“To raise the status of animals in order to improve welfare standards around the globe.”

This day is dedicated to the welfare of animals of the world. Even though animal welfare is yet to become a global phenomena, one that is a given in any society, it is gaining importance in India at a rapid pace. Heartwarming stories of rescue operations and random acts of kindness continue to pour in from all over. People are now more involved in raising the living standards and status of our furry friends in society, working relentlessly to create a better, happier environment for them. The number of volunteers has been on a substantial rise and more donations are being made for the cause.

Let’s take a look at some of the setups dedicated to making needy animals safe, happy and healthy again.

1. People For Animals, New Delhi

People for Animals, also known as PFA, is India’s largest animal welfare organisation with a nationwide network of 26 hospitals, 165 units and 2.5 lakh members. PFA works towards the rescue and rehabilitation of needy animals. It runs shelters, ambulance services, sterilisation programs, treatment camps and disaster rescue missions. PFA actively patrols highways to check against overloading and smuggling of animals for slaughter. Interestingly, PFA is also on the Film and Censor Board of India to check animal abuse in films and has successfully filed cases against films that misuse animals.

You can visit the website here

3. Charlie’s Animal Rescue Centre, Bengaluru

CARE was started in January 2013 in Bengaluru and is dedicated to housing, rehabilitating, re-homing and giving timely medical aid to stray and abandoned animals. A 10-year-old 3-legged therapy dog became the inspiration behind this trust. They provide 24-hour veterinary care, ambulance services, inpatient facilities and adoption of dogs and cats. They are now building a medical centre which will consist of an OPD, operation theatre, x-ray and scanning facilities for street animals.

You can visit the website here

The Blue Cross of India is one of India’s most recognised animal welfare organisations and the first of a new genre of organisations that looks after the welfare of all kinds of animals. Located in Chennai, Blue Cross is home to all kinds of creatures who have been abandoned, abused, injured or disabled. They have treated, rescued and saved a whopping number of birds and animals since 1964.

You can visit the website here

5. Friendicoes, New Delhi

6. The Bombay Society For The Prevention Of Cruelty To Animals (BSPCA), Mumbai

A one-of-a-kind in India, BSPCA is a charitable organisation and has been running for over 134 years. Its purpose is to prevent cruelty to animals and provide help and relief to all animals in Mumbai city. The animal hospital works 24 hours a day and treats around 10000 animals every year which includes different species of animals and birds such as emus, geese, vultures, owls, turtles, horses, monkeys, dogs, and many more. They have started new projects such as a cardiac centre, an ICU, a blood bank, an animal birth control centre, an electric crematorium and a shelter for ownerless animals.

You can visit their website here

8. The Sanjay Gandhi Animal Care Centre (SGACC), New Delhi

As per the website, The Sanjay Gandhi Animal Care Centre (SGACC) is India’s oldest and Delhi’s largest all-animal shelter. This all-animal facility was founded in 1980 and happens to be Asia’s largest, with over 3000 animals at any given point. It is equipped with special care units, OPD clinics, modern dental care, operation theatres, and much more. The SGACC mission is to provide sick, wounded and abandoned animals food, shelter, medication, kindness, safety and care for as long as they need it.

You can visit the website here

9. Visakha Society For The Protection And Care For Animals, Andhra Pradesh

The Visakha Society for the Protection and Care of Animals (VSPCA) in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, has been operational since 1996. As mentioned on their website, the VSPCA works to stop the illegal trade in internationally-protected sea turtles, rescues cows and water buffalo too old or injured to be kept by their previous owners, as well as provides permanent happy sanctuary to hundreds of dogs, cats, birds, monkeys, horses, rabbits, tortoises, ducks and other animals who had been suffering severe abuse or neglect.

You can visit the website here

10. Posh Foundation, Uttar Pradesh

Posh Foundation is a shelter and treatment centre in Noida, UP. Their vision is “to work for a world in which all humans respect and live in harmony with all other members of the animal kingdom.” Adoptions, sterilisation, post-operative care and cruelty intervention are some of their areas of service.

You can visit the website here

There is no world without animals. Let’s do our share in making sure they’re loved and protected. They have the right to life and liberty, just like us. No one should take that away.