KARACHI: As dusk settles over Karachi’s crowded streets, Syed Faisal straps a metal cage and medical kit onto the back of his motorcycle, preparing to respond to another emergency call about an injured stray animal. With traffic roaring, he readies himself to navigate the city’s narrow lanes and busy roads, where help for such animals is often scarce.
Working alone, the 40-year-old has made a routine of these nightly rescues since 2019, rushing to reach animals in distress with whatever equipment he can carry on his bike nicknamed ‘One-Man Ambulance.’ From first aid to transport, he manages each step himself, often covering long distances to ensure the stray animals are not left unattended.
Faisal’s motorbike ambulance has a cage, catcher, jet box, treatment stuff, animal food and water, which he says is similar to what a usual ambulance does for humans when it comes to emergencies. While people initially joked about his initiative, his dedication and timely rescues of hundreds of animals have earned him respect from many over the years.
“There can only be one man on a bike so I launched One-Man Ambulance,” he told Arab News.
“I have placed a cage, catcher, jet box, treatment stuff, animal food and water on my bike so I can rescue [animals] in time.”
As soon as he receives an emergency call, Faisal loads the equipment on his bike and rushes to the site, anytime between 5 in the evening until 5 in the morning.
“Initially, people used to laugh at it. They used to make fun of my panaflexes and board. I didn’t bother about them because my entire focus was on the animals,” he said.
“I wish there was an ambulance in every person’s heart.”
Faisal says that it all started when he started giving water and food to these stray animals, which made him realize that just like humans, animals could not have food or water when something was hurting.
After rescuing an animal, he takes them to hospital for treatment and then to shelter. If they are fortunate enough to recover from illness or injury, his next goal is to find a safe home for adoption.
Faisal’s day job and source of income is supply and distribution of bird food from which he covers the expenses of the One-Man Ambulance. In addition, there are people who contribute whenever he needs money for a rescue case.
“During the day, it’s a hassle due to traffic but at nighttime, it is relatively easier,” Faisal said, adding that a single rescue takes roughly three hours.
Besides rescuing and feeding stray cats, dogs, kittens, puppies, pigeons, eagles and even donkeys, the 40-year-old even provides financial help to those who cannot afford to take care of their pets.
“There are girls who tell me they cannot even afford the [wound healing] spray. I get the spray sent to them via Bykea [ride-hailing service],” he said.
“At times they cannot afford treatment of a pet so I recommend to them which doctor to go to and pay for it myself. They cannot afford sending the animals to the shelter so I even pay for that“
Faisal says he has rescued more than 500 animals and served countless meals over the last six years. He says the appreciation he gets from people now motivates him to continue this service.
“When I get back home after all the work at the end of the day, I receive messages of appreciation. It helps me relax and serves as oxygen for me,” the 40-year-old said.
Faisal believes there is a need for the people of Karachi, a city of over 20 million, to join the cause by feeding water and food to animals in their respective localities.
“Karachi in itself is so huge that it is very difficult for one man to cover the entire city,” he said.
“I want to expand and become a team. I want people to join me.”
