Blue Cross of India
***To report an animal in distress in Chennai please call Blue Cross of India at +91-44-46274999 or +91-44-71819575 or email velu@bluecrossofindia.org. Or complete an Animal in Distress Form. Small animals and birds can be brought directly to the shelter.
***To request Animal Birth Control Surgery (Spay/Neuter) and ARV (Anti Rabies Vaccination) please complete this form.
Blue Cross of India (BCI) runs hospitals and shelters for injured or unwell stray dogs, cats, cattle, horses, and birds in Chennai. They also provide animal ambulances and a mobile dispensary. Amazingly, since the start of the Covid pandemic in March 2020, Blue Cross has fed over 80,000 street animals!
They are located at No. 72, Velachery Main Road, Guindy in Chennai.
Key Takeaways
* Operates a large animal hospital, shelter, and Animal Birth Control Center in the Guindy neighborhood of Chennai.
* Runs spaying and neutering campaigns to control the population of stray animals in a humane way.
* Operates Blue Cross Of India Outpatient clinic. It is open to all pet owners from 9:00am to 9:00pm all 365 days of the year.
* Operates a fully equipped mobile hospital for on-site treatment of street animals. A team consisting of a senior vet and a paravet treat animals in distress on-site.
Blue Cross of India’s Mission
Blue Cross of India (BCI) protects all animals – both domestic and wild – from human cruelty. They work to spare animals used for food production, scientific advancements, sports, and entertainment.
Additionally, BCI emphasizes the importance of changing how people think about – and therefore treat – animals. They teach and encourage proper care, compassion for all animals, effective management of the dog population, and humane slaughter when necessary.
Animal Rescue
Blue Cross receives over 80 calls a day to rescue stray animals in distress. They provide medical care to almost 3,000 stray animals a year free of charge. This includes treating bites, cuts, bacterial infections, parasitic infestations, car or auto-rickshaw injuries, malnutrition, and countless other inflictions.
Street Dog Population Control
There is currently a street dog overpopulation problem in many countries around the world. Unfortunately, in several places, local authorities try to deal with the problem with periodic mass “culling” (killing) of strays.
I mistakenly thought this was a recent phenomenon. However, according to the Blue Cross websites, authorities in Chennai (then called Madras) have been killing street dogs since 1860!! However, their plan failed. The number of dogs killed by the city of Madras increased ever year. But so did the number of dogs on the street, and the number of human rabies cases and deaths.
The reason for this is because when stray dogs are removed from an area, dogs from neighboring areas move in. Due to the increased availability of food and territory, the number of strays goes up rapidly.
Want to learn more about dogs? Check out my Top 20 Amazing Dog Facts blog!
Animal Birth Control and Anti-Rabies Program
In 1995 authorities in Madras (Chennai) were electrocuting up to 135 street dogs a day. Blue Cross of India stepped in and proposed Animal Birth Control (ABC). Eventually the city replaced electrocution with ABC.
A recent study compared the ABC-AR program with the earlier catch-and-kill procedure in Chennai. It conclusively showed the success of ABC-AR for decreasing the street dog population, as well as the incidence of rabies in both dogs and humans.
Blue Cross currently performs Animal Birth Control and Anti-Rabies (ABC-AR) at 3 locations – Guindy, Kanchipuram, and Thiruvellore. Individuals with pets, individuals outside Chennai Corporation limits, gated communities, and others can request Animal Birth Control and the Anti Rabies Vaccine for community animals or pets by completing this form. BCI can carry out ABC operations on a catch-neuter-return basis, or through their mobile dispensary; a fully-equipped mobile surgery and clinic on wheels.
Blue Cross Animal Hospital and Shelter in Guindy
Blue Cross operates a large animal hospital, shelter, and Animal Birth Control Center in the Guindy neighborhood of Chennai. The hospital treats around 20,000 outpatients a year. The shelter houses around 800 animals – both large and small – at any given time. It has an aviary, cattery, library, and ambulance services.
Blue Cross Animal Shelter in Kunnam
Blue Cross operates a large shelter just outside the Chennai Metropolitan Area in the town of Sriperumbudur; near the Kunnam village. It is located on 3.66 acres of donated land. The Kunnam shelter is unique because it is the first post-research animal rehabilitation center in India. Monkeys rescued from laboratories are rehabilitated, neutered, and eventually released into reserved forests.
The facilities also boast a full hospital, shelters, a bio-gas plant, and an Animal Birth Control Center. Other animals such as horses rescued from making antivenom serum, abandoned cattle, and street dogs can find peace and freedom at the shelters here.
Blue Cross Animal Ambulances
Since 1965, Blue Cross of India has used ambulances to respond to animal emergencies as quickly as possible. They are equipped with supplies, medicines, and even rappelling gear to rescue animals in any circumstances. The ambulance donated in 1987 by the Lions Club of Madras ran for 12 years and helped rescue over 17,000 animals in distress.
Blue Cross Water Bowl Project
Lack of clean drinking water is a major issue for stray animals and birds living in India’s unforgiving heat. Without enough water, the animals become severely dehydrated and may even pass away. In response, Blue Cross of India created the Water Bowl Project.
Every year Blue Cross places over 1,500 water bowls for local animals in and around Chennai. The bowls are made by local potters from cement and can hold up to four liters of water. Volunteers paint the bowls with lead-free colors before placing them around the city.
There are several ways to participate. For a donation of Rs.100, you can pick up a bowl from the Guindy Shelter or have it delivered to your home. Donations of money, paint, and brushes are welcome. Of you can volunteer to paint the bowls at the shelter.
Blue Cross Tsunami Relief Work
In December 2015 the Chennai area experienced the worst flooding in 100 years. Blue Cross swung into action. They took in all dogs picked up after the tsunami and housed them in their already overcrowded sanctuary. Blue Cross took in so many cats they had to build a new cattery. In addition, Blue Cross – in conjunction with the Nagaipattinam SPCA – provided fodder and grass to cattle in relief camps.
Dr. Dog Animal Therapy Program
In 2002 Blue Cross became the first organization in India to participate in a formal animal therapy program. Dr. Dog – developed by Animals Asia – is an animal therapy program in which dogs regularly visit schools and hospitals.
Studies have shown that people and patients benefit through sustained interaction with animals. More specifically, children with learning disabilities such as autism or dyslexia show improvement in both communication and concentration levels.
The dogs in the program do not learn fancy tricks or receive special training. The only requirement is that they are friendly. Their owner stays with them the entire time. The program has become so successful some schools in Bangalore are now adopting dogs. If you have a friendly dog and would like to volunteer, or if you know of any school, hospital, or old age home that would benefit from the Dr. Dog program, please complete this form.
Please Sign this Online Petition
Please sign Blue Cross’ online petition to strengthen animal cruelty laws in India. Its aim is to replace the outdated Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act of 1960 with a new animal welfare bill. The maximum penalty under the existing PCA Act is only Rs.50!
Donations
The dollar is strong in India and your donations will go far. Blue Cross can feed a cat or dog for a month for only Rs. 500 ($7). And they can feed an entire shelter of animals for Rs. 11000 ($150). Since the start of Covid-19 Blue Cross has fed over 80,000 street animals. They need donations now more than ever.
Follow Blue Cross of India on Social Media
Website: https://bluecrossofindia.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bluecrossofindia/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BlueCrossofIndia1964/
$ Donate: https://bluecrossofindia.org/Donate.html
