Gauri Maulekhi, a prominent animal rights activist, shares her experiences and challenges in advocating for animal welfare, particularly during disasters like the 2013 Kedarnath tragedy. She describes how animals, especially horses and mules used for transport, are often neglected during human-centric rescue operations. Despite immense risks and a lack of initial support, she and her team worked to rescue thousands of stranded animals, highlighting the sheer will required to overcome systemic indifference. This experience led to a significant policy change, ensuring that animal rescue is now part of India's National Disaster Management Policy.