MEXICO CITY—Global animal protection leader Humane Society International and ONG Te Protejo have welcomed a move by Mexico’s Senate to outlaw the practice of animal testing for cosmetics, as well as the manufacture, import or marketing of cosmetics tested on animals anywhere in the world after the law comes into force. Yesterday evening a bill supported by HSI and Te Protejo was unanimously endorsed by both the Senate Health Committee and the full Senate, and will now move forward to the Chamber of Deputies. Mexico is positioned to become the first country in North America to outlaw cosmetic animal testing, and the 40th globally.
Anton Aguilar, executive director of Humane Society International/Mexico, said: “We commend Senators Ricardo Monreal, Jesusa Rodríguez and Verónica Delgadillo for sponsoring this bill, and we congratulate the Health Committee and all Senators for supporting our #BeCrueltyFree campaign and voting in favor. This brings us one step closer to ending unnecessary animal cruelty in the cosmetics industry, and demonstrates Mexico’s leadership within the Americas.”
Mexican consumers are increasingly concerned about animal welfare and disturbed by such practices, and many of them prefer products that do not involve animal suffering. A 2019 Parametría poll commissioned by HSI and Te Protejo shows that 78% of citizens place importance on making sure their cosmetics are cruelty-free when purchasing a product.1 Since last November, over 20,000 people have signed the HSI-Te Protejo petition at www.selibredecrueldad.org to ban cosmetic animal testing in Mexico.
HSI’s global #BeCrueltyFree campaign was instrumental in driving the European Union to become the world’s largest cruelty-free cosmetics market, and in securing similar victories in India, Taiwan, South Korea, New Zealand, Australia, Guatemala, Switzerland, seven states in Brazil. HSI has been at the forefront of the campaign to end cosmetic animal testing in Mexico since 2017, working with public officials and the cosmetics industry to broker an agreement on legislative reform.
Humane Society International is a leading force for animal protection, with active programs in companion animals, wildlife and habitat protection, marine mammal preservation, farm animal welfare and animals in research. Humane Society International together with its partners, constitutes one of the world’s largest animal protection organizations. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty worldwide – on the Web at www.hsi.org
ONG Te Protejo is an organization that promotes the use of products not tested on animals in Latin America and other environmentally friendly and animal-friendly initiatives. It works in four main areas: information and consumer education; mass dissemination events; cruelty-free brand certification; and campaigns to impact public policies.
More information at www.ongteprotejo.org; Facebook: Te Protejo México; Instagram: Te Protejo México; Youtube: Te Protejo.
1Poll conducted by Parametría polling agency, between October 26 and November 2, 2019, using a national random sample of 880 cases, with a margin of error of (+/-) 3.3%.
Humane Society International / Global
WASHINGTON – Sixty-five animal charities and pet shelters from across China have signed an open letter calling for compassion rather than cruelty to dogs and cats, in response to the coronavirus outbreak. News that an elderly dog in Hong Kong belonging to a COVID-19 patient has died following weeks of quarantine and testing, has raised fears of an increase in pet abandonment. Although the dog ultimately tested negative, and the World Health Organisation has made clear there is no evidence that dogs can infect humans, animal groups across China remain vigilant, with some shelters reporting higher than usual numbers of animals found wandering the streets.
Groups in Beijing, Dalian, Shanghai, and beyond have appealed for people not to abandon or harm their pets, and urge local police forces and community officers not to carry out lethal culls of dogs. Last month there were a number of recorded incidents of dogs being brutally beaten to death in the street in Yongjia County, Zhejiang, and in Chengdu and Nanchong in Sichuan province. And most recently video emerged of a pet dog being roughly caught by the neck by local dog catchers outside a Shanghai apartment block, and swung through the air into a cage on the back of a truck. The local government in Shanxi, north China has also called for the closure of all pet hospitals and public dog walking.
Dr. Peter Li, China policy expert at Humane Society International which works in China alongside other animal groups to protect companion animals, said: “It is very sad news that the elderly dog in Hong Kong has passed away. It must be remembered though that he ultimately tested negative for the virus, showed no signs of illness at any point, and at 17 years old it is possible that the stress of weeks of quarantine, testing, and being separated from his owner contributed to his passing. We simply don’t know, but what we do know is that the World Health Organisation advice is clear that there is no evidence dogs can pass the virus to people. It is critical that citizens and officials alike do not over-react or respond in a way that will cause harm or injury to animals. Family pets do not deserve to be turned out on the street, or beaten, or denied exercise or access to veterinary care.”
Dezhi Yu, director of Vshine, said: “Our team has been responding to help calls from different cities where local animal lovers have taken in or have spotted abandoned dogs and cats which we suspect were not allowed to be kept in their apartments, or these might be dogs or cats released by the breeders.”
HSI has been a resource for Chinese groups in coordinating public education efforts since the COVID-19 virus broke out, as well as supporting HSI’s Chinese partner group Vshine in rescuing abandoned dogs, as well as providing food and water for dogs and cats left behind when people have been evacuated and not able to return.
Download photos and video of HSI and other groups in China assisting companion animals:
Social law research center of Zhejiang Sci-Tech University
Animal protection research center of Shandong university
Taiwan Life Caring and Animal Rescue Organization
Cat and Dog 119
Life Caring and Animal Rescue Organization Companion
Wenzhou Happyness Work Center
Red Pomegranate Stray Animal Rescue Center
Miao Stray Cat Rescue Team
Kuntun Small Animal Protection Association
Shenyang Micro Couplet Pet Love and rescue alliance
Beijing Warm House Rescue Center
Changsha Animal Protection Association
Zhuzhou Small Animal Protection Association
Xian Small Animal Protection Association
Huaibei Small Animal Protection Association
Suzhou Tiantian- Baby House
Xian 701 Stray Animal Shelter
Qin Huangdao Small Animal Protection Association
Xian Weiai Animal Protection Association
Changsha Small Animal Protection Association
Nantong Small Animal Protection Association
Hohhot Small Animal Protection Association
Harbin Small Animal Protection Association
Mudanjiang Animal Protection Volunteers Association
Dalian Love Animal Rescue Association
Haimen Animal Protection Volunteers Association
Foshan Companion animal Protection Association
Zhenzhou Animal Protection Association
Changchun Douwang Team
Lanzhou Stray Animal Reacue Station
Guilin Baby Home Stray Animal Welfare Station
Jilin Small Love Stray Animal Adopt Home
Liuzhou Hope Home Small Animal Protection Association
Dog’s Love Group
Jilin Small Love Stray Animal Rescue Center
Huludao Stray Animal Center
Xinjiang Changji Wangwang’s Home
Gansu Pingliang Stray Dog Rescue Center
Nanjing University of the Arts
Sanmenxia Stray Cat Rescue Team
China Pet Animal Protection Public Welfare Team
803 Ecology and Animal Protection Public Welfare Team
Hohhot Qishan Animal Welfare Association
Jilin Puai Action Group
Jianghai Stray Animal Rescue Center
Hohhot dog rescue
Tianjin Yishan Stray Animal Rescue Team
Lanzhou Stray Animal Love Relay Station
Inner Mongolia Alxa Stray Animal Rescue Station
Yantai Stray Animal Rescue Station
Xi ‘an Stray Animal Protection Station
Qiqihar Small Animal Protection Association
Qinghai Xining Small Animal Protection Association
Xining Small Animal Protection Association
Urumqi Outdoor Rescue Group
Zhuhai Stray Animal Rescue Group
Xian Stray Animal Rescue Group
Pinggu Rescue Team
Zhengzhou Rescue Group
Guangdong Stray Dog Rescue Center
Xining Stray Animal Rescue Team
Baotou Stray Animal Rescue Center
Humane Society International / Canada
Humane Society International / Global
Thank you for remembering animals during this difficult time. They still need our help and we are continuing our work worldwide as well as we can despite this crisis. As always, we are so grateful for your support.
What is HSI doing during this crisis?
With the aim of preventing pet abandonment and/or fear regarding community animals, HSI is continuing to support our colleagues around the world and provide them with up-to-date information so they can keep their governments, communities and fellow citizens informed. We are also making special efforts to ensure animals are considered in the planning of the lockdowns, and veterinary services and pet food are considered essential services to continue during this time.
In China, there have been some isolated reports of dogs and cats being killed in an attempt to contain the virus. However, our partner groups on the ground have found that many of these reports were not factual. HSI has been supporting partner groups which have been rescuing and helping abandoned pets and informing the public that dogs and cats do not pose a risk. In several cities, at the request of evacuated pet owners, animal advocates have been entering apartments to care for pets.
Our U.S.-based affiliate, The Humane Society of the United States, in partnership with the Association for Animal Welfare Advancement, has made available the first coronavirus (COVID-19) toolkit for animal shelters to help them respond to the needs of the communities that they serve. While created for a U.S. audience, the toolkit offers useful information for dog/cat shelters worldwide.
HSI/Canada has given aid to residents and their pets in Montreal and Toronto, while HSI/Latin America donated food for animals in need in Costa Rica. Family-owned Mars, Incorporated has donated $1 million that allowed HSI to help animals affected by Covid in various locations worldwide. Read a report on the impact of Mars’ donation.
HSI had identified another dog meat farm in South Korea and was preparing to rescue the dogs there when the travel ban prevented our rescue team from returning to the country. In October, after a two-week quarantine, our team was finally able to remove the dogs from the farm and bring them to the U.S. and Canada. Please donate to fund our efforts to help these dogs and all animals worldwide.
Our country directors around the world are asking government entities in charge of coordinating emergency and disaster relief efforts to ensure that critical animal needs, such as the care of animals in laboratories, pet shops, zoos and other settings, and the ability for animal care personnel to perform their duties, be addressed in emergency orders.
We are also recommending that governments recognize veterinary services as “essential services,” allowing veterinarians to stay open and tend to emergencies under strict protocols that follow the recommended social distancing. Some cities that are under complete lockdown have already adopted this measure.
Through our network of local organizations in countries around the world, we are providing accurate and up-to-date information, tips, and recommendations for governments, shelters, veterinarians, pet owners and the community at large. We seek to prevent the abandonment of pets by providing people the information they need to make accurate decisions regarding the care of their pets.
How can I be preparing to take care of my pet?
In the event of a crisis or disaster, we urge everyone to have a disaster preparedness plan in place. And, get the word out! Remind community members that having a plan for pets is critical; individuals who become sick or require hospitalization will need to have someone to take their animals. If you can, please endure the current situation from the safety of your own home.
Some steps to take include:
Identify a family member or friend who can care for pets if someone in the household becomes too ill to do so.
Have crates, food and extra supplies on hand that can last a minimum of two weeks.
Have your animal’s vaccine record on hand, and if your dog or cat needs special assistance such as taking medication, write it down.
Pets should have proper identification, such as a collar with ID tag and a phone number.
How can I keep my home clean AND safe for my pets?
Some cleaners that help prevent COVID-19 aren’t safe for your pets.
Keep pets out of rooms where you’re using cleaners that contain bleach, alcohol and other powerful chemicals.
Don’t leave cleaners out where your pets could stick their paws into them.
Follow the product instructions—some cleaners need to sit for a bit to be effective, but surfaces can then be rinsed to avoid burning tender paws.
If your pet needs a bath, only use products intended for bathing pets. Other cleaners can hurt them.
What can I do to help animals and shelters during this crisis?
Now is a great time to adopt a pet to reduce the strain on shelters. Please reach out to shelters and rescue groups in your area (U.S. /worldwide) for more information.
Fosters can also be lifesavers for pets who can’t adapt to shelter life, those who need to be nursed back to health and orphaned animals who need special care.
This uncertain and stressful time is also a wonderful opportunity to unify behind a common love of animals. COVID-19 does not discriminate; people from all backgrounds and communities have been impacted. A deep connection to animals transcends socio-economic, racial, ethnic and geographic boundaries and honoring that bond with compassion, not judgment, is a very simple yet impactful way to contribute positively in your community during this crisis.
Do you have resources specifically to help animal shelters and rescues deal with COVID-19?
With the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 on the rise worldwide, it is important for shelters and rescues to be prepared for the impact this may have on their staff and their community. View additional resources and information to help you take proactive steps to prepare.
What can I do to help animals living in the street during this crisis?
If there are animals who depend on you for food or water, place these without interacting with the animal, as the same animal might be fed by multiple people in the community whose medical and travel histories are unknown. Some governments are issuing specific permits for organizations and individuals who feed street dogs/cats.
Is HSI able to rescue dogs/cats abandoned in my country?
HSI is unable to directly assist in the rescue of animals in need at this time. However, in the countries where we have a presence, we are working with government officials, local organizations and communities to help prevent the abandonment of pets. Even though we are not set up to rescue and re-home animals ourselves directly, we can work through our network of already established in-country collaborators to ensure they have the support to assist in rescue and re-homing, as the need arises and that the country’s emergency measures that are in place allow it.
Donate
Animals are still in need and the work of HSI goes on. We’d be grateful for any amount you can spare to support our ongoing efforts to help animals at this difficult time and into the future. Donate now.
In addition, every animal shelter and rescue organization in your country has bills to pay and your generous monetary donation will be gratefully accepted, particularly during this stressful time. Also consider donating supplies, both through your local animal shelter and other agencies like human food banks.
How can future pandemics like COVID-19 be prevented?
We can reduce the risk of future pandemics like COVID-19 by reducing close interactions between wild animals and humans, particularly in those cases where many animals of many different species are mixed together in close confinement. As we have learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, and the SARS epidemic before it, concentrations of wildlife in markets is a high risk to public health. Wildlife trade, transport and consumption occurs in countries around the world, and we need our leaders to agree to end these high-risk practices if we want to prevent another pandemic from sweeping the globe. Read more on “A Humane World” blog.
Again, thank you for standing with us, especially now. Please check back for any future updates, and stay safe!
Humane Society International / United Kingdom
Humane Society International / Canada
MONTREAL – At a time when African nations are contending with an elephant poaching crisis that has caused devastating population declines, it has come to light that the annual Toronto Sportsmen’s Show continues to allow three vendors to sell elephant trophy hunting excursions that further threaten these magnificent animals. The Ivory-Free Canada Coalition, a partnership of Canadian non-profit organizations, including Humane Society International/Canada, the Jane Goodall Institute of Canada, World Elephant Day, Elephanatics, and the Global March for Elephants & Rhinos – Toronto, are calling on organizers to drop these outfitters from the event, and demand the Canadian Government take immediate action in banning the import, domestic sale, and export of all elephant ivory, including hunting trophies.
Recently The Ivory-Free Canada Coalition helped to thwart the Calgary chapter of Safari Club International from auctioning off an elephant hunt in Botswana. This latest exposition includes three vendors attempting to profit from African elephant trophy hunting.
Michael Bernard, Deputy Director – HSI/Canada, stated: ” Elephants suffer horribly in trophy hunts. They are shot and left in agony for extended periods of time, they die painfully, and their social groups are disrupted, all to produce trophies for wealthy hunters who enjoy killing for fun. There is nothing sporting about the destruction of animals already contending with the devastating impacts of ivory poaching. In Canada, we are calling for a federal ban on elephant ivory trade, which would prevent hunters from bringing ivory tusks back to Canada, and remove a major incentive for elephant trophy hunting. In the meantime, this event should certainly respect Canadian values by excluding such exhibits.”
Fran Duthie, President of Elephanatics, added: “Science shows trophy hunting causes physiological and psychological effects to elephants. It increases their stress levels, which has led to aggressive behaviour towards humans and communication breakdown within their social structure. The long-term impact of ‘traumatic conservation’ methods on elephants is evident and needs to end”.
Patricia Sims, Founder of World Elephant Day and President – World Elephant Society, also stated: “The trophy hunting of elephants is atrocious and unnecessary, and hurts their vulnerable populations. Elephants are a vital keystone species, they are the caretakers of their habitats and climate change mitigators in their role of maintaining biodiversity. Killing elephants ultimately destroys habitats and Canada needs to take a stand now to ban elephant ivory and protect elephants for their survival and the health of our planet.”
Heather Craig, Co-Founder and President Global March for Elephants & Rhinos – Toronto, stated: “The world woke up to the horrific practice of trophy hunting in 2015 when Cecil the lion was killed by an American trophy hunter. Despite global outrage, hundreds of elephants and rhinos are killed every year. It is beyond our comprehension that the Toronto Sportsmen’s Show continues to allow outfitters to sell hunting trips, contributing further to a declining wildlife population.”
A staggering 20,000 African elephants are killed each year. Scientists anticipate they will be extinct in the wild within 20 years if threats continue. While poaching is the main threat to elephants, legal trophy hunting only exacerbates the threat and drives up the demand for elephant ivory.
Both the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Flora and Fauna (CITES) and members of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) have asked all countries to ban their domestic trade of ivory to save elephants. At least nine countries and 10 US states have done so. At the last IUCN Congress, Canada – along with Japan, Namibia and South Africa – refused to support the motion on domestic ivory trade bans.
Over 100 African elephant tusks were imported into Canada as hunting trophies over the past decade, according to the data Canada reported to CITES in its annual trade reports. Yet exporting countries reported that over 300 African elephant tusks were exported to Canada in this same time period. The reason for the discrepancy is unknown.
In order to press the Canadian government into action, the Ivory-Free Canada Coalition launched a petition to ban elephant ivory and hunting trophies at change.org/ivoryfreecanada. With over 540,000 signatures, it is one of the largest Canadian petitions on Change.org for 2019. The Ivory-Free Canada Coalition has been actively campaigning on this issue since 2016 and will continue to do so until a ban is put in place.
For interviews and/or more information, please call or email the media contact below.
-30-
Media contact: Christopher Paré, director of communications, HSI/Canada – office: 514-395-2914 x 206, cell: 438-402-0643, email: cpare@hsi.org
The Ivory-Free Canada Coalition is a partnership of non-profit organizations petitioning the Canadian government to ban the import, domestic trade and export of all elephant ivory, including hunting trophies. The coalition includes Elephanatics, Global March for Elephants & Rhinos – Toronto, World Elephant Day, Humane Society International/Canada and the Jane Goodall Institute of Canada. Sign the Petition: www.change.org/ivoryfreecanada
Newly released research exposes the horrific and preventable deaths of hundreds of thousands of farm animals
Humane Society International / Canada
iStockphoto
MONTREAL—Humane Society International/Canada has released a report, the first of its kind in Canada, detailing the scope of the preventable tragedy of barn fires and how the near total absence of mandatory safety measures has resulted in the deaths of countless farm animals.
Barn fires happen regularly and frequently. In the five-year period between 2015 and 2019, at least 740,000 animals died in barn fires in Canada, and this is a conservative estimate. Despite fires being a regular occurrence, the government does not require that farm buildings include sufficient fire prevention equipment and safety protocols because these structures are generally of “low-human occupancy.”
“It is unacceptable that the animal agriculture industry is not required to better protect animals from dying such horrific deaths,” stated Riana Topan, farm animal welfare campaign manager for HSI/Canada. “Just imagine the suffering of being burned alive, along with thousands of others, with no way to escape. No animal deserves to suffer so inhumanely. We urge building and fire code officials to reduce the risk of barn fires by amending our national construction model codes to require that farms have basic safety features, such as sprinklers and industrial-grade smoke detectors.”
The Canadian Commission on Building and Fire Codes, established by the National Research Council of Canada, is currently preparing to publish the 2020 editions of the National Building Code and National Fire Code. These model codes will include farm building requirements related to fire protection, structural design and dangerous goods. However, the requirements for large farm buildings are intended to safeguard humans and not animals, who are considered “property.” The updated codes will be adopted by all provinces and territories, who are responsible for regulating and enforcing construction standards.
To arrange an interview, please call or email the media contact below.
-30-
Media contact: Christopher Paré, director of communications, HSI/Canada – office: 514-395-2914 x 206, cell: 438-402-0643, email: cpare@hsi.org
Humane Society International
sidsnapper/iStock.com
SEOUL—Humane Society International congratulates Assembly member Jeong-ae Han on the National Assembly’s passage of her amendment to the Chemical Consumer Products and Biocides law, promoting alternatives to animal testing.
Assembly member Han, who previously sponsored and helped to pass a similar bill revising the Act on the Registration and Evaluation of Chemical Substances (K-REACH) to prioritize alternative methods, said, “I am very pleased to see another major amendment prioritizing alternatives to animal testing. With the K-REACH amendment, we learned that policy support is very important not only for government authorities but to encourage chemical companies and research institutions to collaborate on the development of better and more humane safety tests for consumers. With these two amendments, it is my hope that Korean chemical industries will have the stimulus necessary to become global leaders in advancing ethical approaches for consumer safety.”
Han’s measure adds to existing law the principle of minimizing vertebrate animal testing and includes support and incentives for small- to medium-sized enterprises to avoid repeated animal testing and to develop and disseminate alternatives to vertebrate animal testing.
HSI’s Senior Policy Manager for Korea Borami Seo said, “Through stakeholder meetings with policymakers and others, HSI has been advocating for the inclusion of language in Korean chemical legislation that promotes the development and adoption of human-based approaches. Many Korean chemical industries support the idea of replacing animal testing with better predictive tools for chemical safety. We hope that with this bill, environmental authorities will provide strong implementation plans to accelerate the move away from animal testing.”
Background
Last December, Korea’s Presidential Advisory Council on Science & Technology published a report on chemical management that advises a shift away from animal testing toward a predictive paradigm based on molecular characterization of chemical activity. This includes supporting Adverse Outcome Pathway research and biotechnology such as omics-based data analysis (comprehensive genetic or molecular profile evaluation of human and nonhuman animals), 3D models or organ-on-a-chip.
In 2019, the US EPA announced that it will eliminate all mammal studies by 2035 and committed significant funding to advance non-mammalian safety testing, in order to “ensure production of human health and the environment.”
HYDERABAD—With the Holi festival around the corner on 9/10th March, festive spirits are high and many people are ready to revel in the burst of colours. Unfortunately, the rainbow of coloured powder or gulal that is traditionally used to celebrate Holi can pose a risk to our pets and street animals who can become stressed or frightened by being sprayed or rubbed with the dyed powder, and even suffer health consequences.
Alokparna Sengupta, Humane Society International/India’s interim executive director, says: “Holi festival celebrations can be a vibrant spectacle of colour for people, but a distressing ordeal for pets and street animals forcibly sprayed or rubbed with dyed powders. By respecting the animals around us and leaving them in peace, everyone participating in the Holi festival can have fun with fairness to our animal friends.”
HSI/India’s top tips to give animals a happy Holi!
Children and animals: Children are understandably excited at the sight of Holi colours and the splashing water. To avoid their excitement causing animals distress, use Holi as an opportunity to teach children about respect and kindness to animals. By taking the time to explain to children that dogs and other animals can easily be frightened, and discouraging the throwing of water balloons and paint, they can learn that their fun shouldn’t be unfair to animals. Street dogs are the most common victims of the toxic colours during the festival, so teach children that no animal, including street dogs, should be hurt during the festival.
As responsible animal guardians, we can also play our part by avoiding taking our dogs to places that are likely to be the focus of Holi activity. When dogs are afraid and anxious to escape, they may end up injuring themselves or those around them, so being fair with fun keeps everyone safe.
Walk your dog before celebrations begin: To avoid potentially stressful encounters, walk your dog early in the morning on the day of Holi before the festivities begin, and ensure your pets are kept safely indoors during the celebrations. Provide them with food, water, their favourite toy and a comfortable place to rest, so that they can retreat from the noise outside if they wish. This will also prevent children from startling or irritating them.
Don’t colour animals: Animals don’t enjoy being covered with coloured water or powder, and it has the potential to harm them. The colours typically used to play Holi are synthetic dyes containing ingredients that are potentially toxic and can lead to skin allergies and even blindness in humans and animals. The dry powder which is often mistakenly thought to be safe to be used on pets contains lead which can build up in the body as a poison. Inhaling the powder may cause nasal irritation, and even respiratory infection. Dogs and other animals also tend to lick their body to clean themselves, unwittingly ingesting the Holi colours and very often this becomes the chief source of poisoning.
Remove colours with mild shampoos: If your pet does become dyed with Holi colours, gently wash them with a mild dog/pet shampoo. Never use kerosene or spirits to remove colours or hard paints off your dog’s coat. If the dog has been hit in the face with a water balloon or colours have entered their eyes, nose or mouth and been ingested, carefully and thoroughly wash the affected areas with clean water, and take them to a veterinarian as soon as possible to get checked over.
Watch out for warning signs of poisoning: Symptoms of poisoning can include excessive salivation, vomiting, loose motions, and behavioural changes like aggression or stupor in your pet. If you observe any of these signs, take your pet to a veterinarian immediately. Bringing the suspected source of poisoning (colour) will help the vet take the most appropriate remedial action.
Sensitize your community: Request your community secretary and building managers to put up an advisory asking occupants to keep pets indoors during celebrations and not to throw water or colours at street animals.
Don’t feed sweets to your pets: Eating sweets and sugar can cause serious digestive illness in dogs and other animals, even resulting in seizures in some cases. Be vigilant around your companion animals to make sure your guests or children do not offer sweets to your pet. Similarly, fried or high-calorie foods can also cause animals digestive upset so make sure if you give your pet a Holi treat, it’s suitable for animals!
ENDS
Media contact: Shambhavi Tiwari, stiwari@hsi.org, +91-8879834125
