Located on a quiet hill off the Mumbai-Pune expressway is the Ananda shelter, which serves as a refuge for some of the country's most vulnerable animals—old stray dogs. This home, named Ananda, provides them with joy.
Situated on a 0.9-acre plot against the backdrop of the Sahyadri mountains, Ananda is a unique place for these stray dogs, who are often overlooked as they age, forced to cope alone with cruelty, violence, hunger, and hardship. Furthermore, they are usually ignored by shelters themselves, making Ananda's work even more touching.
In their final years, these dogs enjoy lawns in pavilions, a swimming pool, and high-quality medical care, including digital X-ray machines, operating theaters, a biochemistry lab, and an on-call ambulance. The shelter also has isolated areas for those in need, a doctor's office, and staff accommodation.
The combination of these amenities with a wastewater treatment plant and a 24-hour backup power supply ensures that Ananda can function with maximum efficiency not only for the dogs but also for the dedicated team that cares for them.
However, it is not just the excellent conditions that help these dogs spend their final years. Love and care, which they have waited for their entire lives, play a vital role.
Mrs. Mina Subramanian, president of Prayas Trust, states: 'Compassion must extend to every living creature. Animals that have been abandoned, injured, or left unattended deserve a safe place where they can heal and be met with kindness and dignity. Ananda is a small attempt to create such a space and a reminder of what our care for the most vulnerable among us says about us as a society.'
She shared her vision for creating a safe haven for elderly dogs with Dinanath Dubhashi, former CEO and Managing Director of L&T Finance. He, along with his wife Nishu, expressed sympathy for stray animals and agreed to take responsibility for managing this unique shelter.
If the approximately sixty stray dogs at Ananda could speak, they would be the most moving witnesses to what this home has done for them. For example, Leela, who arrived at the shelter frightened and without fur, is now almost like a young puppy.
Nishu Dubhashi notes: 'When stray animals are brought in, they are too scared to even look at us. But within a few days, they regain confidence and start trusting people again.'
And what does this trust look like? Wagging tails, healed wounds, and peaceful sleep in the shade, with the realization that their best days are ahead. Ananda remains a gentle testament that dignity, once given, can change everything.
Prayas Trust is the women's social wing of L&T. The Ananda animal shelter and hospital, managed by Prayas Trust, is strengthened by the collective support of L&T and its Group Companies, including LTM, L&T Technology Services, L&T Realty, and L&T Finance.