Actor Jacqueline Fernandez stars in a new People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India campaign encouraging her fans to adopt cats and dogs from shelters and never buy them from pet shops or breeders. Wearing a beautiful faux-fur coat, a winged Fernandez appears alongside her own adorable rescue dog, Yolo – the namesake of the actor’s Yolo Foundation – with the message “Be an Angel for Animals: Adopt! Don’t Shop.” The image, which was donated by Fernandez, was shot by ace photographer Suresh Natarajan with styling by Chandini Whabi.
“Adopting Yolo was a deeply rewarding experience for us both, and it’s heartbreaking to think of the many homeless dogs and cats still waiting in shelters to bring the love and laughter he’s brought me to a family of their own,” says Fernandez. “My friends at PETA India and I encourage anyone ready for the responsibility and joy that comes with opening your heart and home to a companion dog or cat to adopt from the streets or a shelter.”
Over 60 million dogs and cats are living on the streets in India, while 8.8 million are in shelters because of a lack of good homes. Buying animals from breeders and pet shops worsens this crisis, as every new puppy or kitten means one fewer home for animals on the streets or in shelters. Dogs and cats living on the streets can fall prey to cruel people and are at risk of starving, being hit by cars, or suffering from untreated diseases or injuries.
PETA India also warns buyers that “pedigree” dogs – who are typically sold in pet shops – have been purposely bred to have certain exaggerated physical traits such as small noses and drooping backs, making them especially susceptible to many health problems, including breathing difficulties, hip dysplasia, heart defects, epilepsy, ear infections, and eye problems. In contrast, Indian community dogs are typically healthier and more robust because they are not deliberately bred for abnormal physical traits from a small gene pool.
