Pooja Mishra is an international student in Australia but what defines her is her passion for the stray dogs and animals in this world that need care.
From Mumbai’s underbelly, to the Himalayan mountains of Ladakh and Sikkim in India, to nursing animals in Australia - Pooja Mishra has healed back to health innumerable sick, unwanted, and maggot infested animals.
During her college years in Mumbai, Pooja spent every Sunday volunteering with WSD, Welfare of Stray Dogs, an animal rescue NGO based in Mumbai.
Instead of hanging out with friends and family, she dedicated her weekends to giving first aid to stray dogs, vaccinating them against rabies and catching them for sterilization.
Source: Go Fund Me
A M.Sc. Gold Medallist in Biotechnology, Pooja was not content working in either a laboratory, or a full time corporate job, which she did a couple of years later.
But she soon dropped out of the corporate world and started working full time as the On-Field Project Manager with WSD (Welfare of Stray Dogs).
She spent 10 years providing first aid, shelter, vaccinations and also assisted surgeries and took charge of the stray animal’s post- operative care.
She has spent days carrying a backpack filled with lifesaving medications to walk miles to treat dogs where they lived on the street.
She decided to equip herself with skills and chose to study Veterinary Medicine in Melbourne and moved from India to Australia to pursue her dream of helping animals.
Source: Go Fund Me
She is now in Melbourne as a veterinary student who is enrolled for a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Melbourne.
But she has run into dire straits.
Her mother who was struck by Cancer died a few months ago and her family in India can no longer afford to pay her fees for the remaining fourth and last year of her studies in Melbourne.
In Melbourne, Pooja has continued to work for the welfare of animals. She works as a vet nurse receptionist every Saturday at East Bentleigh Veterinary Clinic and has been striving to collect her annual tuition fee worth $62,080.
But time is fast running out for her.
Her peers and doctors in Melbourne who have known her and her work are now rallying behind her to raise funds to help her finish her graduation.
Veterinarian Dr Beth McGennisken has started a campaign on to raise $62,100 for her fourth year at university by February next year.
Dr Michael Heath, who is the co-owner of East Bentleigh Veterinary Clinic told there was no other option but to raise the cash.
“The idea of Pooja not being a vet doesn’t make sense to anyone who knows her,” he said.
“If you want to help animals, you need to get her through vet school.”
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