chennai animal adoption drives get an overwhelming response in the city with celebrities turning out to pose with their new pets and support the case but it turns out that a considerable number of pet owners abandon their animals blue cross of india has rescued more than 700 puppies and kittens abandoned by their owners in the last two months dawn williams of blue cross said the animals most of which are of mixed breeds were rescued from the city outskirts often people abandon puppies and kittens as they cannot take care of them he said the abandon the offspring of their pets in garbage bins where there is enough food waste for the little ones to survive till they are rescued we have also rescued some younganimals from drains williams said the rescue of abandoned animals reaches its peak between september and november which is the breeding season during the rest of the year about 60 puppies and kittens are brought to the blue cross shelter at velachery every month animal activists said irresponsible breeding by individuals and pet shop owners to make a quick buck has also led to abandoning of animals when breeders take animals that are too old or unfit for breeding their offspring have defects the buyers eventually find out that the animals have health problems and abandon them said dr jerold animal behaviour specialist scan foundation about 30 of the 300 calls that the helpline at scan foundation receives are for rescue of abandoned animals dr jerold said another reason for abandoning pets was owners moving to houses that cannot accommodate pets cats and kittens are abandoned because of the belief that their hair could cause lung problems in babies he said sick dogs are often abandoned in veterinary hospitals sources at the government veterinary hospital said five to 10 canines including pedigree dogs and pups that are sick were abandoned on the campus though abandoning animals is punishable under prevention of cruelty to animals act activists said that only strict implementation of the law could prevent this from happening