Mumbai: Kandivali’s Thakur College Forms Animal Welfare Club

In a first, the Thakur College of Kandivali has formed an animal lovers group to look after the stray animals in the college campus and surroundings. The Canine Lovers Club is an official association of the animal loving students initiated by the college authorities to look after the stray animals in the campus as well as Thakur village.

Standing out as an example for animal lovers in all the colleges across the city, the Kandivali-based Thakur College of Science and Commerce has formed a Friends of Canine Club in the college with over 120 student members who aim to carry out animal welfare initiatives in their surroundings. The inspiration comes from the college trustees Jeetendra Singh Thakur, Manoj Singh Thakur and Suraj Singh Thakur, as well as the college’s principal Dr. CC Chakraborty, who are themselves animal lovers and have pet dogs as part of their families.

The club which was formed last month undertakes several initiatives to help stray animals and pets with any kind of necessary help. Apart from organising seminars creating awareness about animal welfare, the club members also volunteer to help pet owners in taking the animal to the veterinary doctor or bringing them food. The club also celebrated friendship with dogs on International Day of Friendship on Sunday.

Dr. Deepa Jamindar, an assistant professor with the department of commerce and in-charge of the Canine Lovers Club, said, “The aim of this club is to sensitise students about animals, carry out welfare initiatives for the strays and also promote adoption. We also plan on conducting regular donation drives in the college where we can collect funds for food and medicines of dogs and assist animal welfare organisations, specially the handicapped dogs.”

The college has also installed a notice board in the campus which updates students about news related to animals as well as feeding and medication tips for animal parents. On the International Dog Day later in August, the club is planning to organise a pet show where every student and faculty will be allowed to bring their pets to the college and have a fun time with them. The future plans of the club also include starting an animal shelter in the Thakur Village.

On Friday, the club hosted Sudhir Kudalkar, senior police inspector of the MHB Colony police station and an avid animal lover who is founder of PAL Foundation, for a guest lecture about welfare of street dogs and their laws. The senior police official and other members of the PAL Foundation addressed the young crowd on animal issues and legal actions that can be pursued for their welfare.

Roshan Pathak, legal advisor at PAL, who also joined the seminar, said, “We enlightened the students about different kinds of cruelty that is carried out on strays and what are the laws about animal cruelty. We also explained to them how the cruelty can be fought legally and also asked them to contact the PAL Foundation in case of legal and medical assistance. We received a very good response from the students and we will try to reach more schools, colleges and societies to spread awareness about animal welfare.”