IN DEFENCE OF ANIMALS

GAURANGI SANJAY POTDAR

DPGD/OC13/1354SAVING ANIMALS

IN DEFENSE OF ANIMALS

LIST OF TABLESSr

noCONTENTSPAGE

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1INTRODUCTION

2VARIOUS NGOS

3WORKING OF IDA

4CONTRIBUTION OF IDA

5VARIOUS ACTIVITIES

1. Introduction.IN DEFENCE OF ANIMAL

IDA INDIA is a non profit grass root level animal protection organisation, dedicated towards establishing and defending the rights of all non - human living creatures.

It aims at:

Providing infrastructural facilities for shelters, dispensaries, ambulances etc for alleviating the suffering of animals.

Lobbying for amendments to existing animal protection laws in India, to make them effective.

Rescue of abused animals.

Campaigning to secure legal recognition for animal rights nationally and internationally.

Promoting vegetarianism.

Promoting Animal Birth Control program and disctheiraging brutal extermination of stray animals.

Creating awareness amongst people, so as to start a mass movement against -

Use of animals in laboratories for experimentation.

Vivi-section in schools & colleges

Harsh training regimes in circuses and films

Manhandling of slaughter animal and poultry chicken

Cruelty to cows, bullocks, horses, donkeys,

Zoos

Breeding for commercial exploitation. Brief History Of IDA

In Defense of Animals, India was born on 31st October 1996. Immediately the project of neutering of street dogs was taken up. A small beginning was made in March 1997 in two garages of a residential colony in a suburb of Mumbai. For three years IDA INDIA worked in small make shift camps. With the intervention of the Mumbai High Ctheirt, the Corporation handed over the premises at Deonar to IDA INDIA on 22nd December 1999.

Project for working animals in Mumbai like horses and bullocks from 1st April 2008:

They hold regular check up camps, treat ill / injured animals and are actively involved in sensitizing "owners" towards their animals. Their vet is available for emergency calls 24 x 7 to help these animals.

Spay / neuter program in the smaller towns near Mumbai & Navi Mumbai:

Several small Municipal Councils in Raigadh District have started approaching IDA India to set up spay / neuter camps in their towns. They held the first camp at Matheran, and neutered / spayed 475 dogs in 4 months betTheyen February & May 2008. They now propose to move the camp to other towns. Presently, They are working in the towns of Dahanu and Lonavala.

Their Mission Statement:

"Always....In Defense of Animals."

They Believe that :

Treating animals differently from humans, is akin to racism and sexism

Being immune to the pain and suffering of animals means that one's soul has not yet awakened

A civilized society, is one where there is zero tolerance to abuse and cruelty of any kind to animals

AtIDA India, They believe that their moral duty as humane individuals, is to help & assist the animals to the best of their ability. They have no major philosophies, but They believe that animals have a right to food, shelter, comfort, love and life like They do. They Theyre perhaps born to alleviate the suffering of these neglected, abused, ftheir legged; slithering and feathered friends...their co-inhabitants, who came to this planet before us, their soul mates from the animal kingdom.

2. Other NGO working in this area1. Save their strays Mumbai: 1. SOS was founded in November 2003 by Shirley advani in her immediate neighborhood of Andheri (Theyst), today their area of operation has expanded from Bandra to Dahisar in Theystern surburbs. Their main focus is to keep the population of Dogs and Cats under control and keep the city litter free 2. Jaagruti: NGO Jagriti was established in the year 2000 in Amdalpur Village of Jagadhri block of Yamunanagar district. Haryana. A registered organization under the Societies Registration Act, Jagriti is working in the villages of Yamunanagar and Kurukshetra districts of Haryana and Paonta block of Himachal Pradesh.3. P.A.W.S: Pet Animal Theylfare Society (PAWS) came into existence in 1998 and started working the very same day. The purpose of the society is to make people aware about the care, management and nutrition of pet and stray animals. For PAWS, all animals on this planet are the pets of the society and hence They need to realize their importance in their everyday life and do their bit in exchange. 4. FIAPO: FIAPO is Indias apex animal protection organization. As collective voice of animal protection movement in India, FIAPO is the catalyst that protects the interests of animals at local and national levels. Created for the movement, by the movement and comprised of animal protection organization, FIAPO is Indias only national federation. 3. IDA Organisation

The Foundation of IDA

In early 1983, veterinarian Elliot Katz, a recent transplant to the Bay Area, was contacted by an animal-advocacy organization seeking his help to rectify purportedly abusive and scandalous conditions on the UC Berkeley campus animal laboratories. What Dr. Katz discovered was worse than he could have ever imagined. It was a veterinarian's nightmare. Animals living in grossly overcrowded and filthy facilities Theyre suffering and dying by the hundreds from heatstroke, complications following surgery, gangrene, bacterial meningoencephalitis and viral epidemics. Campus veterinarians Theyre unable to perform their jobs, and in some instances, Theyre even locked out of laboratories where animals in need Theyre sick and dying.

Determined to improve conditions for the animals and the veterinarians at the university, Dr. Katz brought together a group of concerned citizens whose sole intent was to bring legal action against the USDA and the university. The group, initially called Californians for Responsible Research, filed a law suit against the USDA which forced the agency to issue a cease and desist order against UC Berkeley.

The university was ultimately fined $12,000 for violating the Animal Theylfare Act. Californians for Responsible Research, later to become In Defense of Animals, succeeded in bringing some semblance of responsibility to the animal research department at UC Berkeley.

Under Dr. Katz' direction, In Defense of Animals has expanded its mission and has grown to be one of the nation's foremost animal advocacy organizations, with 80,000 members, dedicated to ending abuse of animals by defending their rights, Theylfare and habitat.Animal Welfare in India

As per the Indian tradition and culture, animals always had a respect and a special place in society. Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism have always preached kindness and compassion to animals. Each Hindu God or Goddess is seen with an animal. Lord Krishna was a shepherd and is seen with a cow, Lord Rama with the monkeys, Lord Vishnu with the eagle and the snake, Lord Shiva with a snake around his neck and the bull 'Nandi' at his feet, Goddess Saraswati goddess of wisdom and literacy is seen with swan. Goddess Amba symbol of power riding a tiger, Lord Dattatraya always has dogs at his feet, and so on. The foundation of Buddhism and Jainism is 'Ahimsa' or 'non-violence', not only towards fellow humans and animals, but also to every living creature including an insect.

With such rich culture and heritage, where kindness and compassion were the foundation of society, there was no need for animal welfare organizations, as each home was an animal welfare institution by itself. Every home had cattle in the back yard. The bullocks worked in the fields alongside the farmer, the cows and buffaloes provided milk to the family, but only after the calves have had their fill. Dogs and cats lived inside the homes as members of the family. The hen lived happily in the front yard and provided the family with eggs. Leather was made from the hides of only dead animals. Thus it was a beautiful picture of co-existence of animals and humans.

But today times have changed. With population explosion, urbanization and consumerism catching up, animals are easy prey for human greed. They are soft targets for any one trying to make a quick buck, and prime candidates for exploitation. Today even healthy, young animals are killed for leather, meat and tallow. Calves are kept hungry and emaciated, while the cow's milk is sold in the markets for human consumption. Chicken are kept in cramped batteries, either for the eggs or for slaughter. Slaughter animals are made to walk thousands of miles to slaughterhouses, or carted in trucks / tempos packed like sardines, with the result some of them die of suffocation before they reach their destination. Rhesus monkeys and Dancing Bears performing on the streets, with hordes of people watching them, is another eye sore in India. The fear of the baton falling on their backs is clearly visible in their eyes. Same is the case with thousands of animals performing in the circuses. Research on animals is another major issue that needs to be tackled. With tremendous pressure from animal welfare groups in the developed countries, companies are bringing their research work to India, where the laws are not strict and they can get away with just about anything.

Today even in Metropolitan cities like Mumbai, bullock and pony carts are seen plying alongside cars and motorbikes; cows and buffaloes, let loose by dairy owners after extracting the milk are seen loitering or sitting right in the middle of busy streets and eating from the garbage, which consist of plastic, paper and sometimes even pins, hooks, or battery cells. Similarly donkeys used for carrying loads are let loose to eat from the garbage dumps. Dogs and cats live on the roads - many homeless and some looked after.

It is quite common to see community dogs or cats living in residential colonies. This is because due to very fast urbanization all the open spaces are getting used up for construction of residential complexes, and the animals like dogs and cats living on these open areas are getting displaced. The residents that occupy these residential buildings find these animals to be a nuisance and want them evicted.

Another victim of urbanization in the city of Mumbai is the Borivali National Park, which is the only lung of the city, houses plenty of wild animals including the leopards. Perhaps Mumbai is the only city in the world, where a National Park and a Metropolitan city lie adjacent to each other. The city has been allowed to grow to such an extent that it has started encroaching into the National Park. This 'lung' of the heavily polluted Mumbai city, also serves as the catchments area for rainwater that flows into the lakes supplying water to the Mumbai city. Despite its importance, unfortunately this National Park is fast becoming smaller and smaller, with the result leopards have started entering into the residential complexes in search of food and attacking people.

In this situation, animal welfare in India takes on a whole new meaning. With so many animal issues and so many animals on the streets, the need of the day is to have several animal welfare societies in each community, whereas there is only one full fledged hospital in whole Mumbai city which is not at all sufficient to look after all the sick and injured animals. NGOs who are running the ABC centers also treat the sick, injured animals or house the abandon animals with very meager means and facilities. The Government of India is trying to encourage setting up of an SPCA in each District of the country, but there are few takers. IDA India also has a project on the agenda to build an animal hospital with latest technology and equipments.

The only ray of hope is the advent of television. Awareness about animal issues and environment is spreading with youngsters watching channels like Animal Planet, National Geographic and Discovery. They are becoming aware of the place of animals in our lives and the need to give them due respect. IDA India hopes to tap the potential of these youngsters for welfare of animals, and has formed the 'Compassionate Children's Club' IDA India also regularly organized the animal welfare and awareness programs in schools, collages, and socials groups which is playing very effective role in bringing wider vision for animal issues among the adult and children.

People behind IDA INDIA:

Fizzah Shah, President

Vivienne Choudhury, Vice President

Dr. Sangeeta Vengsarkar Shah, Hon. Treasurer

Sudnya Patkar, Hon. Secretary

Goodicia Vaidya, Past President

Naina Athale

Dr. H. G. Ghanawat

Sarita Raturi, Atlanta, U.S.A.

Gauri Keskar

Aban Bhote

Dr. Makarand Chavan

Dr. Dinesh Vinherkar

Different Centres of IDA in Mumbai

Deonar Centre started from 1st February 2000:

With the intervention of the Bombay High Ctheirt, the Municipal Corporation handed over erstwhile Dog pound at Deonar to us on 22nd December 1999. After refurbishing the place, They started the centre from 1st February 2000, to spay / neuter street animals and render treatment to ill / injured ones..

.

Vashi Centre started from 26th July 2006:

The twin city of Mumbai viz. Navi Mumbai did not have a neutering center for dogs for several years. Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) handed over their erstwhile Dog Pound to us to start the spay / neuter and render treatment for street animals in Navi Mumbai. Thus started their second centre from 26th July 2006.

Neral Centre started from 28th August 2006:

Being an eco-sensitive zone, vehicles are not permitted on the hill station of Matheran, hence Theyak, emaciated horses are used to ferry people and cargo up and down the hill. While more than 600 horses are working in this region, there is not a single veterinarian or an animal center in the region. They therefore started this centre to help these animals Now their staff also holds camps in nearby towns of Kalyan and Titwala, where horses are used to ferry passengers. Sadly, due to lack of funds, this vital service had to be stopped in end of April, 2011.What kind of animals does the group defend?IDA works to stop cruelty, abuse and exploitation wherever it exists. They protect and defend any animal in need, wild or domestic. Dogs, cats, farm animals, bison, wild horses, deer, elephants, chimpanzees, mink, raccoons, rabbits, seals and many more.

How do they allow individuals to become involved in the political process?They help to educate their members and anyone who comes to their Theybsite about animal issues and how they can get involved. They have a Theyekly e-newsletter, e-alerts and mailings that go out to their members enctheiraging them to contact decision makers and sign petitions for various animal issues. They also support grassroots activist engaging in local protests with materials, signs, flyers, e-alerts and press releases.

What legislation has IDA passed?By educating and empoTheyring concerned people to work with their city councils and government legislators, IDA has enctheiraged 17 cities, 2 counties and the state of Rode Island to incorporate the term guardian into their city ordinances. A growing number of people, legislators, humane societies and rescue organizations are replacing the term animal owner with animal guardian in their city ordnances and literature, recognizing that the term owner doesnt reflect the human/animal bond that exists in their culture today. Guardian denotes a higher level of responsibility, caring and respect to their animal companions. It sends a message that they are much more than mere commodities, objects, property and things. Guardian accurately describes the appropriate kindness and long term care to ones animal companions, teaching children respect, compassion and kindness.

IDA was indirectly involved in the passing of the California ban on Foie Gras that goes into effect in 2012. To produce foie gras, ducks or geese have over ftheir pounds of corn mash forced down their throats through a long metal pipe until they are on the verge of organ rupture and death. These animals suffer immensely, can barely move and often vomit and pant for breath.

They also enctheirage their tens of thousands of members to contact legislatures and government officials on various issues that assist in getting legislation passed.

What is one of the biggest contributions to society IDA has made?IDA increases the level of justice and compassion to other species, therefore increasing the level of justice and compassion for their own species. IDA is enctheiraging the replacement of outdated animal research with new modern technology that are more accurate and more humane. IDAs vegan campaign promotes a diet that supports health while improving the environment and reducing greenhouse gasses. From the chimpanzees of Africa to dolphins in Japan to the wild horses of the American Plains, IDA helps preserve wild animals and their habitats for the environmental benefit of the planet and for the legacy of their amazing Planet Earth for future generations to enjoy.

Is IDA an International organization?IDA is an International organization that aids animals around the world. IDA Africa provides a forest sanctuary to the chimpanzee victims of the bush meat trade in Cameroon, Africa. IDA India spays and neuters thousands of street animals in Mumbai, India, as Theyll as providing them food, ambulance service and veterinary care.

IDA's yearly International Day of Action for Korean Dogs and Cats draws attention to the suffering of Korean dogs killed for meat consumption. Cramped into cages and slaughtered in horrific ways, They are a voice for these animals. In fact, there is a myth that the more the animal suffers when it is killed, the more virility a man will experience when he eats the meat. This myth has perpetuated the brutal torture of countless dogs killed for their meat.

IDA is part of a coalition of International organizations dedicated to informing the world about the illegal and immoral slaughter of the intelligent and playful dolphin. Threw the promotion of the film The Cove and other coalition work, They are exposing the cruel killing of thousands of dolphins in Taiji, Japan.

What is IDA's goals for the animals?To create a more just and compassionate world Theyre individuals of other species are respected and free from human imposed suffering.

What are their primary stheirces of funding?They are very proud of the fact that IDA is totally funded by thousands of caring people because They have always refused to compromise their principles by accepting funding from corporate giants or governmental agencies that exploit and abuse their fellow beings.

And how much of ytheir initial profit goes directly to ytheir campaigns?

Of the money that They take in, 85% goes to the programs and campaigns, 11% goes to fundraising and 4% goes to general operations.

Are there roles for volunteers within the organization?Yes, IDA has an active volunteer program. They have volunteers that come into the headquarters in San Rafael, helping us with everything from putting labels on mailings to organizing files to other projects. They also have field volunteers all over the country in almost every state. There are volunteer writers and researchers that help us with press releases, letters to the editors, grant writing and research projects. They have volunteers that help with administrative work, data entry, their Theybsite and social networking. They also have dedicated people that leaflet, protest, organize fundraisers and events and tirelessly work to educate the public about their campaigns, helping to improve the lives of animals.

How often does IDA hold public events?They have seven International Days of Action each year, with 50 to 100 cities across the world participating with protests, leafletings, tables and other educational outreach. They organize a day for the seals hunted in Canada for their fur in March and World Theyek for Animals in Laboratories in April. They have an International Day of Action for elephants in June and in July for dogs and cats in Korea killed for human consumption. They have their World Go Vegan Theyek in October, Day for Dolphins in September and Fur Free Friday in November.

IDA also has ongoing campaigns throughout the year. They support activist targeting local animal abusers in their area with literature, posters, e-alerts, and press releases for their protests. Some examples of these campaigns are foie gras, puppy mills, dog fighting and others.

How heavily is IDA involved in California?Their International Headquarters is in San Rafael, CA. and They have a strong presence in the Bay Area sponsoring local events, presenting tables at events and coordinating protests, outreach actions and fundraisers. They also have an active team in Southern California as Theyll, holding Theyekly protests and events for puppy mills, fur, vivisection and various other issues.

Organization in terms of staff and members.They have approximately 35 staff members. Ten work in the San Rafael, CA. headquarters, five in the Portland, OR. office and the others work from home in other states. They have over 84,000 members worldwide.

What is IDA's Guardian Campaign?IDA created the Guardian Campaign in 1999 as a nationwide platform to reflect growing public support for a redefined public standard of relating to animals. Since then, over 40 cities across the U.S. and Canada and the entire state of Rhode Island now use the term 'guardian' in their animal-related ordinances.

The term "guardian" is intended as a language update that can supplement and strengthen, not replace, other animal Theylfare and protection efforts. For example, many professionals have chosen to use the term "animal guardian" to enhance existing humane education, character education and juvenile restitution programs. Animal shelters, schools, child and animal Theylfare organizations, local governments and community groups have also endorsed the term "guardian" as an inexpensive, enduring educational tool that can help promote adoption and spay/neuter programs by communicating the value of animal care and protection to the community as a whole.