PFA - People For Animals

Background
People For Animals is an animal welfare group with a difference - not only does it rescue abused animals, it also fights legal battles to ensure that they enjoy the freedoms granted them by the Constitution of India. Vasanthi Vadi, the head of PFA in Hyderabad, aptly describes the character of the organization with the line, "We bite for their rights."

The Hyderabad chapter of the PFA, earlier known as the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), is 5 years old by 2005.

Activities
The primary activities of the PFA are to rescue and care for diseased, abandoned and abused animals. They maintain a shelter in the Old City which a veterinarian visits daily to ensure that the beasts are in good health. These animals are then adopted by people who want to keep them as pets.

The PFA receives several calls every week reporting animal abuse. Abuse can range from improper feeding and giving the animal insufficient exercise, to continuous confinement and physical violence against animals. Members of the PFA visit the animal rights offenders and counsel them to avoid further abuse.

The PFA has won a few cases, notably against the tamashawallahs who trained bears to perform on streets. They are now campaigning for humane slaughter of animals to ensure minimum pain. They encourage everyone to "turn veggie", although they distinguish between being a non-vegetarian and being compassionate towards animals.

Vadi feels that although people who own pets are concerned about animal welfare, greater awareness is needed among the general public. Publicity seminars and workshops are held regularly to encourage the media to give greater exposure to the cause of animal welfare.

Membership And Volunteer Opportunities
The most valuable contribution you can make to PFA is to report any animal abuse you witness. The organization discourages strangers from visiting its animal shelter. The best way to be involved is to adopt a pet and spread the word about the importance of being kind to animals.