KARACHI, Oct 11: Noted social worker Maulana Abdul Sattar Edhi, besides providing various social welfare services for the ailing humanity is also working for shelter less and sick animals.

Over 260 animals and birds were brought to the Edhi Foundation's Animal Hospital and shelter home since 2003. According to the break up, 88 dogs, 154 cats, 16 donkeys, one horse, and two falcons were admitted by the foundation.

Responding to Dawn queries, Rizwan Edhi said that 136 animals - 60 cats, 62 dogs, and 13 donkeys - either died at the animal hospital or their carcasses were brought in from various places of the city and buried in the hospital compound.

He said that earlier, there used to be many points in the city where animals could drink water, but over the years many of these points had been encroached upon and shops or houses etc had been constructed there.

He said that the Edhi vehicles were immediately dispatched whenever an information was received regarding the injured or dead animals. The injured animals were brought to the hospital located near the Toll Plaza on the Super Highway, where staff comprising doctors and paramedics provided assistance to them, he added. He regretted that the attitude of the people in general had changed over the years and they harshly treated the animals, which needed to be changed.