Images

Updated 16 Dec, 2016

Animals aren't always treated like living beings in Pakistan, but a new photo shoot of hurt but happy strays hopes to change that.

Titled #ProjectEmpathy, the photo shoot is an initiative by Ayesha Chundrigar Foundation, an animal welfare organisation that rescues abandoned and/or abused stray animals in Karachi and provides them with food, shelter, free medical treatment and rehabilitation.

Filmmaker Umar Riaz did the cutest photo shoot with some of their previously injured and abused stray animals and we can't stop saying "awww"!

This is Zeus on her wheelchair.
This is Zeus on her wheelchair.

Talking to Images, Ayesha Chundrigar, the driving force behind the shelter, shares, "The concept of the shoot was entirely the photographer Umar Riaz's, so I give him full credit for that. He understood what we wanted to convey, which is that stray animals whether they have one eye, one ear, three legs, it doesn't matter. They're all beautiful because it's their souls that are beautiful."

"They feel, they love, they care just like people do. We're trying to show a different side of stray animals, a side people don't normally see."

"We wanted to convey that stray animals, whether they have one eye, one ear, or three legs, it doesn't matter. They're all beautiful because it's their souls that are beautiful," says Ayesha Chundrigar

So who exactly are the models of #ProjectEmpathy?

"We have three three-legged dogs. There's Tilt, Trio and Missy. We have a little donkey, Bella who was born at the shelter. She is super spoilt, everyone at the shelter just adores her! We call her Bella because she has these Bambi legs so she doesn't quite walk, she prances so she just looks like a little dancing Bella," Ayesha tells us.

Here's Tilt and Trio
Here's Tilt and Trio

"Then there's Boiler. When she came in, it was one of the most terrible cases we've seen; one side of her face and head was completely exposed because someone had actually thrown boiling water on her. It blinded her and we had to amputate her ear."

"She was so scared when she came in, she wouldn't let us touch her, she couldn't believe that a human was going to fix her because a human had harmed her. It's been a really long healing process but she's really come through and she doesn't even remember now that she doesn't have an eye or an ear. She's a very happy cat," Ayesha shares.

From L-R: Bella and Boiler
From L-R: Bella and Boiler

Who names these animals, we wonder?

"It's a joint effort. Sometimes we ask people on social media; otherwise, it's just all of us at the shelter, from my vets to the cleaners. Some of the names have to do with their history as well."

"Some animals were photobombing others. They were so funny and disruptive. If human beings were so disruptive I wouldn't have enjoyed the shoot but this was adorable," shares photographer Umar Riaz

We also reached out to the man behind the lens, Umar Riaz to ask him what inspired him to photograph the animals this way.

"I just thought it would be interesting to shoot the animals like you would shoot human portraits."

Puppies!
Puppies!

Was it challenging working with animals?

"The animals were familiar with me as I had visited the shelter before. They were so comfortable with me that a couple of the three-legged dogs would, as soon as we'd place them in their spot, run to me and sit in my lap so there was a little back and forth. They just needed love and care and some encouragement during the shoot. It was hard for them to sit still," explains Riaz,

"Some animals were photobombing the ones we were photographing. They were so funny and disruptive. If human beings were so disruptive I wouldn't have enjoyed the shoot but this was adorable."

Here's Hercules who refused to budge from in front of the camera
Here's Hercules who refused to budge from in front of the camera

Expanding on the state of stray animals in Pakistan, Ayesha says, "They're in quite a deplorable state because no one has been doing anything for them. Not just stray dogs and cats but also donkeys on the roads. There's no protection for them, no laws for them."

"Before if people would see an injured animal, there was no sense of 'let's do something' because there was no place to really take them. Now that there's a platform for animals to heal, there's hope and people are responding accordingly. It's getting better, very slowly and gradually."

View the entire album here.

Comments

Hasan Dec 16, 2016 03:27pm
I cannot thank you enough for doing this.
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somethingfishy Dec 16, 2016 03:55pm
It is nice. It will be great if we give higher priority to humans too.
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Arslan Dec 16, 2016 04:12pm
You guys are doing amazing work.
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ahmedj Dec 16, 2016 04:21pm
That's my strong belief, the day we humans start noticing and look after flora and fauna around us. A divine power will emerge, showering blessings on us. Try this at home. Feed birds and animals, plant and care the trees inside and outside the boundary wall and feel the good change in quality of your life.
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FH Dec 16, 2016 05:05pm
Great work.
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Mano Dec 16, 2016 05:19pm
It's amazing
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azzy Dec 16, 2016 06:03pm
God bless You all good people.
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Sameer Dec 16, 2016 06:04pm
It is beautiful to see some people being actual humans for a change.
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WonDER WOMAN Dec 16, 2016 06:44pm
I really admire the work ACF has been doing. It is commendable ! Cant imagine what kind of a human being would throw boiling water on any kind of animal/human for that instance. However, it happens....sad but I'm glad these animals are being rescued and are being given not just care but love too.
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Puja Dec 16, 2016 08:50pm
Awesome work.It's very important for us as humans to lend our voice to all the animals .
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Sharique - Munich Dec 16, 2016 09:14pm
Amazing job. Keep it up. Every living being is beautiful and we should treat them with respect and dignity.
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Onkar Parmar Dec 16, 2016 10:22pm
My love to these innocent creatures and best wishes for their stay on earth!
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raja Dec 17, 2016 12:41am
Absolutely fantastic work! hats off to you for bringing attention to this beautiful sight of stray animals. God Bless!
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iztraab Dec 17, 2016 01:36am
how about humans?
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Roohi Dec 17, 2016 01:57am
@somethingfishy , how many organizations are helping helpless animals in Pakistan?? Why the need to compare. BTW a lot of times, humans are the culprits for the misery of these poor animals.
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Jarrett guy Dec 17, 2016 02:02am
Does my heart good to see these poor guys getting taken care of. If there's one kind of person I'd like to put down it's someone who hurts animals
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Hemant Dec 17, 2016 04:07am
Thanks for this wonderful artical and highlighting huge activities done by Ayesha....
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Ayub Dec 17, 2016 06:09am
It is everyone responsibility to assist the foundation in their sacred job.
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Koli Dec 17, 2016 09:43am
It's true you don't need to join a NGO , donate or be rich to shower love kindness and to be a human .
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Manu Bhatnagar Dec 17, 2016 10:06am
Great work
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somethingfishy Dec 17, 2016 10:12am
Had we, first, taken care of all humans trying to find food from garbage dumps? Please prioritize correctly.
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lmk Dec 17, 2016 11:08am
What a cruel nation - these pictures too sad to stomach. If we cannot treat our animals, women and children with dignity and respect, we really are most uncivilised and junglee.
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SYED HASSAN HASEEBc Dec 17, 2016 11:54am
thanks , loved it what you are doing
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Khan Dec 17, 2016 04:14pm
How can I help this Foundation? Where can we send donations?
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xyx Dec 17, 2016 10:40pm
@somethingfishy I am sure that you would have helped 1000 poor people by now :) rather than sitting around and commenting online .
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Dr Tahira naz Dec 17, 2016 10:58pm
You are doing a great job I really appreciate u me and my husband adnan are also doing the same job on our own majority of the pakistani peoples are became senseless about animals as well as humans cant help it hope to see better situations in karachi pakistan wish all your team good luck and again praise your work sincerely Dr Tahira
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Hasan A Dec 18, 2016 03:18am
I want to volunteer.... who can I contact?
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Faiza Dec 18, 2016 09:33pm
This is amazing. We're all proud of you!
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