Expanding Paw Protecc Service in Hyderabad and Chennai: Mars and Instamart Team Up to Safeguard Stray Pets from Monsoon Challenges
Expanding Protection for India's Homeless Pets: The Paw Protecc Initiative
The Paw Protecc initiative, a groundbreaking community effort in India, is focused on providing mobile shelters for homeless community dogs and cats. These shelters offer crucial protection from harsh weather conditions, such as the monsoon, and have recently expanded to cities including Hyderabad and Chennai.
The initiative, initially supported by organisations like Mars and Instamart, installs mobile shelters designed exclusively for community animals. These shelters provide protection and comfort to stray animals who often lack safe refuge during adverse weather.
The expansion of Paw Protecc in 2025 saw the addition of Hyderabad and Chennai to the list of cities benefiting from the initiative. In Hyderabad, the shelters were launched in collaboration with local animal welfare groups like the Blue Cross of Hyderabad.
The impact of Paw Protecc has been significant. It has provided homeless pets with safe, weather-proof shelter, significantly improving their welfare during monsoon seasons. The initiative has drawn positive attention to community animal care and created a model for humane intervention in urban animal welfare.
Looking to the future, Paw Protecc plans to expand to more Indian cities beyond Hyderabad and Chennai, with Mars and Instamart aiming to shield more homeless pets from monsoon hardships. The initiative also plans to further scale the model of mobile shelter installations and expand partnerships with local NGOs and animal welfare organisations.
Raising awareness and possibly integrating similar seasonal protection measures across varied climates in India may be part of long-term strategic planning. Salil Murthy, Managing Director of Mars Petcare India, described PAW PROTECC as a movement shaped by compassion and community, with local NGOs, feeder networks, and citizens embracing and maintaining the mobile shelters.
The mobile shelters provide homeless pets with safe, dry, and shaded spaces during harsh weather, including the monsoon and winter seasons. After an impactful rollout in Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore in August last year, the total number of shelters deployed has crossed 700 across the country.
India has one of the largest populations of homeless pets in the world, with more than 69 million homeless pets according to the State of Pet Homelessness Report released by Mars in 2023. These specially designed shelters have become safe resting spaces for community pets, offering protection during both monsoon and winter months.
Many homeless pets in India live without consistent access to shelter, food, or clean water. Arjun Choudhary, Vice President at Instamart, continues the partnership with Mars for the PAW PROTECC initiative. The shelters are being installed in partnership with NGOs such as Friendicoes SECA, Blue Cross of Hyderabad, and Madras Animal Rescue Society.
The PAW PROTECC initiative has already been recognised for its practical design and visible impact, with winter shelters deployed to protect homeless pets during the cold season across northern cities. Instamart users have shown a strong response in the pet supplies category, indicating a deep care for pets.
Amala Akkineni, actor, animal welfare advocate, and founder of Blue Cross of Hyderabad, supports the PAW PROTECC initiative. The initiative is a first-of-its-kind intervention that installs mobile shelters exclusively built for community dogs and cats.
In summary, Paw Protecc is expanding as a practical, community-oriented animal welfare initiative in India, with tangible impact on protecting stray animals from seasonal weather challenges and plans for broader future outreach.
- The Paw Protecc initiative, a novel community effort in India, has been recognized for its practical design and positive impact, with winter shelters deployed to protect homeless pets during the cold season across northern cities.
- The expanding Paw Protecc initiative has drawn attention to community animal care, creating a model for humane intervention in urban animal welfare, particularly in the realm of environmental science and climate-change.
- As more cities, like Hyderabad and Chennai, benefit from the Paw Protecc initiative, partnerships with local NGOs, such as Blue Cross of Hyderabad, and organizations like Mars and Instamart, aim to integrate similar seasonal protection measures across varied climates in India.
- In addition to the entertainment value it offers, social media has played a crucial role in raising awareness about the Paw Protecc initiative and the urgent need for protecting homeless pets from seasonal weather challenges, supporting the lifestyle and welfare of these animals.
