1.Animal Birth Control + Anti-Rabies (Abc + Ar) Programme

• Why do we need to control animal population?
  Animals, and dogs and cats in particular share a close emotional bond with humans.
  Unfortunately,rapid urbanization, increasing number of vehicles and burgeoning human population in cities has placed severe constraints on the space available for  harmonious co-existence between animals and humans.
  It has therefore become necessary to control street dog population in large cities.
  Since 1995, the Blue Cross Society of Pune, in conjunction with the Pune Municipal Corporation,has been  implementing the ABC+AR Programme , a statutory and mandatory programme supported by the Animal Welfare Division of the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Govt. of India, for controlling the stray dog population in the city.
  More than 26,000 dogs have been sterilised upto the year 2009 : an average of  250 to 300 operations are performed monthly. The monthly operations are expected to double with the launching of the PMC sponsored CNVR (Catch , Neuter, Vaccinate & Release) Programme launched in February 2009.
  
• Why neuter dogs?
  a)Neutering is the only known scientific method for controlling dog population. Other methods like euthanizing, poisoning etc are ineffective, besides being inhuman.
  b)If dogs are removed from one area, other dogs will take their place. These new dogs do not have a relationship with the residents and may even be aggressive.
  c) Neutered dogs are less aggressive and do not procreate.
   ( Aggressive dog behaviour is usually due to fights for domination during the mating season, or due to ill treatment by humans).
  d) It is illegal to kill stray dogs. As per the Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules,Govt. of India, 2001, it is mandatory for the local municipal corporation to neuter /spay stray dogs in oder to control their population. 

2.Veterinary Hospital And Shelter
With OPD, facilities for diagnosis (ECG, Sonography), pathology, surgery and recovery wards for in-patients, boarding kennels for large as well as small domestic animals when you want to go away on vacation.

3.Awareness Drives
For educating the public about laws related to animals ( see link), protection from rabies, primary first aid for animals, the need for neutering pets and strays, how to deal with hostile dogs and inculcating a love for animals in general.

4.Anti-rabies vaccination camps and sterilisation drives.
The Blue Cross organizes anti-rabies vaccination camps as well as mobile sterilization camps for stray as well as pet dogs in housing societies, institutions, slum areas.

5.Rehoming Of Abandoned And Stray Animals :   
Domestic animals like cats, dogs, mules, horses, cattle, donkeys are admitted to the Blue Cross Animal Shelter. These animals may be rescued, abandoned or confiscated. Some are healthy, others emaciated or even sick and injured. We do our best to nurse them back to health and find new homes.

6. Animal Rescue
In response to distress calls, The Blue Cross uses it’s vehicles for rescuing animals.

7.Counseling For Pet Owners  :
Often, people who keep a pet have no former experience of handling animals. Our volunteers  offer tips, advice and solutions so that owning a pet becomes an enriching and rewarding experience for the owners and neighbours alike and also  prevents  unnecessary hardships or cruelty to pets.

8.Workshops :
With the help of veterinary doctors, trainers and animal behaviourists, the Blue Cross periodically holds workshops on subjects such as :

• Primary first aid to animals
• Handling and training dogs to obey simple commands
• Responsible pet ownership

9.Volunteers, Donors And Members’ Meets :
In addition to the Annual General Meeting, Blue Cross members and volunteers interact from time to time for events such as

• Fundraising : In 2003, the noted Ghazal singer, Jagjit Singh performed at Le Meridien,Pune to raise funds for the activities of the Blue Cross. 
• Awareness drives
• Guest lectures

10. SALE OF PRODUCTS : 
Products such as greeting cards, gift tags, book marks, pen stands, decorative paper bags, stickers, caps and  T-shirts are on sale.