August 23, 2025: Relentless rains on August 18 and 19 caused severe flooding in Vasai taluka, devastating JJ Foster Home (Jeet & Juhi) and the Wagging Hearts Foundation, run by 20-year-old animal rescuer Jeet Bhatti. The floods claimed the lives of two dogs and three cats at his Naigaon shelter, which housed 28 dogs and 63 cats, in addition to six strays in a temporary structure nearby.
Bhatti, who has been rescuing animals since his teens, described the scene as heartbreaking. “The animals were terrified and under immense stress. Even though our house is built a couple of feet above ground, water rose up to nearly four feet inside,” he said. He attributed the disaster to rampant construction in Naigaon, destruction of mangroves, record-breaking rainfall, and a high tide.
As water levels surged, Bhatti and his uncle, Shyam Halder, who is an experienced swimmer, tied a rope from a tree across the flooded road, creating an improvised lifeline to carry animals to safety. With the Vasai-Virar City Municipal Corporation and fire brigade overwhelmed, the forest department intervened and rescued around 15 strays using a boat before operations had to be halted.
Several NGOs assisted in relocating the animals. Yoda sent an ambulance tempo from Malad, while Furacause owner Riya Choksi dispatched a truck from Lokhandwala, Andheri. By 5 am on August 20, all dogs were fostered at Yoda, while cats were moved to Bhatti’s Versova foster home. Local animal lover Indu Verma had also walked to the flooded site earlier on 19 August to help transport cats.
Bhatti, reflecting on the disaster, said: “I am just 20, but I know floods will devastate Naigaon every year. My priority is to construct a concrete shelter with upper floors to protect the animals.” Having built the shelter independently with his mother, he is now seeking donations to rebuild homes for the rescued animals, whom he considers his siblings, not pets.
Source: The Times Of India
