Cuffe Parade, Kandivali mandals plan Ganeshotsav animal-welfare events

A black dog will appear beside the Kaalbhairav-form Ganpati idol at the Colaba Sankraman Shibir Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal’s 44th-year celebration at Transit Camp in Cuffe Parade.

The mandal, known as Mumbaicha Krupalu, says it will not shoo away community animals during the 11-day festival. It plans to feed them, provide a resting space inside the pandal and hold a maha aarti for pets and their families. Mandal president Amit Sawant said the Kaalbhairav theme will be used to discuss animal welfare.

In Kandivali, Kandivalicha Adhipati has partnered with JeevOne Welfare Foundation for activities addressing animal cruelty, illegal wildlife trade, plastic pollution, habitat loss and water scarcity. The mandal plans to feed street dogs twice daily until visarjan, run a rabies vaccination programme, fit radium collars on around 1,500 street dogs and organise a Maha-paw-aarti.

JeevOne also plans a microchip implant camp for companion animals, intended to give pets a permanent identity.