Sania bats for pet adoption

World number one doubles champion Sania Mirza teamed up with her cat Posh in a brand-new ad campaign for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India to promote the adoption of homeless dogs and cats.

Sania says, "So many animals, especially dogs, are hit by cars and they just lie there for days. That's the reason we need to rescue or take them from a shelter and not buy. Always be kind, not just to people but also to animals.”

Across India, millions of dogs and cats struggle to survive on the streets. Many of them go hungry or are injured, hit by vehicles or abused. Countless others are left to languish in animal shelters because there aren't enough good homes for them.

PETA and Sania want people to know that they can bring joy into the life of a homeless dog or cat – as well as into their own lives – by adopting a lovable shelter animal if they have the time, space and resources to provide one with a lifetime of affection and care.

And in order to take a bite out of the homeless-animal crisis, PETA also encourages guardians to have their animal companions sterilised. The print ad, which is the main feature of the campaign, was shot by ace photographer YSN Murthy. The hair-styling and make-up were done by Tamanna Rooz, and Esha Amin styled the outfit.