Noida, Uttar Pradesh (India), November 27, 2024: Countless stray dogs struggle to survive in
the streets of India, and one organisation is changing their fate with
compassion and determination. Earthlings Trust (ET), founded by Sagarika Banerjee and Ditej
Garg, stands as a ray of hope for abandoned, sick, and handicapped canines who
would otherwise be left to perish.
Where did Earthlings Trust start from?
The journey of Earthlings Trust began during
the founders’ college days between 2009 and 2010, when Sagarika and Ditej
started feeding campus dogs and arranging their vaccinations and sterilisations.
Their limited resources meant seeking help from existing NGOs, an experience
that revealed a stark reality: animal welfare infrastructure was woefully
inadequate.
Committed to making a difference, Sagarika
pursued her PhD in Cancer Research from Jawaharlal Nehru University, while
Ditej established a career in Internal Audit at a Big4 firm. Their personal
commitment to animal welfare grew alongside their professional achievements,
with the couple adopting six rescued dogs.
In December 2018, Earthlings Trust was
formally established. By leasing land in Noida and taking a personal loan
immediately after repaying their student debts, they created a sanctuary for
their first two residents – motherless puppies named Paalak and Methi, inspired
by the vegetables growing near their shelter.
What Earthlings Trust has come to be?
Today, Earthlings Trust is home to over 400
permanent dogs who have been abandoned, are sick, handicapped, paralysed, or
blind. The organisation employs 20 workers and collaborates with major
veterinary hospitals and diagnostic labs across Delhi NCR, providing free or
subsidised healthcare to approximately 1,000 dogs annually.
But there was a time when their resilience was
truly tested. It was on 12 July 2023 when the Yamuna River floods threatened
their entire operation. In a display of dedication, Ditej and Sagarika rescued
over 350 dogs within 18 hours, working tirelessly from 6:30 PM to 10 AM the
next morning. Despite losing nine dogs and having 17 go missing, they refused
to give up.
Within two months of the devastating flood,
the couple leased a new shelter in Sector 81, Noida – a location safer, more
accessible, and further from potential natural disasters. They invested over
INR 80 lacs to ensure their dogs’ security, never compromising for their
four-legged family.
They are currently in the works of purchasing
land near Chandigarh to create a permanent sanctuary. This ambitious project
intends to provide a forever home for animals, free from the uncertainties of
temporary shelters.
Why support Earthlings Trust?
With the best recovery rates in Delhi NCR,
Earthlings Trust provides high-quality, often free medical treatments.
Moreover, they are one of the few NGOs where founders continue to work
full-time while managing the shelter.
Sagarika and Ditej’s vision with ET isn’t just
centred around the survival of the dogs. They are creating a caring environment
where all dogs, no matter their condition, are treated with respect, given
care, and given a chance at a better life.