October 25, 2024
Mars Petcare, a renowned leader in pet care and nutrition,conducted its highly anticipated adoption weekend, to find forever homes for homeless and abandoned pets.. Adoption drive was conducted in various Indian cities alongside key partner NGOs, including the Humane Animal Society, this initiative highlighted Mars Petcare’s commitment to improving the lives of pets in the country.
Mars Petcare and Humane Animal Society have partnered for the first time to create a meaningful impact on the lives of homeless pets during the adoption weekend. This collaboration has launched a dedicated initiative to raise awareness about responsible pet adoption, with a special focus on Indie pets, who often face challenges in finding loving homes.
As part of this initiative, an adoption drive was designed to connect potential pet owners with Indie pets in need of homes. In addition to adoption drives, the collaboration will implement various community awareness programs that highlight the responsibilities that come with pet ownership.
Salil Murthy, Managing Director of Mars Petcare India, emphasized the importance of the adoption initiative and the collective efforts to tackle pet homelessness: “The State of Pet Homelessness Project has shed light on the massive scale of pet homelessness in India—69.3 million pets, including 60.5 million dogs and 8.8 million cats, remain homeless, making up 19% of the global homeless pet population.
At Mars Petcare, we are working to address pet homelessness by doing what we can—whether it’s through the global State of Pet Homelessness Project, adoption drives, partnerships with welfare organizations, or collaborations with partners in our pet care ecosystem. We believe pet homelessness is a national crisis, and adoption is an urgent intervention that requires collaboration between public and private entities along with the larger community.
With 53% of respondents expressing openness to shelter adoptions, we see hope in the growing recognition of responsible pet ownership. We will continue working with our partners to drive these efforts forward, ensuring more pets find loving homes. This initiative strengthens our shared mission of providing every pet in India with the opportunity for a healthy, happy life.”
Dr. Mini Vasudevan, Founder and managing trustee – Humane Animal Society (HAS), said, “We are thrilled to announce our collaboration with Mars Petcare for our biggest adoption drive of the year and look forward to establishing a long-lasting partnership. Our common objective is to enhance the lives of homeless pets throughout India. Together, we are committed to launching impactful initiatives to provide shelter, care, and permanent homes for needy pets.
This collaboration extends beyond finding new pet homes; it promotes responsible pet ownership and creates lasting awareness. We are glad to partner for the cause and make a special bond between humans and pets by connecting families with animals in need, particularly Indie breeds that are often overlooked”.
The event showcased various on-ground activities, including registration support, pet parent counseling, and post-adoption care guidance, all aimed at ensuring a smooth transition for both the pets and their new families. Volunteers from Mars Petcare India and People for Animals participated actively in feeding, caring for shelter animals, and engaging in adoption processes, ensuring a hands-on, community-driven effort.