This year, animals had a safer Diwali

Thank god for small mercies. This Diwali saw a 30 per cent dip in cases of animal casualties, say staff of the Bombay Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (BSPCA) hospital. They attributed this decrease to the various awareness campaigns initiated by city schools, colleges and NGOs.

Getting better: Dr Khanna inspects some of the injured birds at BSPCA hospital yesterday. Pic/Kranti Vibhute

BSPCA officials said 19 dogs with minor injuries and 10 cats with superficial injuries were brought in for treatment, between Sunday and yesterday. Around 18 dehydrated pigeons were treated during this period.

BSPCA Secretary Lt Col (Retd) Dr J C Khanna said, "This year the number of injured animals and birds has come down by 30 per cent. Dogs and cats sustained superficial burns and minor injuries due to firecrackers. The birds were brought in for dehydration. We administered glucose and multi-vitamins."

He added, "Animals and birds shift their areas at this point of time and migrate to places where there is less noise or pollution. At times birds even suffer heart attacks due to the loud noise. The level of awareness amongst schools and colleges students seems to be very high, so much so that several refrained from bursting firecrackers."

Khanna said that on an average at least 600 students visit the hospital every month to see the injured animals. He said that awareness of the plight of animals may have motivated them to refrain from bursting firecrackers.u00a0