NEW DELHI: Vibha Tomar begins her day by helping her mother prepare some special meals.
Then the veterinary student has online classes from 2pm to 5pm.
Around 7pm, the 23-year-old drives to Janpath, India Gate, Dhaula Kuan, Chanakayapuri, Sarojini Nagar, Nauroji Nagar, Saket, Chhatarpur and some other places.
On the way, she stops to feed monkeys and birds and after sunset starts feeding the cats and dogs on the streets.
“Sometimes my friends accompany me in my car,” said Tomar brightly.
“During the lockdown last year, I did this work all alone, but now have some volunteers to assist me.” It takes her around seven hours if alone to finish the task.
The fourth year veterinary student at Arawali Veterinary College in Sikar, Rajasthan, began feeding the street animals last year when the city was locked down due to Covid-19.
Under the auspices of Oscar for Life Charitable Trust, which she found four years ago when her dog Oscar died, she continued the good work this year.
Besides food, she takes seasonal care of the homeless creatures.
In the winter, she prepared beds from discarded car tyres for them.
With the sun beating down on the city, she places bowls of water for them and hopes to be able to put 1,000 bowls across the city.
She also ties reflective collars on the canines so motorists can see them in the dark and avoid crushing them.
Aware of the plastic burden on the environment, Tomar uses only leaf plates for the street denizens.
“Sometimes colony residents get angry at me,” she smiled, but added, “And yet many of them also call to inform me about an ill dog.
So I can’t say that people aren’t supportive.
In fact, I have seen a change of heart in some.” Her parents got her Oscar when she was in Class II.
Being the only child, the dog was more like a sibling to her.
“Oscar died of kidney failure and arthritis.
I want him to be remembered, so I started the trust in his name and began with vaccinating stray dogs,” said Tomar.
“When I started posting information about my activities on Instagram, people started following me, even donated money.
As a veterinary student, if I don’t use my specialised knowledge, how can I expect others to care for the animals?” Tomar currently has four adopted dogs and three rescued cats.
She is also fostering a dog recovering from an injury.