In India, animal rights are taken for granted, but the anguish and agony that animals endure isn’t any less than that of humans.
Zabi Khan, a 24-year-old engineering student from Hyderabad, saw the significance of animal welfare at an early age and founded A Place to Bark Society (APTB), a rescuing and adoption animal rescue.
He claimed to have saved more than 500 animals and healed more than 3,000.
Zabi also holds the world record for becoming the world’s youngest animal rights campaigner.
Here is how Zabi’s rescue journey began
It all began for Zabi when he was 13 years old. He had been an animal lover since he was a youngster when he stumbled across an abandoned German Shepherd puppy on the side of the road.
He took the puppy home since he seemed forlorn and hungry, so he named him Casanova. The puppy had a high temperature four days later. With his father’s assistance, he took him to the vet, who checked him and said he will be oK in just a few days.
Casanova, though, remained a bit dull even after they brought him home, and he succumbed the next morning.
The puppy was infected with parvo and was in the final stages of his condition; he was presumably abandoned because his prior owners didn’t think it was worth treating him.
That’s when he pledged he’d never let another animal suffer the way my Casanova had. His life now had a meaning and purpose, and that was where it all began.
As a result, in 2014, at the age of 16, Zabi registered his non-profit organisation, ‘A Place to Bark Society.’
Animal welfare is the focus of A Place To Bark. It helps animals that have been abandoned or abused and have had a difficult start in life. The NGO rehabilitates, retrains, and rehomes them with the most deserving families.
Animal adoption, providing medical help to injured and needful animals, raising awareness, and providing food to animals affected by natural disasters are just a few of the activities.
Zabi also persuaded his college administration to construct an animal sanctuary on campus in order to make the college more animal-friendly. Students help operate the shelter in some capacity, such as taking the dogs on a walk or washing them.
Every dog and cat that they have rescued have been adopted by wonderful homes. They make certain that the rescued animal is rehabilitated as soon as they receive a clear medical report. Over 3,000 animals have been rehabilitated so far.
Animal rights advocacy
Zabi claims to have reached out to over 86 schools and institutions to raise animal rights awareness and encourage students to launch their own social enterprises. He has held many events, like adoption drives and fashion displays, to raise public awareness of animal rights.
However, because managing resources and money is challenging for him, the activist is now attempting to gather funds using crowdfunding platforms such as Milaap.
Awards & More
He and his crew are now working on establishing an animal ambulance that would save needed animals from all across Hyderabad 24 hours a day, seven days a week. He also intends to extend his shelter house from its present 200-square-foot location to a sanctuary-like setting on around 12 acres of property.
In 2019, he was also honoured by the United Nations with the “V-Award 2019” for the greatest volunteers in India. In addition to these accolades, Zabi was nominated for India’s “Padma Shree,” one of the highest non-military awards, a year ago.
Along with his social activities, Zabi Khan made his on-screen debut as a participant in the popular reality show “MTV Roadies” season 18. During the audition phase, he wowed the judges and was selected for the show’s next round.
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