MUMBAI: October 4 is observed as World Animal Welfare Day. It is celebrated to create awareness about animal welfare around the world. So, here are a few celebrities, who are also pet parents, sharing their love for animals and urging others to help in improving the welfare standards of animals globally.  

Dhruvee Haldankar: I am a proud parent of my cat, Aslaan. He is my life companion. On this World Welfare Animal Day, I feel we should all increase awareness and educate others about creating a world where animals are always recognised as sentient beings and full regard is paid to their welfare. There are many parts of the world where a lot has been happening - torturing animals, killing them for food, etc. World Animal Welfare Day is a wonderful reminder of different ways in which animals enhance our lives. We should take care of the animals and mother nature, otherwise, we will be in a world where no human will exist.

Rishina Kandhari: World Animal Welfare Day aims to improve animal welfare standards worldwide through the support and involvement of individuals, groups, and organizations that care for and love animals. This is the reason it is also known as “Animal Lovers Day”. I have a cat with me. They only ask for your unconditional love and in return, they give you loyalty for life. I also plan to open a rescue shelter for animals in the future and organise fundraising events.

Subuhii Joshii: Majnu, my dog is my life to me. I wish we should all take World Welfare Animal Day seriously but why just one day? Animals are so pure and we should take care of them every day. Let us tell the world to learn the art of peaceful co-existence. Every worm, every insect, every animal is working for the ecological well-being of the planet. Only we humans, who claim to be the most intelligent species here, are not doing that.

Aashish Mehrotra: In India, we should all observe World Animal Welfare Day seriously. We all know what happened to the female elephant in Malappuram, how cruelly they killed a pregnant elephant. That incident affected me in a very bad way. I have also portrayed that in a canvas. During the lockdown, I started a special initiative to feed all the stray cats and dogs. I have started ordering food for them. I just wish people loved animals because their love is unbiased. And I have always felt that if you can’t feed them also please don’t hurt them.

Sharad Malhotra: This day has become an international celebration for animal rights and welfare. World Animal Welfare Day unites the people who are advocating for better treatment of animals and working in the animal welfare movement. Musky Malhotra is my pet whom I and Ripci adore unconditionally. This World Animal Welfare Day let us treat the animals in our environment with greater love and care.

Sanjay Gagnani : Disney and Flirty are my lifelines. Our pets are part of our family. We raise them with love, treat them with respect, and even talk to them. This day is for those who care for animals and love them. There are several organizations, animal welfare groups, schools, charitable trusts, etc. that celebrate World Animal Welfare Day. Individually also we should raise this concern as animals and mother nature is precious to us. Protect them as they will save us.