I was never interested in academics and barely got through Class 10. I started with promotional work, tried my hand as a DJ and soon dived headlong into event management. It was a huge success. I was one of the most sought after production manager and worked with all the top guns. It didn’t take long for success to get into my head. I wanted more money, more speed, more partying, more substance abuse…
My life was falling apart and I didn’t think I could do anything about it. The last straw was when I was diagnosed with having blood clots in my brain. Tired, dejected, entirely worn down, I decided to live.
I walked into rehabilitation with no one’s support and realised my life had no meaning. I was successful but no one was by my side. When I came out, I decided to turn a new leaf. I searched for religion; visited temples and mosques and churches, and decided from now on, I’d live a life of meaning.
One day, my nephew told me they’d found a dog. I asked him to bring him home and figured it must be someone’s pet. I put out a call on social media and finally, the dog was reunited with the owner. Until a few days later, the owner lost the dog again and asked me for help. I asked around with the locals to find out where dogs usually roam at night, and realised everyone speaks about them but no one was willing to step up and help. A friend and I hopped onto a bike and decided to search ourselves. From them on, I spent nights scouring social media for dogs that needed help and rescuing them at night. Simultaneously, I started teaching people with dogs how to look after them. I found compassion in
these dogs and a network was beginning to form. In between this journey, I found love again and got married. It was this journey that led to the formation of the of Haven Animal Welfare. Till date, we’ve rescued over a 600 dogs and there are 260 walking around the shelter. Some are old, blind, deaf dogs while others are given treatment for illnesses and disease and injuries. People think I am crazy, but the only thing that matters to me is the dog’s safety, no matter the distance or what gutter or drain or tree stands in the way, I do my best to get them the help they need.
Toni Freer
