A group of volunteers from the NGO — People for Animals (PFA), recently organised an awareness campaign about animal welfare during Diwali for Delhiites at Lodhi Garden.
A group of volunteers from the NGO — People for Animals (PFA), recently organised an awareness campaign about animal welfare during Diwali for Delhiites at Lodhi Garden. The animal welfare organisation has been running outreach programmes in schools and colleges, but now the aim was to sensitise residents about looking after strays in their neighbourhoods. “We interacted with those walking in the park, the nearby RWAs and the general public about stray animals and their welfare,” shared Ambika Shukla, an activist and trustee of PFA. In this outreach programme, the volunteers spoke about the needs of stray animals and how to keep them safe. Carrying banners and placards that proclaimed the virtues of ‘desi dogs’, the group walked around the garden. Talking about the idea, Ambika said, “This drive is the brain-child of eminent lawyer Gopal Subramaniam.
He suggested to us to initiate a conversation with the Delhi resident about stray dogs. We thought the timing is apt, with Diwali around the corner and the Kerala government ruling on annihilation of stray dogs from the state. These aspects led us to come together and talk about how to keep these strays safe.” She further added, “It highlighted how all animals including dogs suffer during Diwali as a result of noisy and violent crackers and how we can help them and ourselves by celebrating a cracker-free Diwali towards a kinder, gentler world for all.”
