Animal Stories

Christine Townend began writing when she was a small child. Over the years she has had six books published, and also poetry, articles and short stories. Additionally, she has painted in whatever spare time has been available to her.

In 1990 Christine became Managing Trustee of Help in Suffering Animal Shelter, based in Jaipur, Rajasthan. In 1992 she and her husband, Jeremy, went to live and work as volunteers at the shelter. She says that this was one of the most joyful events of her working life, as she always felt a close connection with India, and the Indian people and the great spiritual philosophy which emerged from the sub-continent.

In 2003 Mrs Timmie Kumar became the Managing Trustee of Help in Suffering Animal Shelter, and the work of the shelter has continued to expand and grow. The shelter now employs over thirty staff, including six vets, running six projects funded by different international organisations. Each morning the vehicles can be seen leaving the shelter, one mobile clinic to treat the working camels of the rural poor, another to treat the ninety eight captive working elephants of Jaipur, another to treat the working donkeys, ponies and horses of those in need. Over 40,000 street dogs have passed through the ABC (animal birth control) programme and the incidence of human rabies has been eliminated in Jaipur. The programme has been so successful that the Jaipur Municipality has provided land and funding for a second ABC programme which is running in the northern area of the city.

Christine says that she was born with a commitment to help promote love and compassion between the human and animal kingdom, and that until humans lay down their weapons of war against the animals, there can never be peace in the world. Her prayer is that 'one day the slaughterhouses of the world will become gardens and memorials to the animals which were so unjustly and cruelly killed in the barbarous dark ages of the twentieth century'.

Men and animals, at times, are best of friends. On the other hand, insensitivity of many a man towards animals characterizes the opposite form of the relationship between them. Animals are trapped, caged, mistreated, tortured and killed. It is not realized and recognized by man that animals too are sentient beings and suffer pain like all of us. Examples of cruelty abound but those of compassion are a few. Ms. Christine Townend conceptually believes in the harmonious and humane interaction between the two. These stories, poems and paintings by her are the sensitive expression of her positive philosophy for and intimate experience with animals.

These animal stories, poems and paintings have been beautifully drawn. They are not the boring accounts of the work of the animal shelter that she is running. The stories are not grim or tortuous to read, but rather uplifting and full of hope and compassion. They rejoice in the human/animal inter-relation. Each story, each painting, each poem is about a relationship, either failed or fulfilled. Each story, each painting, or poem, within the bounds of its structure, leaves the reader with a deeper hidden message to ponder.

The present work of Ms Christine Townend is the amalgam of her impeccable literary craftsmanship and practical compassion. She is a well-known author with six books, several poems, articles and short stories to her credit. The present set of stories also wears the refinement and virtuosity that are the hallmark of a well-known writer, which she is. The other aspect of her life is that her compassion has led her to run animal shelters in Jaipur and Kalimpong. While taking a round with her of animal shelter, one has the experience of unmistakably observing the mutual love, mutely but profoundly •expressed both by her and her animals. Her shelters are epitomes of affection.

Most of us have neither the time nor the inclination to reflect on the purpose, particularly the spiritual one, of our lives. We often have a routine existence cast in a set mould, devoid of meaning. Ms Christine Townend is different. She has tried to seek her divine purpose. Further she has endeavored to achieve it. A book by her is a real treat.

**Contents and Sample Pages**