BLUE CROSS OF INDIA, CHENNAI

SHELTERS
2,610 rescued animals passed through our shelters during the year. Due to severe constraints of money and space, it is impossible for the Blue Cross to pick up and take in stray animals. However, no injured or sick animal has been turned away and on many occasions, our ambulances have travelled 40 or 50 kilometres to pick up sick or wounded animals. In addition, stray animals found in places like airports and schools and lost pets have been taken in and efforts made to rehome them.

400 to 500 animals are present in our shelters at any point of time. Of the Rs. 9,79,142.53 spent on the shelters during the year, the major portion is the cost of animal feed. The expenses on the rescue home and shelters accounted for 26% of the total expenses.

While cattle, dogs and cats are the main categories of animals at our shelters, birds, white mice, squirrels, horses, donkeys, deer and even a monitor lizard have found temporary homes with us. All stray cattle rounded up by the Corporation of Madras and not claimed by their owners within 15 days are now handed over to us. These cattle were formerly auctioned by the Corporation and usually ended up in the slaughter house. They are now relocated to pinjrapoles (home for old animals) in Mysore, Bangalore, Vellore and other places at substantial expense to the Blue Cross.

ADOPTIONS & REHOMING
Of the animals rescued by us and many abandoned by their owners, only 1,010 were placed in homes in adoption. This includes 125 dogs, 692 puppies and 191 kittens.

The Corporation of Chennai had decided to discontinue the bullock-drawn conservancy carts and auction the bullocks. To prevent the bullocks from being sent to the slaughter house after a lifetime of hard work, the Blue Cross persuaded the Corporation to hand over all 700 bullocks which were later rehomed in pinjrapoles at Mysore, Bangalore, Vellore and Chennai.

Blue Cross of India - Main Page