For Immediate Release:3 September 2012
Contact:Chani Singh +91 9702765758; ChaniS@petaindia.orgBenazir Suraiya +91 9004547382; BenazirS@petaindia.org
The Vote Is on to Name the Country's Top Rescued Pooch
Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh – After sifting through hundreds of photographs of lovableIndian community dogs, as well as their rescue stories, the judges have selectedChinky, whose guardian is Alokparna Sengupta of Hyderabad, and Raju, whose guardian is Hyderabad's Mulpuru Suma, as finalists in PETA's first-ever Cutest Indian Dog Alive contest. Alokparna rescued Chinky on a cold night last winter in New Delhi. Chinky was ill and suffering from a gaping wound on her back. Alokparna took her to a veterinarian, and now Chinky is doing fine. Says Alokparna, "I don't remember how my life was without her". Mulpuru first encountered Raju when he was being chased by children, who were pelting him with rocks. When the puppy tried to seek safety in an office building, the security guard began to beat him. Now, says Mulpuru, Raju is "trusting, happy and content with us, his family". PETA believes that it's time to champion the Indian dog, so the contest makes the point that the kindest thing that a prospective guardian can do is rescue a dog from the streets or an animal shelter. Now, it's time to vote to help PETA decide who it should choose as India's top (rescued!).
"Chinky and Raju lucky dogs, indeed, and they have returned the favour of being rescued by bringing tons of love and joy into the lives of their families", says PETA India campaign coordinator Chani Singh. "All rescued dogs are already winners because their lives were saved by people who love them for who they are."
The lucky pup who is named the Cutest Indian Dog Alive will receive a "100% DesiDog" doggie T-shirt, and his or her guardian will receive a "My Dog Is a Rescue" Tshirt as well as an autographed copy of PETA India founder Ingrid E Newkirk's bookLet's Have a Dog Party! The second- and third-place winners will also receive prizes,and all three top placers will appear in an upcoming issue of Animal Times, PETAIndia's magazine for members.
PETA urges prospective guardians to adopt an Indian community animal rather than buying puppies (or kittens) sold in pet shops. Because pedigree dogs are bred forcertain exaggerated physical traits, such as long ears and drooping backs, many foreignbreeds of dogs suffer from various issues, including breathing problems, cancer, heart disease, bleeding disorders, skeletal malformation and eye problems. In contrast, Indian community dogs are healthier and more robust than their purebred cousins are.
To read all the finalists' rescue stories and to vote, please visit PETAIndia.com.