It has emerged that Indian tennis star Sania Mirza has donated an autographed racquet to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) for auction. The proceeds will help provide relief to ‘working animals’.
Remarkably, the racquet is being auctioned on the website eBay.in. The proceeds will be transferred to ‘Animal Rahat’ which is supported by PETA India.
Mirza clarified that the funds they raise from auctioning of her tennis racquet will provide comfort to horses that are forced to pull heavy carts, bullocks that toil in sugar mills and donkeys that are compelled to work in the brick kilns.
Notably, Mirza was the first Indian to win a Women’s Tennis Association Tour title in the 2009 Australian Open. She won the 2012 French Open in mixed doubles too to claim her second Grand Slam title. In addition to her achievements on the tennis court, Mirza was named as one of the “50 Heroes of Asia” by Times and one of the “33 Women Who Made India Proud” by The Economic Times.
‘Animal Rahat’ was launched in 2003 to give relief to horses, donkeys, bullocks and other animals that are forced to toil. To be precise, this life-saving program offers services across three districts in Maharashtra. The organization is managed by a staff that comprises veterinary assistants, veterinarians, animal caretakers as well as a full-time community educator.
The group’s achievements include conducting vaccination camps, enlisting the help of local police stations in averting animal abuse, curbing cruel bullock races, confiscating countless whips, barbed-wire goads, nose ropes, horn paring equipment & various other cruel devices that add despair to working animals’ lives.
