Animal birth control awareness for Kolkata residents

To help Kolkata residents learn more about animal birth control and how it could prevent the animals from becoming homeless, PETA India will kick-off a unique awareness campaign here on Friday.

Dressed as giant condoms and holding signs that read “Dogs Can’t Use Condoms. Sterilise Them”, two volunteers of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) will hand out animal birth control leaflets on Friday morning across the street from M.P. Birla Planetarium ahead of World Population Day on July 11.

“Millions of dogs and cats suffer on the streets every year or languish in animal shelters because there are not enough good homes for them,” PETA India supporter Beas Mukherjee said in a statement.

“PETA urges everyone to get animals sterilised. And if you’re considering adding a dog or cat to your family, never buy – always adopt a homeless animal.”

Sterilising one female dog can prevent 67,000 births in six years, and sterilising one female cat can prevent 420,000 births in seven years, said Mukherjee.

“When people refuse to sterilise their companion animals, unwanted dogs and cats suffer and end up abandoned on the streets or in animal shelters. Sterilised animals also live longer, healthier lives and, in the case of males, are less likely to roam, fight or bite,” she said.