Tura’s Foku PETA’s cham

cat — **Tura’s Foku beat nine other finalists to be crowned as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India Cutest Rescued Cat Alive contest**

TURA, AUG 14: Tura’s Foku beat nine other finalists to be crowned as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India Cutest Rescued Cat Alive contest – just in time for International Homeless Animals’ Day to be held on August 15. He was adjusted the winner after hundreds of votes and careful deliberation by judges from PETA India.

Foku, whose guardian is Swarnima Tiwari of Tura, had earlier edged out hundreds of other loveable rescued cats to become one of 10 finalists. The second-place winner of the contest is Viber, whose guardian is Ariba Zainab of Aligarh. And the third-place winner is Charger, whose guardian is VL Dinpuii of Aizawl.

“Foku proves that adopting a cat from the streets or an animal shelter can fill your life with a joy and love that words can’t express”, says PETA CEO Poorva Joshipura. “Although Foku won our contest, all rescued cats are winners because they have found loving homes.”

Tiwari found Foku after a landslide near her house, and now, Foku is an important part of her family.

“It was raining heavily with landslides all around, and there was a landslide near my house”, Tiwari informed adding, “I went there to see and found a tiny little kitten crying for help, all wet, shivering and very frightened. Very soon she became friendly, and now she is the most prominent member of my family.”

Pet shops and breeders often keep animals in dismal conditions and contribute to the companion-animal overpopulation crisis by churning out animals to sell. Animals purchased from pet shops are also often bought on impulse and discarded when buyers tire of them.

PETA created the contest to show that the kindest thing that a prospective guardian can do is to adopt a loveable cat from the streets or an animal shelter, not buy one.

Foku will receive a certificate, a copy of PETA founder Ingrid Newkirk and Jane Ratcliffe’s book One Can Make a Difference, a “My Cat Is a Rescue” T-shirt, a PETA T-shirt and a cute cat toy. The top three cats will appear in an upcoming issue of Animal Times, PETA’s magazine for members.

For more information about Foku and the two runners-up, please visit PETAIndia.com.The winner and runners-up were selected by PETA based on several factors, including vote count.- By Our Reporter