For all of us that have beloved pets at home, it can be difficult to see any animal in pain - and, whenever we do, we just want to do everything and anything we can in order to make sure that it's okay.
Unfortunately, for animals all over the world, pain and suffering is just a part of everyday life. India, in particular, sees tens of thousands of wild and domestic animals injured or malnourished on the streets every year, and - without the proper resources available to them - many of them get sick and die.
Thankfully, though, there are groups and organisations that set out to help the critters and creatures that are unable to help themselves.
One of them is Animal Aid Unlimited, and last year they managed to save a feral dog that had got herself stuck in a drum of hot tar.
In a post on their site, Animal Aid explained that they had found the poor mutt in Udaipur, India, and that she had been trapped in a drum of tar for several days. The viscous substance had been warmed by the pup's legs, and she'd become stuck in the drum as it dried.
"Animal Aid Unlimited’s rescue team found the sweet dog hyperventilating and terrified, trapped chest-deep in tar inside the drum. We think she may have gone inside the drum to get warm during the night, and that her own body heat had melted the tar which she then sank into and was unable to free herself from. When we found her she was no longer struggling and seemed to have completely given up all hope."
There was nothing the rescuers could do for the dog while she was still on the street, and so a team of workers cut away part of the drum and brought it with them to their shelter. Once there, they spent an hour soaking the dog in vegetable oil in order to separate the tar from her fur. Eventually, they were able to get her out of the barrel.
Throughout the process, they brought her water to re-hydrate her and kept her calm as best they could.
Two more hours went by, during which time the team freed the dog from the barrel as delicately and as carefully as they could, being careful not to irritate her already-burnt skin.
At the end of the process, a miracle happened: the dog was able to stand up on her own.
After a healthy dose of TLC, the poor dog was rehabilitated back to health, and was able to recover without any lasting damage.
"We named the beautiful girl Asha, which means Hope in Hindi," the charity said.
For Asha, then, this story had a happy ending - but many other animals are not as lucky. This is why Animal Aid Unlimited continues to do such important work in India: to ensure that no more innocent creatures have to suffer, and that all animals are given a fighting chance at a good life.
