BE A SUPERHERO TODAY

We all love superheroes. All the love and admiration that we have for them is just beyond the highs of the sky. So, what would you do if you got a chance to be someone’s superhero? You all are probably raising your eyebrows to that. But yes my friend, you can be someone’s hero!

Jones and Manaswini - Picture by Shivani Dugha Now the question arises as to how one becomes a superhero. The answer is simple – SAVE A LIFE. You don’t have to hold an entire stadium over your head or have a cape around your neck to save lives. You just need to give a homeless animal a place in your heart and your home (food and water too!) By giving it a shelter, you’re not only saving its life, but changing its world completely. And that makes you a superhero, his/her superhero.

PAL Adoption Camp - Picture by Manaswini Shetye

There are thousands of abandoned animals, animals that are looking for a home where they will be loved and respected. And only you can help them get that. The suffering that puppy and kitten mills propagate are not common knowledge and hence some of us even today look at buying a pet as an option. Once we understand the truth behind these immoral practices, we as ethical people will automatically choose to Adopt! It is our responsibility to help our four legged companions and moreover, help ourselves.

Varenya Vaish and Jerry at the PAL Adoption camp - Picture by Manaswini Shetye

Pets can be great healers. They are miracle with paws. They are the best friends you can ever have – no questions, no criticisms. From being the smallest of your family members to being a psychiatrist, they can be anything and everything you want them to be. There's nothing else we can ever ask for.

A lot of people stand in dilemma between buying and adoption. Since they have very limited knowledge about adoption and fostering, they resolve for buying. However, it is always better to opt for adoption because, for starters, no amount of money can value a life. We do not go to a shop to ‘buy’ a baby when we wish to have one. Then why do it for the animals? There are a million reasons why you should adopt a pet rather than buying one. The most obvious ones are that you are not just saving one, but two lives.

Picture by Manaswini Shetye

One. By adopting or fostering a pet in need and giving him the happiness of his life.

Emily is an abandoned spitz - rehomed through PAL adoption camp
PC - Manaswini Shetye

Two. By adopting a pet who is already been brought into this world, you are reducing the demand for pets from the mills, thus reducing the suffering of the animals who are forced to meet the demands. 

“Breeders cannot be solely blamed,” explains Manaswini Shetye, core committee member of the Pet Owners and Animal Lovers Foundation (PAL). “Once people know about adoption, they start criticizing the breeders. However, they cannot be solely blamed. As long as there’s a demand for specifications in a pet, breeders will exist. It is like being in India and demanding to buy a kid of American descent - outright racism, if you ask me.”

LUNA the great dane is a handicapped because she was ill treated by a breeder.

Also, by adopting a pet from a good and trustworthy organisation, you have a surety that the animal will be healthy and all the details about your prospective companion will be shared with you - like what they eat, when they go out, what time they sleep, what is their favourite toy, etc. There are no secrets in adoption. Moreover, you and your pet will always receive help and guidance.

Fostering a puppy is always a good option for first timers.
PC - Manaswini Shetye

Fostering is an amazing option that all people who have ever considered having a pet in their lives must look into. It can be a rewarding and enjoyable experience and at the same time you are helping save a life. By fostering a pet, you are giving him a taste of his beautiful life ahead. If you are an animal lover and hesitant about adopting, you should try fostering a pet for the experience. “You understand through first hand experience what it takes to adopt a pet for a lifetime if you foster one pet for weeks,” says Mrs Padmaja Rajasimhan, a foster parent with the PAL Foundation. It's taking your love for the pet to a different level.

Lastly, as Anatole France puts it - Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened.

Pet Owners and Animal Lovers Foundation (PAL) is an NGO which works for a better future for animals in Thane city. PAL aims to help animals by educating and empowering people with the right kind of information which enables them to understand and deal with animal related issues. PAL believes strongly in evoking a sense of compassion in human beings towards animals and works with the youth and children to achieve this. PAL also rescues animals and gives them for adoption once they are healthy and fit. They have a specialised adoption team which is headed by Ms. Neha Dabir and look at matching the right animal with the right family through fostering and adoptions.

So if you are keen on becoming a superhero today, pick up the phone and call PAL on 9324699829 / 9833277040 or email on petownersandanimallovers@gmail.com. Alternately, you can also check out their adoption page on facebook - www.facebook.com/mypalclub

To read more about PAL’s work visit www.mypalclub.org

The article is by Shonali Pandey who is an animal lover and an adopter herself. She has a beautiful cat named Arya. She loves writing and is working with PAL to help create a better world for animals.
**This article belongs to Pet Owners and Animal Lovers Foundation. Any attempt to replicate any content without permission will lead to legal consequences.

Summer Friendly Pets by Manik Bhooshan Rege

This Summer..

Keep calm...

And keep your Pets Calmer!

Aren't you excited for that wonderful time of the year when your schools, colleges and jobs will be welcoming you back from a great vacation? (oh no!) The heat was horrible this season, but thankfully rains will be shortly coming to our rescue.

The boiling temperatures have shot up to over 40 degrees in our very own country causing discomfort not only to us but also to our beloved pets and all those loving animals and birds who peacefully dwell amidst us.

 It is my painful but necessary duty to inform all my brothers and sisters of the world of the fact that over hundreds of street animals and pets have fallen prey to the scorching heat this time. While we were always smart enough escape the horrible summers by spending time with buddies at cool malls or grab a smoothie or an ice cream, our poor animal friends became victims of the many harsh and painful effects caused due to the heat which include dehydration, heat rash, skin cancers, sunstroke and even unfortunate death.

I lost my two dear angels,  Lonely and Naughty, two street pups I used to take care of since a long time ago, due to the same effect. I rushed for medical help but couldn't save them. I pray to The Lord to comfort their souls and the souls of all others who died in vain due to our negligence and ignorance.

Thus I believe it to be our duty to prepare for a better tomorrow and take precautions next summers to shelter all our animal brothers and sisters. In this elaborate and exhaustive  article of lucid information, I shall be highlighting some of the important steps we all must take together for a better tomorrow for our beloved pets as well as all animals. Please excuse the length but half knowledge is dangerous and so I have tried to consider all prospects of the subject. I shall always welcome valuable inputs and suggestions from the much loved side of my dearest readers and would actively encourage to participate in local and national discussions that would benefit the society for the same. Next summer is a long time from now but I strongly believe that if we think about it right now, we'll definitely make some effort when summer strikes next year...

The primary basic necessities of animals and birds, identical to us are food and water. We often concentrate on food but neglect water as some normal 'thing' Well, it's happy realisation time, water is the MOST ESSENTIAL THING in the world for animals as it is for us. 

Clean and fresh water in regularly washed bowls is a must in house who shelter pets. Please see to it that you keep a check on your pooche's water intake and ensure he takes in enough water daily to keep himself cool. 

Again for those who love to take care of street, domestic or any other animals and birds, you can always dig pots or bowls and fix them in the ground or tie them to a support with a strong rope so that no one can take it away. And I hope I don't need to remind you to clean and fill them up daily!

 Pets love food time and so do we but it is necessary to feed them the right thing during summers to prevent the rising of their body temperatures. Regular dog food in proper quantities isn't always sufficient. Fruits like mashed bananas, pineapples or apples and treats like mashed sweet potato with yogurt icing which both contain healthy amounts of beta-carotene (in lay man's words: good nutrients) help in good skin and body growth. Some vanilla ice cream (please don't experiment other flavours), once every week, can be a fun treat for your cutey-pie pooch. For those great angels and pure souls, who feed street dogs and cats or pigeons and crows you can always mash up some chicken slices once in a while to avoid whatever you routinely give them. If some, like me, are uncomfortable with meat, they can always choose fruits, which are economical and healthy, mash them and feed them in bowls.

 Vegetables like broccoli, green veggies are great for them, and the good news is that they don't shoo spinach, peas and cabbage away like YOU do! Peanut butter cottage cheese contain super calcium and proteins and are AWESOME as far as summer treats go until you make sure to give them in restricted amounts and prevent your pooch from growing bulky.  You can always watch the ever entertaining Tom and Jerry shows with him while you both enjoy a large bowl of unsalted popcorn which are great as calorie free snacks

Remember, foods like corn, too much rice and junk garbage like burgers or chips can overheat and hurt your beautiful pet. Soft drinks and cheap sodas are a grave no-no for you as well as your pet. You can always walk up to your local vet to know more for free. If you approach politely, no one will mind sharing valuable tips...

The next basic need is clothes, of course. Clicking selfies with your baby dog or cat in colourful outfits or for that matter with any beloved and befriended animal and posting them on Facebook is really adorable and I love you...but let's forget the clothes and tiny boots for him/her temporarily for the summer. 

It's necessary to keep him/her open and fresh. Make sure your pooch's coat isn't too thick or else trim it down a bit. Always try to keep a fan running in your room to allow air circulation and PLEASE KEEP THE WINDOWS OPEN DURING THE DAY to allow ventilation. You can leave the A.C on for a while now and then to cool down you pet's room or any room he/she shares.

All done, but aren't we forgetting the most important need??! Love. Make it a habit to take your pet for an evening walk daily but don't tire him out. Contact any specialist to know if there are pet friendly pools in your town. Take him to the park, enjoy with him like there's no other damn person on earth who matters. Play with him, cuddle him close and love him unconditionally like your own baby.

 Try extending a willing hand to NGOS, emotionally if not financially to contribute in the betterment of those homeless who await your help. 

You spend thousands in malls watching and eating junk you're not going to remember. You go on long vacations at cool hill stations to do nothing but relax yourself. Why not, next summer, spend for a good cause? Why not, next summer devote time for a better tomorrow, to make someone feel special, to remind God, as he reminds you, that you Love him Always? Animals have always been the answer to everything. They're loving, affectionate and forgiving...

Why not, next summer, love them too?

Why not, next summer, keep calm and keep our beloved animals calmer?

God bless us all! Thank You.

How To Keep Your Dog Cool This Summer

The Summer sun is scorching and the heat is becoming unbearable each day. From sitting in an air conditioned room to wearing our lightest clothes outside, we are taking those steps to feel as cool as possible. Summers are also hard on our furry friends though they can't do much about it. So, here are a few tips to beat the heat this summer and keep it cool for your dog.

1) Leave a fan on somewhere in front of which he can sit when he feels like. If he sits in a particular room, leave the air conditioner on.

2) We know your dog looks fashionable in his new shirt, but keep clothes at bay in the summer. Their natural coats are more than they need. 

3) Dogs drink more water in the summers. Keep the bowls full all the time and make sure it is fresh. Cold water is good too.

4) Look up online for some pet friendly summer treats that you can make at home. Some vanilla ice cream, now and then, won't do any harm. If nothing else, ice cubes are refreshing, too.

5) Limit his walks to early mornings and late evenings. This is when the sun's heat won't warm up the ground and cause your pet's paws to burn.

6) Take him swimming! Find out about local pet friendly pools or take him to a pet friendly beach. Most dogs love to swim and this is the perfect season for it.

7) If your dog has a thick or long coat, trim it. It will make him feel much lighter and therefore, more comfortable and active. 

8) Don't leave your dog inside your car, even for a few minutes. The temperatures inside closed cars can prove fatal to them.

9) Watch out for heatstroke. Symptoms include panting, lethargy, drooling, vomiting and collapse. If you think he is showing these signs, contact your vet ASAP. 

10) Summer usually means staying inside the house and under a fan all day, but it doesn't have to be so. Take your dog to a park in the evenings where he can run loose and play. Mud is comforting and cooling, though messy once he's back home.

Hope you found this helpful. Don't forget to leave comments and feedback! :)

Cute Calico kitten looking for a home!

Calico cats are also called Tortoise shell cats and are distinguished by their orange/brown and black/grey patches. These cats are almost always females.

This cute little Calico kitten is all of a month and half.

And she is playful and is litter trained, too!

                  And obviously, she has beautiful eyes and looks way too adorable.

She is waiting to have a family to cuddle with.

You think you can be the one for this precious little one? 

Call 9324699829 to adopt or even foster her. :)

Adorable BUNTY is looking for a home!

At only two and a half months old, Bunty, a white Indian puppy, has gone through a pretty hard time. He was run over when he was a month old, but with timely medication and some TLC, he recovered gracefully.

Here is his journey to recovery -

From a maggot wound to broken leg and ribs, this cute puppy has endured it all and come out even stronger! 

Look at him now!

All fine, absolutely healthy, vaccinated and dewormed and oh so adorable! He loves to play and loves to cuddle. All he doesn't have now is a forever family.

Can't resist that adorable face? Think you can shower him with love for a lifetime? Call 9324699829 to adopt, or even foster him for a few days. :)

Why Should You Get A Pet? No, Why Shouldn't You Get Two! - By Eden Dias

Kito and Scooby are my furry four-legged additions to my family. Kito is a 3 year old tuxedo cat and Scooby, a 5-6 years old Tibetan Terrier cross dog. They are both adopted rescue animals, meaning, they were both found on the streets. Since there are hundreds of homeless animals looking for shelter, my family and I decided to save them instead of opting to buy them.

Of course, as any pet parent would tell you, having a pet at home is delightful and fun; they make your boring Saturday afternoons enjoyable even if it’s just watching Marley and Me together. And having two pets? That’s double the advantage! To start with, you always have two cute, cuddly, happy babies to hug and squeeze whenever you’re bored and thus get your clothes covered in cat and dog hair but I bet you, you will find it even on the top you wore last Christmas and haven’t seen since. They’re always excited to see you and greet you even if you just went out for 15 minutes (well at least the dog is!), you get to click loads of adorable pictures of them and Instagram them – no amount of cat pictures is too many on Instagram, trust me, and your social life receives a boost when people want to start meeting you, if only for your cute pets. Oh well.

You can celebrate their birthdays and as an excuse, put on a birthday hat on them, click embarrassing pictures of them and gorge on the food yourself. 

You can replace that stuffed teddy bear you sleep with at night with an actual living animal, but only for as long as they don’t get sick of you trying to hug the life out of them.

 They are more than glad to have anything off your plate, it doesn’t even take their almost-hypnotic puppy dog eyes for you to share some with them, and if it’s something you are not fond of, they are excellent at under-the-table tricks. Shh, Mom doesn’t have to know. 

 The thing about writing about your pets is that once you start, you just can’t stop, because one event you think of reminds you of another and it just – Did I mention bath time? Bath time is the most tragic happening in the life of a pet. Bath time to pets is what dooms day is to humans. Even saying “bath time” so many times sets off their danger alarms and run-for-your-lives mode is activated. They will get into the deepest nooks of your cupboards or the farthest space under the tables, cling onto anything their claws will support and fight even after the bathroom doors are shut, trying to climb on the door while you chuckle an evil laugh at their futile attempts. 

All the boldness and “dadagiri” they might possess outside the bathroom vanish inside. Suddenly, they transform into timid mice, running around the bathroom, faking shivers when the water is warm and giving you those hypnotic eyes again, in the hope that you will melt and open that door. 

But even when the bath is done, it doesn’t end there. Personally, what I do when Scooby is done with a bath is signal all my family members from inside the bathroom. The doors to all the rooms are then shut, except one, where we can trap him and dry him, because God forbid if you don’t, you have a wet dog on the loose! He will run at full speed in whatever direction he finds first, slip on the floor because his paws are wet and consequently create a water slide there, he will roll on the floor, jump on your beds, and that’s not the worst; the wet-dog shake is.

 One shake and your room is destroyed, and if your laptop is lying open somewhere close to him, well then too bad for you, I hope it survives. Wet-dog shakes are really, really not as fun as they look on TV. Giving a dog a bath is an experience in itself, everyone should at least once in their lifetime. Cat baths are not as bad, but not much better either, their sharp claws and smaller size makes it difficult to catch them and dry them. Smart that they are, they believe licking themselves is the best way to do it. 

Having these super adorable, mute siblings comes with a price too. You love talking to them so much about abso-fricking-lutely anything all the time, even if they’re sleeping or if you realize a little late that they’ve already left the room, that sometimes you wish they could understand your words. Throw in a piece of advice sometimes or just laugh at your jokes because no other human would. Tell you what they’re thinking about when they lie on the floor and just look at nothing, what they’re saying when they bark at other dogs or mew at odd times of the night, what they’re feeling when they tremble out of fear of the loud fireworks. 

But then you realize, maybe the reason they make for such loving companions is because they wag their tails more than their tongues. Family vacations are never convenient because leaving your pet behind is just too tough for you. After a difficult decision, you leave him with your friends or relatives for a few days, and every day you demand to be whatsapped pictures and videos of him. “Oh my shonu, must be missing his mama so much!” When in fact, your pet is quite happy with his temporary family, and you’re the one missing him terribly and tearing up at any sight of a dog that doesn’t even remotely look like him. 

You thought you hated pigeons? Your dog definitely hates them more. Don’t be surprised if sudden, thunderous barks disturb your afternoon siesta. It’s just the pigeons. He will chase them off like they were a life threat to his beloved parents. You’re out of mid-evening snacks for them? Never mind that, they’ve got the flies and the moths. And once they’ve got their eyes on one, there’s no stopping them. They’ll jump, they’ll run, they’ll skid and snap. But they will not give up.

But after a year and a half of having two pets together at home, you reach a point where you get past just enjoying them to learning from them, and it may not seem like two harmless, naïve creatures could teach you more than which Instagram filter suits them best, but they really do. The first thought that comes to peoples’ minds when they hear that I live with a dog and a cat is how do THEY live with each other?! 

When we decided to adopt Scooby, we had our doubts as well. How would Kito deal with a new dog that’s thrice, maybe four times his size? But we kept our faith and so did they. They kept their hearts open to each other and in a few months, they adjusted perfectly. 

They remind me each day that no matter how different somebody is from me or how much society thinks the two of us might never get along, if I just keep trying and never judge, I might prove them all wrong. They taught me compassion and co-existence.

 When my grandmom sits to cut some vegetables, Kito will come to inspect them curiously. If it’s something like French beans, he will go crazy. He’ll paw at a couple of them, drop them off the table and it’s time for football. He will lift it up, kick it away, chase it, pounce on it, attack it, kick it again. He doesn’t fancy those pet store toys. Even the cardboard roll that is left after the toilet paper is over is enough for him, yarn or pens are good too. He reminds me that I should just be happy with what I have, what I find around the house. If you don’t need something, don’t buy it, it’ll just be waste. Be satisfied and content. 

No matter how many times you trip over them, step on their tails, shout at them or hit them (not beat them, of course), startle them awake, push them away when you’re not in the mood for their licks, even after you give them that horrific bath!, they find a way to forgive you. It’s like you never did anything to upset them at all. How is it that they never run out of second chances? They’ll come right back to you to be petted and will give you a chance to apologize though they don’t need it, allow you to forgive yourself for being mean to them. They teach me to be forgiving and never hold grudges. 

Scooby has been to four homes before mine, all in the hope of having those families forever. If it were me, by my fifth house I’d be a total rebel and would hate all the families and people I ever came across till now and all the people who transferred me from one house to another, one family to another without asking me what I’d like to do. But I’m a human.. Scooby is a dog. I am amazed by his ability to forgive everyone, to forget everything, to pardon everyone that failed him and still accept my family and me like we are his first family. He doesn’t treat us like sinners or demand justifications for the way he was treated. He’s always there with his broad grin and bright brown eyes, welcoming us home. Fat though he may be, he will run to the living room to greet us, sniffing us and our bags…sniffing our bags a lot… Hmm, now that I think of it, maybe that’s just in the hope that we brought him something tasty, who knows. 

But he teaches me. That people do bad things but that doesn’t mean that they’re bad people. Sometimes good people need to do bad things; we should look for the good in them too. Forgive and move on. 

You’re home late from college, their dinners are delayed and their walks are delayed. They don’t complain. They’ll watch you hurriedly freshen up and cook their food, sitting at the entrance of the kitchen, waiting for their bowl to be kept down. Patience. Once you start petting the dog, you don’t simply stop. He will nudge your arm, tap your knee, lick your fingers till you continue. Never give up. On hugging your dog, you find dead flowers and dead insects in his fur too sometimes. His hair has started to knot and become greasy. He teaches me that postponing that bath for too long might prove hazardous. Who knows what he’ll bring home in his hair next time. Altogether, they teach me what it is to love unconditionally.

But the most valuable lesson your pets can ever teach you – No matter what life brings you, kick some grass over that shit and move on.

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[After realizing that I was capable of churning out 2000 odd words about my pets, ‘crazy cat & dog lady’ with 72 cats and 67 dogs seems like the most likely occupation for me later on in life. And I don’t mind it one bit. ;) ]

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This article is written by Eden Dias. Photos of Scooby and Kito are clicked by her, other images sourced from Google.