Claire Abrams-Myers and the Animal Aid Unlimited Legacy: Transforming Stray Animal Welfare Across India

In the dusty streets of Udaipur, Rajasthan, where injured stray animals once faced certain death, a remarkable family has built one of India’s most successful animal rescue operations. Claire Abrams-Myers, now Executive Director and Co-Founder of Animal Aid Unlimited, represents the second generation of a humanitarian dynasty that has revolutionized stray animal welfare across the subcontinent. Claire Abrams Myers is our Executive Director and Co-Founder, leading an organization that has grown from a small rescue initiative into a world-renowned animal sanctuary.

What began as a family’s compassionate response to suffering street animals has evolved into a sophisticated operation that rescued and saved about 125,000 animals between 2001 and 2021. The Abrams-Myers family’s commitment to stray animal welfare has created a model that organizations worldwide now emulate, proving that dedicated individuals can transform entire communities’ approach to animal charity and rescue operations.

From Seattle to Udaipur: A Family’s Journey to Animal Rescue

The Animal Aid Unlimited story begins with an unlikely relocation that would change thousands of animal lives forever. Claire was born in Melbourne, Australia, the daughter of Erika Abrams and Jim Myers. She was brought up in Seattle, USA, which is her hometown. Her childhood was spent in Seattle till she was in 9th standard after that her family shifted to Udaipur permanently.

The family’s journey to becoming leaders in stray animal welfare began in the late 1980s when Erika Abrams, Jim Myers, and young Claire first visited India. Erika Abrams—co-founder and president of Animal Aid Unlimited, a rescue operation, hospital, and sanctuary in Udaipur, India—recalls the circumstances under which she, her husband, Jim, and daughter, Claire, began traveling to India in the late 1980s. What started as tourist visits gradually transformed into a life-changing commitment to animal welfare.

Animal Aid Unlimited was founded in 2002 by Americans Erika & Jim Abrams and their daughter Claire. Starting in 1994, they visited India several times as tourists. They fell in love with the culture, and in 1999 they moved to a small village. The family’s dedication to stray animal welfare stemmed from witnessing the widespread suffering of street animals in Indian communities that lacked proper veterinary services or animal rescue infrastructure.

Claire Abrams-Myers grew up immersed in this world of animal charity, learning firsthand the challenges and rewards of rescue operations. Her formative years were shaped by daily exposure to animal welfare work, preparing her to eventually lead one of India’s most respected animal rescue organizations.

Revolutionary Achievements in Street Animal Rescue

Under the leadership of Claire Abrams-Myers and her family, Animal Aid Unlimited has achieved remarkable milestones that have redefined stray animal welfare in India. Animal Aid Unlimited opened the Animal Aid Hospital in 2002. As of 2017, the organization claims to have saved more than 45,000 injured or ill dogs, cows, donkeys, birds and cats. However, these numbers represent just the beginning of their impact on animal charity.

The organization’s scope has expanded dramatically since its inception. Animal Aid Unlimited is a leading street animal rescue center in India. Our hospital and sanctuary are home to more than 4,500 rescued and recovering animals each year. The daily operations reflect the intensity of their commitment to stray animal welfare: Today, Animal Aid rescues 15 to 25 injured or sick animals every day, cases ranging from a thorn in a paw to a cow fallen in a ditch to a dog paralyzed after an accident.

Recent statistics demonstrate the organization’s growing impact on animal rescue and treatment. In 2021, they received over 35,000 calls for rescue requests and admitted 11,233 animals into their hospital for treatment. Their efforts extended beyond the hospital, with 10,369 on-site visits to provide medical care to animals in their communities. They also spayed or neutered 1,349 dogs. These numbers underscore how Claire Abrams-Myers and her team have systematized animal welfare operations to serve thousands of creatures annually.

The organization has also pioneered comprehensive approaches to stray animal welfare. we run an 85-kennel spay-neuter center; in social media we have become one of India’s most popular charities in any category; we run a First Aid Training Program for Indians who are starting rescue services in their own villages This multifaceted strategy demonstrates how effective animal charity requires not just rescue operations, but also community education and prevention programs.

Beyond traditional rescue work, Animal Aid Unlimited has embraced modern communication tools to advance their mission. With 446K Followers on Instagram and 1,472,839 likes on Facebook, they have leveraged social media to raise awareness about stray animal welfare and secure funding for their operations.

Expanding Vision and Current Impact

Today, Claire Abrams-Myers leads an organization that serves as more than just an animal rescue center—it has become a comprehensive hub for stray animal welfare education and advocacy. They give medical care to over 15,000 animals a year and provide sanctuary to those that need lifelong care. The facility serves multiple species, reflecting the organization’s inclusive approach to animal charity.

The organization’s influence extends far beyond Udaipur’s borders. Their training programs help establish similar animal rescue operations throughout India, multiplying their impact on stray animal welfare nationwide. The model they have developed combines immediate medical intervention with long-term sanctuary care and community education—a holistic approach that other animal charity organizations worldwide have begun adopting.

Claire Abrams-Myers continues to innovate within the field of animal welfare, utilizing technology and social media to document rescue stories that inspire global audiences. These efforts have positioned Animal Aid Unlimited as not just a local animal rescue center, but as an international advocate for improved treatment of street animals in developing countries.

A Lasting Legacy in Animal Welfare

The story of Claire Abrams-Myers and Animal Aid Unlimited represents one of the most successful transformations of stray animal welfare in modern India. In the last 20 years they rescued more than 100,000 animals. Through her leadership, Claire Abrams-Myers has proven that dedicated individuals can create sustainable change in animal charity and rescue operations, establishing a model that continues to inspire animal welfare advocates worldwide.