After a successful career in the Hotel and Airlines Industry, Roxanne decided to dedicate herself to animal welfare. Known as the kind-hearted samaritan of animals in need, Roxanne trained as a master trainer in Animal Welfare in Delhi and started off working in Ooty as an Animal Welfare Inspector and a Race Course Inspector. After serving in Ooty for 12 years, she moved to Karjat, amid the lap of nature, and founded the animal shelter, ‘Probably Paradise, Trust for Animal Welfare’. This shelter provides injured, abandoned and handicapped animals a dignified life and ample space where they move about freely.
An avid animals rights activitst, Roxanne and her family do not believe in buying or selling animals as one shouldn’t ‘pay’ for companionship. Her love for animals was inspired by her father who would rescue and bring home animals. In fact, her mother even predicted that she would land up with a lot of animals!
Roxanne moved into the shelter on Christmas Eve in 2011, with the staunch belief that every living creature needs to live comfortably with dignity and respect. Today it houses 131 animals including dogs, cats, horses, bulls, a pig and donkeys, with the latest member joining this family is ‘Jehangir’, a baby donkey born a few days ago!
Starting an animal shelter as a passion project is never easy. Roxanne used her own savings to start this shelter. However the daily requirements of food, medicines, electricity, repairs, gas, etc, call for contributions and donations in cash or kind. “The shelter gives priority to all animals who are helpless and cannot survive in their normal environment. They need to have a secure home where they can live happily,” says Roxanne, who also shared what went into the day to day running of the shelter. “The shelter is a cross between a joint family and a boarding school! The morning begins with feeding the animals, giving them medication, cleaning up, and then preparing food for the evening. The same routine follows every day.” What Roxanne loves most about it all is seeing animals develop their distinct character.
When asked about her future plans for the shelter, Roxanne says, “We have plans to expand the shelter. I need to get some shelters and stables up, get a decent supply of electricity, rain-water harvesting and get a better rescue-vehicle which can be used to transport the animals. In the future, I’m hoping to see young volunteers taking over from me and continuing the good work.”
Roxanne is also much sought after for legal advice and is currently working on a case against the use of little ponies carrying heavy goods to the hill station, Matheran. Another hobby she nurtures is art and painting, with a friend in the locality. They get together on Thursday mornings and paint together.
When asked what is the driving force that keeps her going, she says, “I love and enjoy being around all the animals, as they bring a smile and chuckle to me every morning. I consider myself lucky to be living in a paradise surrounded by nature’s beauty!”.
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