Our origin story
How it all began
I have been spending the winter months in Asia for 3 years. The hot and humid climate is good for my health and I feel very comfortable with the culture, the people and their way of life. On my trip to India in 2018, I spent 3 months working at the Dog Temple in Goa, learned a lot and had a happy time there with the dogs. This experience was the seed for the creation of my own animal charity. In 2019, my journey took me to Indonesia to the island of Sumatra. I stayed there for 3 months and started rescuing and caring for animals. This eventually grew into my rather large project “Sumatra Animal Aid”. In 2021, when Sumatra was still closed for tourists, I discovered my love for Sri Lanka. There I met the beach dog Lokku. With a huge open wound on his neck, Lokku seemed to have been waiting for my help.I have been spending the winter months in Asia for 3 years. The hot and humid climate is good for my health and I feel very comfortable with the culture, the people and their way of life. On my trip to India in 2018, I spent 3 months working at the Dog Temple in Goa, learned a lot and had a happy time there with the dogs. This experience was the seed for the creation of my own animal charity. In 2019, my journey took me to Indonesia to the island of Sumatra. I stayed there for 3 months and started rescuing and caring for animals. This eventually grew into my rather large project “Sumatra Animal Aid” and http://www.sumatradogsandcats.de
In 2021, when Sumatra was still closed for tourists, I discovered my love for Sri Lanka. There I met the beach dog Lokku. With a huge open wound on his neck, Lokku seemed to have been waiting for my help. This moment started everything rolling. For 6 weeks I took care of Lokku and during this time I met Nimal Nirojan, with his big heart for dogs, at a vet visit. Niroj already had a lot of experience with dogs and also with working in a small shelter. Together we started to feed Lokku’s friends on the beach and other street dogs every day and to treat sick animals on the street. Corona crippled tourism, which is why hardly any restaurant was open, so many dogs and cats had to and still have to fight for survival. Meanwhile, with me in my accommodation already lived a few dogs, because they were sick or expelled from dog packs. In the backyard of the hotel we had 8 dogs neutered to have already made a small start.
My flight back to Germany was approaching and with it the worry about how things could continue for the animals. The foundation of an animal shelter came up. At first I hesitated, because it seemed really crazy to me – financially as well as organizationally – to start another one in Sri Lanka in addition to my animal aid in Sumatra. But my heart decided. A suitable plot of land with a small house, for rent, was quickly found thanks to a good friend. Some things had to be bought, built and prepared until then in August 2021 the dogs could move in and the shelter “Lokkus dogs and catscare” could open. Since then Nimal lives together with his helper Thinesh in the shelter and works for me. They not only take care of dogs and cats in our shelter, but also rescue sick and injured street dogs again and again.
Every day, animals on the street are fed and treated. Ongoing neutering of dogs and cats -undoubtedly the most important and effective measure in animal welfare, no matter where in the world.
The first relief efforts
