Breaking News from PETA India.. I have enclosed for your reading their updated Newsletter and highlights of their dedicated work.. PETA India, based in Mumbai, was launched in January 2000. PETA India operates under the simple principle that animals are not ours to eat, wear, experiment on or use for entertainment. They continue educating government officials and the public regarding animal abuse and advocating the understanding that all animals are to be treated with respect and dignity. PETA India like that of PETA U.S. UK, Netherlands, Australia, France, Germany, and Asia, also do investigative work, public and school education, research, animal rescues, legislative work, special events, celebrity involvement and national media coverage. Coverage that has resulted in countless improvements to the quality of life for animals and have saved countless animals’ lives. The CEO of PETA India Poorva Joshipura has always enjoyed learning all she could about animals, and their behaviors. Chickens were found to have excellent cognitive abilities, possibly better that dogs or cats. Fish and the Fisheries cited more than 500 research documents regarding the intelligence of fish and their abilities to create very sophisticated social structures and have an impressive long term memory. (like elephants never forget) Cows are extremely intelligent Animal behaviorists found cows will interact in socially complex ways, they develop friendships and can hold grudges not only against other cattle, but people who have treated them with abusive actions and neglect. Animal abusing people continue to threaten PETA India, but knowing their strengths and convictions the CEO, the veterinarian's and the concerned people of India will prev-vail. After researching a lot of material, maybe it is time to think about what we are eating since the facts are starring us in the face. Remember "No life is better than another and all life was created with purpose" Mahalo

	From rescuing animals from lives of torment to motivating children to take action for animals, there is no limit to what Animal Rahat can achieve with the help of compassionate people.  I hope you enjoy reading about some of last month's highlights—and don't miss the photo of Guddi and Hershey at the end. Can you imagine what it would be like if you woke up with every joint aching and you were barely able to see? Upon standing, you groaned in pain because you were missing flesh from your feet, and then someone forced you to perform hard labor on hot pavement all day long. That was the life of Animal Rahat's newest sanctuary resident—a horse named Badal.
	The group helped confiscate Badal from a Victoria (carriage) driver in Mumbai. He had been forced to haul tourists, despite suffering from eye problems, osteoarthritis, and a degenerative joint disorder called "ringbone." He also had a painful infection called "thrush" in all four hooves. Do you see that black V-shaped area? That's supposed to be healthy tissue, but it's almost completely decomposed! Finally Badal is getting the care that he deserves. Never again will he haul a carriage, feel the sting of the whip, stand on burning-hot pavement, dodge traffic, or be denied food, water, or the simple pleasure of resting in the shade.
	Among the 1,541 animals Animal Rahat provided with crucial veterinary care last month was this bullock who had squamous cell carcinoma in one of his eyes. The disease can be caused by unrelenting exposure to the sun's rays as well as from the toxic powders that are used to decorate bullocks for holidays—or even from the salt and chili peppers that abusive owners rub into their eyes in order to force them to go faster. Animal Rahat removed this dear bullock's eye, and he is recovering well. The group also painlessly neutered 14 young bulls through anesthetized surgery, thereby sparing them the traditional method in which a crude tool is used to crush the testes' blood vessels and nerves—without any pain relief whatsoever. Thanks to Animal Rahat's efforts, it is now illegal to neuter a bull without anesthetics, but unfortunately, enforcement of that law is lax. The team often invites government veterinarians to observe the anesthetized procedure in order to speed its adoption throughout the profession.
	From the pleasantly surprised expression on this bullock's face, it seems that he is enjoying the novel sensation of being brushed by his owner. Animal Rahat regularly gives grooming lessons to bullock owners—many of whom have never done it before—and stresses the importance of making it a daily habit. In addition to ridding the animals' skin of dirt and bugs, grooming is a form of positive reinforcement that increases bullocks' trust and strengthens their bond with their owners. It also decreases their fear and makes them calmer—which, in turn, makes the owners less likely to use pain and force to control them. This past month as a result of Animal Rahat's outreach, 46 bullock owners pledged to begin grooming their bullocks regularly. The smiling children pictured above are engaged in a Compassionate Citizen lesson presented by Animal Rahat's education coordinator. This was one of 36 schools that hosted the group's presentations last month, along with six orphanages and two summer camps. And the students are turning their lessons into action. For example, many children started putting water out for birds after Animal Rahat told them that birds need reliable water sources during the current dry season.
	Some of the organization's other achievements last month include the following: Removing hobbling devices from dozens of donkeys, goats, and other animals Persuading a farmer to switch from 24-hour tethering to a mukta gotha (loose housing) system, which will enable his bullocks and cows to walk about freely in a corral Erecting five more billboards at dump sites urging people to help prevent dogs and other animals from suffocating by tightly securing lids before disposing of empty food jars Persuading 22 bullock owners to paint their water tanks with lime to prevent parasites Spaying and neutering 72 "community dogs"
	I'll leave you with a few more sanctuary photos. You may remember Lalu, a buffalo calf who was about to be sold for slaughter last November when Animal Rahat intervened. He was weak and anemic when he first came aboard, but he's quite healthy now. Here he is (above) enjoying a shower, courtesy of one of the sanctuary caretakers. If you remember Hershey—pictured below when I rescued her as a petite pup in November—you might be surprised by how fast she's grown.
	Here she is (above) with her friend Guddi—another rescued dog—taking a dip in the pond. Guddi's still got a few inches on her, but she's catching up fast! Animal Rahat is grateful to everyone who provides it with the support that it needs in order to make a difference in the lives of animals like Hershey, Lalu, Badal, and thousands more every year. Thank you so much for caring about this important work. Kind regards, Ingrid E. Newkirk Founder