On the occasion of World Animal Day, Anant M. Ambani, Executive Director of Reliance Industries Limited and philanthropist dedicated to animal welfare, has announced Vantara’s new initiative, ‘Champions of Care’, to strengthen community animal welfare through practical and sustainable solutions.
The initiative brings together more than 50 animal welfare organisations from across India that care for stray or community dogs, cats and large animals, and provide veterinary hospital services, mobile rescue and long-term care.
At the heart of ‘Champions of Care’ is a shared belief: every community animal deserves care, protection and dignity. This includes stray dogs and cats, abandoned and working animals such as cows, buffaloes, donkeys and horses, as well as animals rescued after injury, abandonment or neglect. Many of these animals require veterinary care, shelter, nutrition and long-term support, while population control programmes, including Animal Birth Control (ABC) programmes, are essential for community dogs and cats.
Eight members of the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI), the statutory advisory body established to promote animal welfare in the country, also participated in the conclave.
Through this initiative, an estimated 2 million animals annually across the country are expected to receive support through veterinary care, rescue, shelter, food and long-term care.
“There are countless people who quietly care for animals in need every day with immense compassion—often with limited resources and very little recognition. Their work reminds us that kindness has no boundaries and that every life deserves care, protection and dignity. Through ‘Champions of Care’, we want to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with these efforts, strengthen the care available to community animals and contribute to building a more compassionate India. For us, this is the true meaning of ‘Every Life Matters’,” – Anant M. Ambani
“I deeply appreciate Anant Ambani’s vision and leadership in bringing ‘Champions of Care’ to life. I have travelled across the world, but rarely have I seen an animal care centre where such advanced facilities and technology are available for animals, at a level comparable to the exceptional care we aspire to provide to humans. What touched me the most was his personal effort to hear directly from these organisations, understand their challenges at the grassroots level and provide practical and long-term solutions. By bringing these organisations together on one platform, he is not only recognising their dedication but also strengthening their collective capacity to care for animals. This is a meaningful step towards a compassionate future for community animals across India,” – S. P. Gupta, Former Chairman and Current Member, AWBI
Signing of Letters of Understanding (LoUs) between Vantara and Animal Welfare Organisations
The two-day conclave held at Vantara was organised as much more than a formal meeting. On the first day, representatives experienced Vantara firsthand and saw how specialised facilities, systems and practices translate compassion into real service. They visited facilities dedicated to the care of rescued elephants and large carnivores, including lions, tigers and leopards, as well as natural environments where free-ranging herbivores such as gaur (bison), zebras and various species of deer and antelope are cared for.
The visit provided representatives with an opportunity to understand how best-in-class nutrition, veterinary care, housing, environmental enrichment and lifelong care work together to ensure animal welfare. Many of these principles are equally relevant to the care of community animals.
The second day focused on interaction, dialogue and collaboration, with participating organisations sharing their experiences, discussing common challenges and identifying areas where support is needed. They explored solutions through the exchange of knowledge, expertise, capabilities and resources, and acknowledged that many challenges in animal care can be addressed through collaboration.
A key milestone of the conclave was the signing of Letters of Understanding (LoUs) between Vantara and all participating animal welfare organisations, formally expressing their shared commitment to work together to strengthen community animal welfare. The agreements provide a framework for collaboration, knowledge exchange, capacity building and practical support, enabling organisations to work together on solutions based on ground realities and needs.
At the conclusion of the conclave, each participating organisation was presented with a Certificate of Appreciation signed by Shri Anant Ambani, in recognition of their dedication and tireless efforts towards animal care and welfare.
Support to Organisations Where It Is Needed Most
The initiative will provide support for various needs identified by participating animal welfare organisations, including infrastructure, animal shelters, ambulances and mobile services, rescue equipment and tools, diagnostic and treatment equipment, training and capacity building, and facilities for lifelong care.
To enable organisations to develop more efficient, stronger and sustainable centres, infrastructure support will include solar power systems, rainwater harvesting systems and improved drainage systems. Some organisations have also proposed education and awareness programmes for children and young people, as well as quarantine and disease-control management infrastructure to address the growing incidence of infectious diseases.
The initiative has been designed to provide sustainable solutions that strengthen the internal capabilities of organisations and reduce their dependence on short-term support.
Building a Strong Network at the National Level
‘Champions of Care’ has been envisioned as an expanding national initiative, with more animal welfare organisations expected to join the network in the coming years. As the initiative grows, it will create opportunities for organisations to share knowledge and expertise, build capacity and develop stronger approaches to animal welfare, thereby creating a more coordinated collective response to the needs of community animals across India.
‘Every Life Matters’
‘Champions of Care’ is an extension of Vantara’s commitment to ‘Every Life Matters’. This idea is not limited to the animals under Vantara’s care but extends to the countless animals across India that receive daily care through organisations working in the field of community animal welfare.
By standing in support of these organisations, the initiative seeks to empower community animal welfare and ensure that more and more voiceless beings receive proper care, compassion and dignity.
