahesh also suggests that kids should be given classes on taking care of pets. "I lost a parrot as I did not know what to feed it when I was a little kid. So when the kid is given a pet, he/she should also be trained on how to care of it."
Rekha told Bangalore Mirror that it is challenging to take care of a disabled dog and such animals need to be in homes with people who love them instead of animal shelters. If children are taught to be compassionate towards animals, the world will be a better place, she said.
Bhatnagar says Moana completely changed his life. Moana was his first rescue and today he stays with 5 rescues dogs and has helped in over 87 dog adoptions.