Faridabad, July 28, 2024: The Animal Care Organization (TACO), a flagship animal welfare initiative by the Anil Agarwal Foundation, has inaugurated a veterinary hospital with an animal birth control unit, in its shelter at Faizupur Khadar in Haryana's Faridabad city.
The ceremony that was graced by Faridabad Deputy Commissioner Vikram Singh and Hindustan Zinc Chairperson and Vedanta Non-Executive Director Priya Agarwal Hebbar was also marked by the launch of a Mobile Health Van (MHV) to extend TACO’s reach beyond its immediate location in Faridabad.
Animals in need of surgeries or diagnostic tests will be able to receive prompt and comprehensive care without the need to be transported elsewhere, at the newly upgraded TACO facility spread across 2 acres. The veterinary hospital, ABC unit and MHV are equipped with an operating theatre (OT) each. Five experienced veterinarians and surgeons have already been employed to diagnose and treat various medical conditions in animals, including complex and critical ones.
Talking about the significance of a well-equipped animal shelter, Priya Agarwal Hebbar said, “TACO started its journey at this very shelter two years back and I am excited to witness the leap we have made by expanding its infrastructure and services significantly. While our hospital will greatly benefit the community members around, the MHV will travel door to door to attend to those emergency cases that require immediate attention. This facility will provide a range of essential medical services to animals in need, large or small, ensuring that the procedures and treatments are carried out with high standards of care and professionalism, thus creating a safer and a healthier environment for our beloved animals.”
Highlighting the efforts by TACO, Vikram Singh said, “I commend The Animal Care Organization (TACO) for their remarkable efforts in supporting animal welfare in our community. The establishment of this animal shelter in Faizupur Khadar, Faridabad, complete with a veterinary hospital, an animal birth control unit, and a mobile health van, reflects their vision to do better and more for animal welfare. I believe that with compassionate projects like TACO, we can make significant strides in creating a more humane and responsible community for all living beings.”
The veterinary hospital has set up an in-house laboratory with advanced Biochemistry Machine & Hematology Analyzer that will enable the veterinarians with advanced diagnostics and tests.
Animal Birth Control (ABC) unit shall focus on controlling the population of stray animals through spaying and neutering programs. It comprises of seven sections including fully-air-conditioned wards for cats and dogs for their post-operative care and a kitchen to cater to their nutritional requirements.
The Mobile Health Van (MHV) shall provide door-to-door veterinary care including vaccinations and treatments to the needy strays as well as livestock and pet owners, within a radius of 20km of the shelter. It is equipped with two treatment tables for animal and best-in-class infrastructure, including hydraulic facility that would facilitate the provision of a raised platform for treatment of large animals. A doctor, a para-veterinarian and a veterinary assistant will travel with the MHV. All of the facilities provided at the shelter will be free of cost. All of the facilities provided at the shelter will be free of cost.
The newly inaugurated facility has several other key features added as well. An open shaded space will cater to the treatment of OPD cases, and three Travis have been installed to restrain large and aggressive animals and treat them with caution. While a dedicated mother-calf section has been created to cater to pregnant animals, in need of extra care, a section for blind animals has also been built to safeguard them from injuries. TACO facility cultivates fodder within its premises and its storage capacity has also been doubled. It has further employed a sustainable waste management technique through vermicomposting.
Earlier this month, AAF’s TACO signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Animal Husbandry Department, Govt of Haryana and Haryana State CSR Trust by earmarking INR 100 crore for the upgradation of existing Government Veterinary Hospital in Kadipur, Gurugram into a 24x7 multi-speciality animal hospital and commence the construction of an animal birth control (ABC) unit, laboratory, pharmacy, training centre and shelter for extremely critical animals. This upcoming hospital in Gurugram along with the one in in Faridabad will equip Haryana state with two mega animal care facilities by TACO.
Notably, the TACO shelter in Faridabad is home to 160+ animals, including cows, bulls, and dogs, focusing on rescue, rehabilitation, advanced veterinary care and overall well-being. Since its inception in 2022, it has treated more than 60,000 animals through health camps held across several operational areas of Vedanta group, rescued almost 5,000 animals during the Delhi and Haryana floods, and supported over 460 members of farmer community through animal OPD services. The project has also gainfully employed over 20 locals at the animal shelter in the roles of animal handler, para vet, veterinary assistant and more. Furthermore, TACO's dedication extends to education and training through the TACO Academy, which conducts sessions for veterinarians and paraprofessionals. TACO also supports and strengthens veterinary healthcare services through OPD and ambulance services.
TACO is a unique animal welfare project under the aegis of Anil Agarwal Foundation (AAF). It is aimed at providing world-class infrastructure, veterinary services, a training facility, and animal shelters to heal and protect animals.
The Anil Agarwal Foundation is the umbrella entity for Vedanta’s community and social initiatives. The focus areas of the Foundation are healthcare, women and child development, animal welfare projects, and sports initiatives.
