Carrion Crows

Kittens and pups born or discarded on rubbish dumps are at the mercy of crows and other large birds that will attack young, debilitated, and helpless animals, pecking out their eyes and leaving them blind.

Floods

It is not uncommon for strays and pets to be washed away and drowned in the torrential flash floods and monsoons.

Myiasis

Myiasis is the infestation of tissue with fly larvae,commonly referred to as maggots. Injuries and wounds are at risk of 'fly strike' and maggot infestation.

Sadly, strays face many perils and injuries on the streets so are particularly vulnerable to myiasis- with no hope of treatment, they suffer until they die.

Lizards

Sri Lanka is home to two species of varanids - Monitor Lizards (the largest lizards in the world) - Land Monitor and Water Monitor. These fierce carnivores prey on puppies and kittens and we have heard many stories from locals about pups and kittens being eaten by these lizards. Locals often call these lizards ‘crocodiles’

POISONING

Poisoning is rife in Sri Lanka with many toxic substances readily available. Pole syringes carrying the poison strychnine have been used by authorities in the suburbs and rural areas in Sri Lanka as a brutal method of animal population control, and an attempt to eradicate rabies.

Once injected with strychnine the animal suffers an agonising death - severe muscle tremors, rigidity, seizures and respiratory paralysis. Gassing by cyanide has been the killing method used in towns. Despite a no-kill directive currently in force, there are still incidents of poisoning of pets and strays, particularly in beach/tourists areas

This is Teddy-a former beach dog saved from poisoning

TRAFFIC

Strays suffer the most horrendous injuries on the road. The lucky ones are killed instantly, others are left with fractured spines, limbs and gaping wounds. They have no hope of veterinary care. Some animals are left dying by the roadside with fly blown wounds, being eaten alive by maggots –often for days, until death releases them from their misery. These animals suffer in silence and die alone. Survivors are left disabled and drag themselves around desperately searching for food and water.

Bitches with young dependent pups are commonly injured or killed on the roads whilst looking for food. Their pups are also vulnerable on the roads.

Dangers

Strays face many perils in their daily struggle for survival. Some are natural dangers, others are caused by humans.

Road traffic accidents involving strays are very common in Sri Lanka simply because there are so many strays on the roads. With no access to veterinary care, these stricken animals suffer in agony until they die-many with fractured spines and limbs.

In a tropical climate, wounds are vulnerable to fly strike and maggot infestation-causing yet another danger to injured street animals

Snakes

There are 96 different species of snake in Sri Lanka - seven of which are venomous. The Indian Cobra 'Naya' is probably the most lethal to strays and pets. We have heard many reports of pets and strays being killed by snakes in Sri Lanka.