It was a happy day for our Resident Cats today. One of their Sponsors came to visit them and brought them some tasty cat food. Today happens to be Friendship Day and after the good meal and all the petting, look who is doing some major bonding! These two were giving each other a good grooming and there was much purring all around. Don't miss madam sitting on the bonnet of one of our vans. She's quite okay on her own, thank you! Besides the engine is so nice and warm that this is a very pleasant place for any cat to relax on.

About two years ago, a young volunteer called Abby from the USA came to work at our Deonar Centre. She did some sterling work and while she was there, she spotted a small non-descript dog and decided that she wanted to adopt him. There was a problem as he had a bad hernia and Abby had to leave for the US. However, she was determined to adopt him and kept in touch until "Gunner" was completely healed. We helped her with the arrangements and at last, the little dog travelled by plane, all by himself to the USA. Now he lives with Abby, his brother Jack, a small dog, and his "sister", a horse named Queen. He runs like the wind and has become quite a heavy-weight. Now he has changed his name - it is "Raj". And just look at him sitting in a field in Oklahoma, he looks as if he is King of the World!!!

This tiny little charmer is the only survivor from a litter of 7 pups. Her mom died within hours of reaching IDA Deonar, and the pups were only 3 days old. They were taken into foster care, but she was the only one that thrived and has been growing very well. It is a sad thought re this little family. Some time ago the mother escaped the team that was trying to catch her for sterilisation. She then got pregnant and suffered through very harsh weather in Mumbai. She was very sick just after she delivered and so the pups were very weak too. This lovely little female is the Alpha pup. Usually in a litter there is one who has the best chance of survival, no matter what the odds. She has a tremendous appetite, is highly intelligent and has an acute sense of smell. She is also very very cute and has already been booked for adoption into a lovely family. So this little story will hopefully end happily for this great little pup.

The Plight of Stray Pups A female was brought in almost two weeks ago to our Deonar Centre. She was seriously ill and had delivered 7 pups the day before. She died within 24 hours. Two little ones followed her within hours and the remaining five were whisked away into foster care. You can see this precious little bundle of pups in one of the pictures. The other picture is of the only one who is still alive. Inspite of our best efforts, these tiny creatures, deprived of their mother's presence and her precious milk, can almost never make it. The mother was a stray, living a difficult life on the roads. If she had been sterilised earlier, she might still be alive. She had to contend with the terrible heat that engulfed Mumbai for the entire Summer and she was pregnant with 7 pups! This is why all of us should actively participate in the ABC Programme. IDA India can't be everywhere. We need public intervention at least for locating the dogs, male or female, who are not operated. Meanwhile, this beautiful little female is still healthy, demands her food and finishes her bottle with great zest and energy. She might make it. She is the Alpha pup and there is always one in every litter, especially evident among stray pups. She opened her eyes yesterday - 10 days after she was born and she is simply lovely. Keep you updated.

New Addition to Deonar Centre

The garden at IDA Deonar is a great place for photo ops. Here's is our latest little inmate, a most charming Spitz. She has a great personality, nevertheless she was carelessly abandoned outside the Deonar gate as she had a bad case of fleas and ticks. This happens because the people in charge of grooming and cleaning these dogs, namely the loving "owners" do such a bad job. All we had to do was medicate her a bit, apply tick lotion, do a bit of picking off and she was as good as new and beautiful as ever. What type of person would desert a delicate angel like this? I shudder to think who we share this world with. Now we are getting her ready for a brand new home. Let's hope a good one materialises. Good homes for these lovely animals are really hard to come by. Maybe this girl will be lucky.

The Littlest Pup

The previous picture was not clear so here is another one. She is so sweet, I couldn't resist. Her mom's wound is healing well and her fur has been cut off from the surrounding area so as not to contaminate the small open wound. Hope the little one is having all her food in her new home! She is really small and will remain so even as a grown dog.

Pups for Adoption at IDA Deonar

Three of the seven pups are now safe in good homes. The mom was getting a little upset with her little ones disappearing one by one, so we put the adoption process on hold for some time. There are many enquiries as to whether the pups are male or female. As if it matters at all. Each one is unique and simply loves the family it is adopted into. Nowadays, with the sterilisation operation so easy to carry out, we always advise people with pets that neutering is best. As soon as the pup is the correct age, he or she can be neutered and then of course it doesn't matter whether the operated dog is male or female. There are many benefits for the dog itself, it will be protected from certain cancers later on in life. Neutering does not effect the personality of the dog at all. A dog lives for only about 15 years and it's whole life can be rich and fulfilling, full of exercise, nice long walks, fun play and good food and lots and lots of love from the concerned family. Let's hope all these little ones get to enjoy their doggy lives. We will try our best to see that they do. The smallest one in the picture, with a red ribbon around her neck, was adopted. She is enjoying a drink from her loving mom, who has done an excellent job in keeping all these pups spotless and white, giving them a good grooming every now and then. Hope she too gets a wonderful home.