A steel city group dedicated to the wellbeing of animals, particularly strays, has launched a signature campaign for establishing a shelter for animals.

Jamshedpur Red Paws Rescue Foundation has set a target to collect 1,000 signatures to bolster its campaign. So far, over 800 animal lovers, including some from abroad, have supported the campaign launched a couple of days back.

Once the target of 1,000 signatures is achieved, the foundation will send them to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, animal rights activist and environmentalist Maneka Gandhi and former Tata Sons chairman Ratan Tata.

Aniz Patel, founder of the foundation, said “We will send a request letter to these personalities once our target is achieved. We’ll send the signatures to the personalities for soliciting their support.”

The signature campaign has been launched on facebook, twitter, instagram and WhatsApp.

According to Patel, they want to establish a shelter for animals who cannot be adopted due to medical conditions or age. “We are dedicated to animal welfare and preventing cruelty to strays, abandoned or abused dogs, cats and cows. A shelter would be of huge help for such animals,” he added.

He said there is no such shelter in Jamshedpur and hence many animals are being abused on a daily basis. “We also find it hard to provide them with proper treatment,” Patel said.

Patel said they need a 15,000sq ft X 20,000 sq ft space, preferably with a boundary wall and a vet ambulance for the shelter. “We are hopeful. We are optimistic of achieving our signature target in a day or two,” he added.

According to a foundation member, they will be providing water, food and necessary medical care and rehabilitation of animals in need once the shelter is in place. “Medical care will be taken up by local veterinarians. The medical care will not be limited to sterilisation, vaccination and disease test,” he said.

The Red Paws foundation is active in Jamshedpur for over years. It has conducted drives, including vaccination, feeding and adoption camps.