Janice's Trust, Panchgani

Janice’s Trust is a small but essential animal rescue service, clinic and sanctuary in the beautiful hills of Panchgani, Western India.


JANICE'S TRUST MISSION:

1. Sterilisation drives for stray dogs and companion animals.
2. Anti-rabies vaccination drives for stray dogs and companion animals.
3. Rescue operations for animals, birds and reptiles in distress.
4. Animal shelter and clinic for sick, abandoned and injured animals.
5. Health programmes for companion animals through mobile clinics and health camps.
6. Stray animal adoption programmes.
7. Registration of horses with the Animal Welfare Board of India and provision of health camps for Tableland and Mahabaleshwar horses.
8. Interfacing in situations where animals are subjected to altercations.

OUTREACH: We carry out anti-rabies vaccination and sterilisation drives in the local community to enable dogs and humans to live amicably alongside each other.

RESCUE AND SHELTER: We rescue and treat many sick and injured street animals as well as wildlife and provide a life-long home to those who need it.

VISIT OR VOLUNTEER: We’re located in the heart of Panchgani, a hill station in India’s Maharashtra state, renowned for its strawberry farms. Come play with our puppies, brush our donkeys or comfort our long-term residents.

JANICE'S TRUST AGENDA:
1. Sterilisation drives for stray dogs and companion animals.
2. Anti-rabies vaccination drives for stray dogs and companion animals.
3. Rescue operations for animals, birds and reptiles in distress.
4. Animal shelter and clinic for sick, abandoned and injured animals.
5. Health programmes for companion animals through mobile clinics and health camps.
6. Stray animal adoption programmes.
7. Registration of horses with the Animal Welfare Board of India and provision of health camps for Tableland and Mahabaleshwar horses.
8. Interfacing in situations where animals are subjected to altercations.

Mr. PRABODH GAIKWAD +91 9422603733
Secretary of Janice Smith Animal Welfare Trust (JSAWT)


HISTORY OF JANICE'S TRUST:
Janice Smith, a woman of Irish Origin resided at ‘Goldmohur Villa’, Panchgani. She was a teacher at St. Joseph Convent School. Her family was amongst those few that did not leave India after India became independent in 1947.Her mother was a teacher at St. Peter School and her father was an officer in the British army during the Second World War. He passed away when Janice was a child. Baby Janice cared for and treated animals in the area long before the animal welfare movement in India took wings. All her life Janice cared for and rescued helpless and troubled animals on her 2 acre property which had turned into an animal shelter. She never married, her animals were her family. She did not like to take help from anybody but was supported by a group of local close friends and animal lovers in need.
Her Lone Battle.
She housed over 100 animals most of all were rescued. The animals in Janice's shelter, included a blind horse, two goats (one of which was mauled by street dogs while it was a baby, awaiting its death at the hands of a butcher), two bulls, two cows, a calf and 52 dogs and 36 cats that had found security, love and nourishment under her care. She also treated and fed animals in the region. People would come from far off places to get animals treated or homed with her. It was not an uncommon sight to see her sprite figure in the Panchgani byways, sometimes in shirt and jeans or else in salwar-kurta, feeding the strays or raising her low-pitched voice at an erring horse owner. ! She spent her entire earnings to feed and care for animals. Her resources were not abundant but somehow she managed to run the shelter even sometimes by selling small pieces of land.
Janice was a public figure. She has been a recipient of many awards. Actor and TV anchor Seema Rahmani, who hosts the popular animal show HeavyPetting, recalled interviewing Janice in 2008. "I asked why she chose to stay back in India after retirement though all her relatives were abroad. She replied: ‘’'Dil hai Hindustani!'"
Farrokh Bulsara, who later became famous as ‘Freddie Mercury’ was a childhood friend of Janice. Her description of Freddie Mercury as a schoolboy form part of the book ‘Freddie Mercury – The Definitive Biography’ by Lesley-Ann Jones, though the book refers to her as Janet Smith.
Her orphaned ‘babies’
In the later years she had many ailments including varicose vains. She had this infection on her foot which refused to heal. It was the continuous proximity to so many different animals that sustained whatever infection it was on her foot. Nevertheless, she would make her daily trek to the bazaar and back, limping all the way, to buy food for all the animals that had come under her care.

Janice Smith overlooked herself and endlessly cared for her animals at her shelter till her very last breath. On March 17, 2010, Janice Smith passed away due to health complications.
During her lifetime, she always expressed her wish to establish an animal welfare trust in her property to ensure systematic care for such animals. Her untimely death unfortunately, left her wish incomplete.
Janice became immortal
After her death, we, the friends of Janice Smith have volunteered to look after the animals she left behind. We brought together animal welfare organizations and local animal lovers, under one roof that of Janice Smith’s shelter. Her dogs and cats were de-wormed, vaccinated and neutered. The blind horse, the two bulls and a cow, whose health conditions were deteriorating, were moved to the nearest Blue Cross shelter where they are now well looked after.
In a rare case of commitment and passion for the orphaned animals the town became the caretaker. Volunteers took care of the animals to the best possible way, all out of their own expenses. And this is how the Janice Smith Animal Welfare Trust (JSAWT) was formed.
Now, we the members of JSAWT feed and attend on the animals, with required medical help. All the expenses to maintain the animals in the property are borne by JSAWT, which amounts to approximately Rs. 40000/- per month.
A few claimants tried to sabotage the good work and made a false case in court against the trust. The case was dismissed and the court orders ensured that the animals remain the true owners of the property and Janice Smith remains immortal through the Janice Smith Animal Welfare Trust. Attempts by some rogue politicians were thwarted by strong stand by the Municipal Council and Animal Welfare Officer of the Animal Welfare Board of India.

Janice's Trust, Goldmohur Villa
Panchgani, 412805
India