Animals,month after month

Street Story
For years,stray dogs of Mumbai have been getting ill-treatment and criticism from people,as well as compassion from animal lovers. Amid heated debates on elimination and sterilisation of stray dogs and rabies eradication,the homeless dogs of the city have managed to find a place in the average Mumbaiite’s psyche.

It is this quality of the loveable strays that the NGO,Welfare for Stray Dogs (WSD),tries to bring out in its ‘The Strays of Mumbai Calendar 2010’.

Abodh Aras of WSD says,“Last year,when we launched the WSD calendar,we were not sure how it would be received and therefore printed only 1,200. The calendar got a huge response and we were forced to print more. This year,our idea is to profile dogs from streets and slums,dogs kept by hawkers and those kept in buildings by security guards etc.”

The pictures shot by photographer and WSD volunteer Rohan Mukharjee portray stray dogs on the streets from south Bombay to Chembur and Bandra to Borivali. “These dogs are impacted by us some way and each has a story to tell. They have become a part and parcel of our life. Besides,like us,they have their own quirks,” says Aras.

‘The Strays of Mumbai’ is available as wall or desk calendars featuring 26 different and distinct dogs. The proceeds from the sale of the calendar,which costs Rs 150,will go towards WSD’s sterilization,vaccination and other programmes,says Aras. The calendar can be picked up from Rhythm House and WSD office in Kala Ghoda,Paws and Furs and Tailwaggers in Bandra or Dogoholic in Lokhandwala,Andheri.

Tiger Shines
To celebrate 2010,which is the Chinese Year of the Tiger,the IndusInd Bank has rolled out a calendar capturing the majestic big cats in different moods. Paul Abraham,COO of IndusInd,says,“The tiger is considered an umbrella species. If the tiger survives,the forests will survive,the water source will flourish and eventually we will. The calendar features photos taken by renowned photographer Kakubai Kothari and is being distributed to bank customers and others who are interested.

Rescued Ones
In a school in Mumbai,a lovebird,Whoopey,was kept caged as an exhibit for schoolchildren. Dharmesh Solanki and a team from the People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) visited the school and talked to the teachers and the principal. They explained why birds should never be held captive. The school administration turned the bird over to Peta for rehabilitation. Today,Whoopey lives in Pune’s Katraj Rescue Centre,where it enjoys life in a natural habitat with other birds of the same species.

Twelve such tales of liberation and hope are illustrated through breathtaking photographs in the ‘Peta 2010 Rescued Calendar’. Solanki says,“Each story is accompanied by information on how one can help animals in similar situations.” Among the best are the stories of Harshvardhan,the colt who was rescued from Kupwad by a villager and Surya,a tiger that was freed from the Empire Circus along with nine other tigers. The Peta calendar is not for sale and can be obtained from the Peta office against a donation,Solanki said.