Other activities taken up by IDA INDIA:

Awareness programmes for school children: It is important to make children aware of cruelty meted out to animals, and to sensitise them to the suffering of mute animals. Children are not aware that: birds should not be caged, noisy fire crackers frighten animals, circus animals are made to perform under constant fear of punishment, zoo and circus animals suffer considerably in confinement, animals are subjected to torture in laboratory experiments, joy rides on unhealthy animals cause them lot of pain, bullocks are made to carry heavy loads. illegal trade in fur, skin, horns, ivory, etc. cause violent deaths of wild animals, pet shops are actually ‘cruelty shops’ and they should not buy pets from there, torture meted out to slaughter animals can be reduced if they become vegetarian. To make them aware on all such issues, IDA INDIA carries out awareness programmes for school children. Managing Committee Member Ms. Aban Bhote, Vice President Ms. Fizzah Shah and Campaign Coordinator Ms. Pooja Sathe, regularly visit schools and talks to hundreds of children, spreading the message of kindness and compassion. This picture shows Ms. Fizzah Shah with youngsters.

Rescue of caged birds:

Every year on the Hindu festival of "Ashadi Ekadashi" , thousands of devotees throng to the temple of 'Lord Vithoba' at Wadala Mumbai. Immediately there are hundreds of vendors outside the temple selling their wares including toys, clothes, eatable, etc. Some of them sell caged birds. The 'Wild Life Rescue Group' of IDA INDIA swings into action and rescues parrots and 'muniyas' from these vendors, and later releases them at National Park and saves them from a life long captivity.

Rescue of snakes:
'Naag panchami' and 'Mahashivratri' are two Hindu Festival during which people worship the Deity Snake. For these festivals snakes are trapped from the wild and brought into cities by snake charmers to make money. The 'Wild Life Rescue Group' forms groups and rescues several snakes - mostly cobras - from mouths stitched and have several injuries. After giving First Aid, these snakes are hundred over to the Forest Department for rehabilitation. Such raids and rescues have yielded good results, as these days number of snakes seen on streets during these festivals has been reduced considerably.

Counseling for Bullock cart owners:
IDA INDIA and Bombay SPCA collaborated on a joint project for conselling the bullock cart owners carting kerosene for Indian Oil Corporation in the city of Mumbi. Several programmes were organized, the bullock were checked and those suffering from ailments were given treatment. All bullocks were vaccinated against diseases like Foot & Mouth Disease, HS & BQ (Haemorrhaegic Septicemia & Black Quarter).

The response initially was a little cool, but later on the bullock cart owners responded quite positively and brought their animals for this programme.

Honour given to the Police Dog Squad and the Film Show:
IDA INDIA organized a film show titled 'SPOT', which was sponsored by Warner Bros. Since the film was about a Police Dog and his adventures, IDA INDIA decided to honour the Dog Squad of the Mumbai Police, on his occasion.

Members of the Dog Squad Deepa, Amar, Don, Soni, Layka, Heena, Sunny and 8 month old Shaan, all Labradors & Doberman and their handlers, were honoured. The dogs enthralled the audience by showing how obedient they are, and also demonstrated their talent of sniffing out bombs and drugs. The intention of doing this was two folds: firstly to give due credit to the Police Dogs for relentlessly working to sniff out drugs and bombs, and to detect crime. Secondly, to highlights the fact that these dogs are perhaps the only Government employees, that do not get any retirement benefits after they are out of service . These non-corrupt Government servant render loyal, selfless service in their prime. With continuous sniffing of drugs, when they become ill they cannot work any more due to old age, they are put of service. These dogs are put for adoption, but very few can maintain a police dog according to his stature, and therefore hesitate to do so. IDA INDIA desires that the Government should appreciate this fact, and these dogs should be given a decent retirement benefit, so that they are well looked after for the balance 2-3 years of their lives. IDA INDIA has taken up this issue with the Government of Maharastra and the Police Commissioner, and we are hopeful of achieving success.