The "sleazegate" scandal led to the resignations of three ministers in Karnataka for viewing pornographic material while the assembly was in session, but now PETA has offered to give ministers a chance to help animals by watching porn – "Kitty Porn", that is, or rather a video depicting cats in the act of making kittens.

PETA has sent a letter to KG Bopaiah, Speaker of the Karnataka Assembly, urging him to show this video to the entire Assembly in an effort to spur support for the sterilisation of cats and dogs.

What's PETA's point? Showing this video in the assembly would surely spark discussion about India's dog and cat homelessness crisis and would hopefully motivate many ministers to support sterilisation efforts for stray animals and to conduct awareness programmes to encourage Karnataka residents to sterilise their animal companions. Unlike the ministers, who were watching porn simply to get off, watching PETA's "Kitty Porn" video could help get tens of thousands cats and dogs off – off the streets, that is.

Watch the video and let us know if you think it should be screened in the assembly.

We thought that the lead up to India's 64^th Independence Day would be the perfect time to urge people to show their patriotic side by choosing to adopt an Indian community dog instead of buying a foreign pedigree dog from a pet store or a breeder if they are looking to welcome an animal into their home.

So accompanied by patriotically dressed members of PETA decked out in traditional saris and kurtas and waving the Indian flag, a giant Indian community dog mascot held a placard that read, "Be Proud to be Indian. Adopt an Indian Community Dog. Never Buy", in Hyderabad.

Pedigree dogs are bred for certain exaggerated physical traits such as long ears or drooping backs. Many foreign breeds of dogs – including boxers, German shepherds and pugs – suffer from abnormally high rates of genetic and hereditary diseases. Common health ailments in purebred dogs include breathing problems, cancer, heart disease, bleeding disorders, skeletal malformation, eye problems and more. In contrast, Indian community dogs are healthier and more robust than their purebred cousins.

Besides, there are too many dogs and not enough good homes. Every time someone buys a foreign purebred puppy from a breeder or pet store, an Indian community dog loses his or her chance at finding a loving home.

Help save lives by taking the pledge to always adopt and never buy!

Happy Independence Day!

In the wake of a series of deadly bomb attacks in Mumbai, PETA India went searching for animal survivors. However, the hardest-hit areas were cordoned off. Complicating the situation were the heavy monsoon rains that forced animals to seek shelter. PETA India staff left our contact details with security personnel and then took our plea to citizens through Facebook and Twitter, asking that anyone who sees an injured or distressed animal call PETA India, the Bombay SPCA or a local veterinarian. 

A dog hurt in the attacks was treated by the Bombay SPCA, and as a result of our online appeal, PETA India received numerous calls about animals who needed help in places that were not targets of the blasts.

It's important to stop and help animals in need. If you don't, who will? Always keep PETA India's number handy as well as the numbers of local veterinarians. Be sure to stay with the injured animal until help is provided.

This World Population Day, Mumbaikars got a chance to see two giant condoms waving placards on Marine Drive. Confused? Don't be! Because dogs can't use condoms, PETA members in costumes urged people to sterilise their dogs.

As campaigner Bhuvaneshari Gupta explained during the demonstration, when people allow their dogs and cats to breed, dogs and cats in animal shelters or on the street lose their chance to be adopted into good homes. The only permanent solution to the problem of dog and cat homelessness is animal birth control: always spay and neuter and never buy animals from breeders or pet stores (instead, opt to adopt from an animal shelter or the street). 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. Sterilised animals also live longer, healthier lives and are less likely to roam, fight and bite.

So help prevent millions of animals suffering on the street or languishing in animal shelters by pledging to get your companion animals sterilised.

Longtime PETA supporters Raveena Tandon-Thadani and Gulshan Grover as well as PETA supporters Hard Kaur, Rajneesh Duggal, Aushima Sawhney, Karishma Trehan and other stars recently came out to the trendy Zenzi bar in the Bandra suburb of Mumbai to show their support of PETA's homeless-dog adoption campaign.

Gulshan Grover might be Bollywood's best-known villain, but when it comes to showing his love of homeless dogs and cats living in animal shelters or on the streets, he's a hero. Gulshan's ad encouraging people always to adopt animals from animal shelters or off the streets and never to buy them was unveiled at the event. The ad features Grover surrounded by five stunning Hollywood starlets, several of whom wore only bikinis, and it is sure to turn heads.

Enjoy these cool pictures from the launch party!

"Angel to animals" and one of our best pals, Trisha Krishnan – who appears on the cover of the June issue of Galatta – has personally autographed 15 posters for her fans, and here's your chance to win one.

As you can see, Trisha looks awesomely cute in her new PETA ad in which she urges people to adopt a homeless dog if they are looking to welcome a companion animal into their home.

Here's how you can enter: Share your story about how you have helped a homeless Indian community dog as a comment to this blog.

PETA will then choose 15 of the most heart-warming stories to win a poster!

THE CONTEST IS CLOSED NOW!

With schools' summer vacations around the corner, PETA, in association with Shoobh Group Welfare Society, has launched a campaign for children which asks them to capture acts of kindness towards animals on camera.

"People n Animal", as the campaign is called, calls for entries from children from across the country under two categories – art and photography.

Through this campaign, we encourage children to explore deeds of kindness to animals and capture those moments in photographs or art. The larger goal of this campaign is to plant the seeds of compassion and kindness in children at an early age. Developing empathy towards animals can be a key step in developing empathy for and rejecting violence towards all beings, including humans.

To learn more about the campaign, go to Shoobh's website

The jury will comprise well-known names like veteran artist Anjolie Ela Menon and educationist Shyama Chona. The last date for sending entries is August 30, 2011.

Also, you can be a part of PETA's special programme for school children by joining Compassionate Citizen.

 Welcome aboard!