Unfortunately, though we received several entries to the November contest, there were only seven all correct ones, of which four had to be disqualified being from people within the GSPCA. Congratulations to the three winners (your scarf will reach you by December 18, 2001)!

1. Audrey Rebello of Caranzalem
2. Ramesh of Secunderabad
3. Andre de Souza of Nachinola

And here are the right answers:

1. Most of the animals on the street are not actually strays, but belong to someone. True, most of the cattle we see roaming around belong to farmers, milkmen etc who let then out during the day to forage for food in the marketplaces or from garbage bins, and take them back at night. Many of the dogs too fall into this category, or are offspring of home dogs that have been left out in the garbage bins to fend for themselves, since they were unwanted pups.

2. Carrying chickens tied upside down on a cycle is an offense under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, and is punishable. True, there are strict rules and regulations that cover the transportation of animals and birds, including those going for slaughter, to prevent cruelties being committed on them, just because "they are going to die anyway". For fowl, there are specificiations pertaining to dimensions of the basket or enclosure in which they must be transported, and the number of birds that can be kept in them. Certainly, tieing them upside down by their legs is completely illegal, and carries a fine of Rs 1000 per bird.

3. Trading in or keeping wild Indian birds like parrots without a license can get you a jail term. True, all wild Indian birds are scheduled animals under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1978, and cannot be kept as pets or traded without a valid license issued by the Chief Wildlife Warden of your area. Foreign birds such as lovebirds, African Greys, budgies and so on are allowed to be kept as pets. The ordinary rock pigeon is not considered wild and can be kept in captivity without a license.

4. Never muzzle a dog that has difficulty breathing or is bleeding from the mouth. True, but this one was a tricky one, because it can also be False! As a lay person, and if the dog is known to you, then muzzling should not be attempted because it will close up the airways and the dog could die. But, if the animal is ferocious, and resisting help, then a qualified person will still quickly muzzle the dog, preferably with a tubular muzzle that still allows it breathe, anesthetise the animal, and then open up the muzzle and examine more carefully.

5. All snakes are deaf. True, they don't pick up sounds through an auditory system but rather by detecting vibrations in the ground.